Abstract
BackgroundVariation in mate choice behaviour among females within a population may influence the strength and form of sexual selection, yet the basis for any such variation is still poorly understood. Condition-dependence may be an important source of variation in female sexual responsiveness and in the preference functions for male display traits that she expresses when choosing. We manipulated food intake of female guppies (Poecilia reticulata), and examined the effect on several measures of condition and various components of mate choice behaviour.ResultsDiet significantly influenced four measures of female condition: standard length, weight, reproductive status and somatic fat reserves. Diet also significantly affected female sexual responsiveness, but not preference functions: females in good and poor condition prefer the same males.ConclusionsVariation in female condition within populations is therefore unlikely to influence the direction of sexual selection imposed by female choice. It may, however, influence the strength of sexual selection due to its effects on female responsiveness. The relative importance of female choice as a sexually selective force may also covary with female condition, however, because low responsiveness may result in sneak copulations being relatively more important as a determinant of the paternity of offspring. Differences among populations in mean condition may also influence geographic differences in the strength of sexual selection.
Highlights
Variation in mate choice behaviour among females within a population may influence the strength and form of sexual selection, yet the basis for any such variation is still poorly understood
Most studies have focussed on the modal or mean expression of female choice, and the net sexual selection operating on the male population as a whole
We present the results of a laboratory study in which we manipulated diet and somatic condition of female guppies (Poecilia reticulata), and tested the effects that this had on various components of female choice behaviour
Summary
Variation in mate choice behaviour among females within a population may influence the strength and form of sexual selection, yet the basis for any such variation is still poorly understood. We manipulated food intake of female guppies (Poecilia reticulata), and examined the effect on several measures of condition and various components of mate choice behaviour. We present the results of a laboratory study in which we manipulated diet and somatic condition of female guppies (Poecilia reticulata), and tested the effects that this had on various components of female choice behaviour. Responsiveness is the willingness of females to respond positively to males and to engage in active mate choice. It is an aspect of female choosiness (page number not for citation purposes)
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