Personality assortative female mating preferences in a songbird

Abstract

Consistent individual behavioural differences ('animal personalities') are documented across a variety of animal taxa. Sexual selection, especially assortative mating has been suggested as a possible mechanism contributing to the maintenance of different personality types within populations but little is known about non-random pair-formation with respect to personality traits in unconstrained choice tests. We here tested whether female mating preferences were non-random with respect to male and female neophobia in zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), an important avian model of mate choice and animal personality research. Male and female neophobia was assessed by attaching novel objects to birds' feeders. Females' mating preferences were tested with randomly assigned, unfamiliar males in a four-way choice apparatus. Females associated most with males with neophobia scores similar to their own. These results provide evidence that mating preferences and personality traits can covary, supporting evolutionary scenarios of assortative mating contributing to the maintenance of personality traits.

Do female rainbow kribs choose males on the basis of their apparent aggression and boldness? A non-correlational mate choice study

“…The few empirical data collected so far differ regarding their direction of effects found. That is, previous studies on mate choice for aggressiveness and boldness have revealed either directional (Scherer et al 2018a), assortative (Kralj-Fišer et al 2013;Pogány et al 2018), dis-assortative (Scherer et al 2017b) or no effects (Laubu et al 2017;Scherer and Schuett 2018) of individual behavioural types on mating preferences. Moreover, existing studies have often focused on potential effects of the behavioural level of a given personality trait on female mating preferences while neglecting the importance of individual differences in the consistency of its expression (but see Scherer et al 2017bScherer et al , 2018a.…”

“…Therefore, it seems likely that sexual selection may play a key role in shaping stable personality variation within populations (Schuett et al 2010). Indeed, previous studies showed that personality traits, such as boldness (Godin and Dugatkin 1996;Scherer et al 2017b), aggression (Ophir and Galef 2003;Kralj-Fišer et al 2013) and exploratory behaviour (Schuett et al 2011b;Pogány et al 2018), affect mate choice in several species.…”

Wild zebra finches that nest synchronously have long‐term stable social ties

“…Zebra finches ( Taeniopygia guttata ) are colonial breeders that are well known for having a strong pair‐bond between the socially and genetically monogamous partners (Griffith, Holleley, Mariette, Pryke, & Svedin, 2010). While mate choice in this species has been of long‐standing interest (Pogány et al, 2018; Wang et al, 2018), we know little about the broader social structure in colonies, including any social associations beyond the pair‐bond. Zebra finches are an iconic model species in laboratory studies (Griffith & Buchanan, 2010), but studies of social structure in the laboratory are relatively few (Boogert, Farine, & Spencer, 2014) and in general have limited ability to test questions involving ecological processes.…”

Slow-Exploring Java Sparrows Lonchura oryzivora Hold Higher Reversal Learning Ability

“…To prevent them from learning from each other, all birds were raised separately and could only hear but not see each other. They lacked physical contact to ensure no breeding experience (Pogany et al 2018). Each cage was equipped with a feeder, a drinker, a perch and a nest for birds to roost.…”