Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Disruptive sexual selection through female mate choice has been proposed as a key mechanism driving the evolution of haplochromine cichlid fish diversity. Here we investigated if male secondary sexual traits employed by females in direct mate choice have an additional function in male competition. We conducted a field experiment on aggression among males of a lekking Lake Malawi cichlid species that build volcano-shaped spawning craters, known as bowers, in their breeding territories. Males placed on a short artificial bower received significantly more aggression from adjacent resident males than when placed on a tall artificial bower. This supports the hypothesis that bower size provides information about male competitive ability, and suggests an additional function for this extended phenotypic trait besides a role in attracting females.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
