No geographical differences in male mate choice in a widespread fish, Limia perugiae

Abstract

Behavior, like most other traits, can have a spatial component and variability of behavior at the population level is predicted. In the present paper we explore male mate choice at this level. Male mate choice, while maybe not as common as female choice, is expected to evolve when males respond to significant variation in female quality and for example prefer females with higher fecundity. In fishes, higher fecundity is associated with larger body size, an easily measured trait. In the present study we investigated the presence of male mate choice for larger females in a widespread species of livebearing fish, Limia perugiae, while comparing preferences between populations. We hypothesized that environmental variation, for example in the form of salinity, might result in population differences. Using dichotomous choice tests, we analyzed behavioral data for 80 individuals from seven distinct populations from Hispaniola. We found that L. perugiae males significantly preferred large females, but that there was no significant statistical variation between populations.

Genetic and phenotypic diversification in a widespread fish, the Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna)

“…Smaller males usually invest less into male secondary characteristics (i.e., bold body and fin coloration and elaborate dorsal fins) and follow a sneaker tactic that relies on approaching females from behind and attempting to force copulations via gonopodial thrusting [ 97 – 99 ]. Large males, on the other hand, are usually very colorful, have elaborate dorsal fins, and rely on male courtship displays to attract female attention [ 98 , 100 ], with females generally preferring large over small males [ 46 , 99 ]. Smaller males investing more into relative testis size than larger males to facilitate their mating behavior of forced copulations makes intuitively sense and has been found before [ 101 ].…”