Abstract
BackgroundIn many species males face a higher predation risk than females because males display elaborate traits that evolved under sexual selection, which may attract not only females but also predators. Females are, therefore, predicted to avoid such conspicuous males under predation risk. The present study was designed to investigate predator-induced changes of female mating preferences in Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana). Males of this species show a pronounced polymorphism in body size and coloration, and females prefer large, colorful males in the absence of predators.ResultsIn dichotomous choice tests predator-naïve (lab-reared) females altered their initial preference for larger males in the presence of the cichlid Cichlasoma salvini, a natural predator of P. mexicana, and preferred small males instead. This effect was considerably weaker when females were confronted visually with the non-piscivorous cichlid Vieja bifasciata or the introduced non-piscivorous Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). In contrast, predator experienced (wild-caught) females did not respond to the same extent to the presence of a predator, most likely due to a learned ability to evaluate their predators' motivation to prey.ConclusionsOur study highlights that (a) predatory fish can have a profound influence on the expression of mating preferences of their prey (thus potentially affecting the strength of sexual selection), and females may alter their mate choice behavior strategically to reduce their own exposure to predators. (b) Prey species can evolve visual predator recognition mechanisms and alter their mate choice only when a natural predator is present. (c) Finally, experiential effects can play an important role, and prey species may learn to evaluate the motivational state of their predators.
Highlights
In many species males face a higher predation risk than females because males display elaborate traits that evolved under sexual selection, which may attract females and predators
Studies on guppies (Poecilia reticulata) revealed that females when facing a predator switch towards associating with less colorful males [29,30], and females of the green swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) that usually prefer males with long swords, switch their preference towards males with short swords when exposed to videos showing successful predator attacks [31]
The pattern is revealed in Figure 3: predator-naïve, lab-reared females altered their preferences when C. salvini was presented, while wild-caught females did not show such responses
Summary
In many species males face a higher predation risk than females because males display elaborate traits that evolved under sexual selection, which may attract females and predators. Studies on guppies (Poecilia reticulata) revealed that females when facing a predator switch towards associating with less colorful males [29,30], and females of the green swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) that usually prefer males with long swords, switch their preference towards males with short swords when exposed to videos showing successful predator attacks [31] Such behavioral alterations can be interpreted as a tactic employed by the choosing individuals to reduce their own exposure to predators, as brightly colored males attract predators to the area, and by having more predators in the area females’ predation risk is increased [32,33]. Brightly colored males in the Trinidadian guppy are more vulnerable to predation by the predatory cichlids Aequidens pulcher and Crenicichla alta than drabber ones [34,35,36,37,38,39,40] and females that preferentially associate with such brightly colored males will obviously face an high predation risk
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