Abstract
Sexual cues, including extended phenotypes, are expected to be reliable indicators of male genetic quality and/or provide information on parental quality. However, the reliability of these cues may be dependent on stability of the environment, with heterogeneity affecting how selection acts on such traits. Here, we test how environmental change mediates mate choice for multiple sexual traits, including an extended phenotype–‐the structure of male‐built nests – in stickleback fish. First, we manipulated the dissolved oxygen (DO) content of water to create high or low DO environments in which male fish built nests. Then we recorded the mate choice of females encountering these males (and their nests), under either the same or reversed DO conditions. Males in high DO environments built more compact nests than those in low DO conditions and males adjusted their nest structure in response to changing conditions. Female mate choice for extended phenotype (male nests) was environmentally dependent (females chose more compact nests in high DO conditions), while female choice for male phenotype was not (females chose large, vigorous males regardless of DO level). Examining mate choice in this dynamic context suggests that females evaluate the reliability of multiple sexual cues, taking into account environmental heterogeneity.
Highlights
Mate choice is expected to select for traits that are a reliable indicator of mate quality (Johnstone 1995; Kokko et al 2006)
When environments are subject to change, which traits should females rely on? Several studies have looked at the relative importance of multiple sexual cues under different ecological conditions, either in terms of male trait expression (Candolin et al 2007; Lehtonen et al 2015, 2016; Michelangeli et al 2015; Candolin et al 2016) or female mate choice
We show that male sticklebacks exhibited plasticity in their extended phenotype, building more compact nests in high dissolved oxygen (DO) than in low DO conditions, independent of male body size
Summary
Mate choice is expected to select for traits that are a reliable indicator of mate quality (Johnstone 1995; Kokko et al 2006). Several studies have looked at the relative importance of multiple sexual cues under different ecological conditions, either in terms of male trait expression (Candolin et al 2007; Lehtonen et al 2015, 2016; Michelangeli et al 2015; Candolin et al 2016) or female mate choice (Hale and St. Mary 2007; Javenpaaand Lindstrom 2004; Candolin et al 2007; Heuschele et al 2009; Lehtonen and Wong 2009; Rundus et al 2011; Candolin et al 2016). Female sticklebacks have been shown to choose nests dependent on their location (Kraak et al 1999; Blais et al 2004; Bolnick et al 2015) and amount of decoration (Ostlund-Nilsson and Holmlund 2003) and it is expected that by assessing nest structure and location females may obtain information on the suitability of the nest as a receptacle for eggs and on male quality because nest building is energetically expensive (Stanley 1983; Wootton 1985, 1994) and condition-dependent (Barber et al 2001; Rushbrook et al 2008), meaning that nest-building is under strong sexual selection
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
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.
