Abstract
The existence of individual variation in males' motivation to mate remains a conundrum as directional selection should favour high mating frequencies. Balancing selection resulting from (context-dependent) female mate choice could contribute to the maintenance of this behavioural polymorphism. In dichotomous choice tests, mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) females preferred virtual males showing intermediate mating frequencies, reflecting females' tendencies to avoid harassment by highly sexually active males. When tested in the presence of a female shoal—which protects females from male harassment—focal females showed significantly stronger preferences for high sexual activity. A trade-off between (indirect) benefits and (direct) costs of mating with sexually active males probably explains context-dependent female mate choice, as costs depend on the social environment in which females choose their mates. No preference was observed when we tested virgin females, suggesting that the behavioural pattern described here is part of the learned behavioural repertoire of G. holbrooki females.
Highlights
In species in which male investment into individual offspring is low, males should be under directional selection to maximize mating activity, assuming that high mating frequencies increase2017 The Authors
Differences in female preference functions among the three cohorts of focal females were reflected in our linear mixed model (LMM) by a significant interaction term of ‘treatment × male sexual activity’ (F4,135 = 5.77, p < 0.001; main effects, treatment: F2,135 = 2.84, p = 0.060; male sexual activity: F2,135 = 8.52, p < 0.001)
Female responses to males with high sexual activity were significantly different from those observed when females were tested without a shoal present
Summary
In species in which male investment into individual offspring is low, males should be under directional selection to maximize mating activity, assuming that high mating frequencies increase2017 The Authors. It can reflect costs associated with mating, as some males carry parasites [6] or are otherwise physiologically challenged [7] While the latter studies suggest that male mating activity could be an honest indicator of males’ current condition [8,9], there is increasing evidence that male mating behaviour differs consistently among individuals [10,11] even with ample mating opportunities, reflecting behavioural profiles rather than plastic responses to environmental and/or social factors (see electronic supplementary material, S1 for Eastern mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki). These observations raise the question of how intrinsic differences in male sexual activity can be maintained in a population
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