Female Preference For Large Males Research Articles

Female preference for large males in the bushcricketRequena sp. 5 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae)

Receptive females of the bushcricketRequena sp. 5 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) are attracted to male calls. In this experiment we investigate whether females discriminate between males on the basis of their calls. When virgin females were presented with two males of different size, they preferred the larger male. Larger males produce calls with a lower carrier frequency compared to smaller males, suggesting that females may use male carrier frequency as a predictor of male size. Furthermore, larger males produce heavier spermatophores. This suggests that females may prefer to mate with larger males to receive large nuptial gifts.

Pair and extra-pair mating success relative to male quality in red-winged blackbirds

We tested whether the reproductive success of male red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) varied with male secondary sexual traits or with haematozoa prevalence, and whether these patterns were consistent with females preferring genetically superior males. We also determined whether the traits that correlated with male success on their own territories were also correlated with male success at siring young on other males' territories. Our analysis included data from a 6-year study involving 617 nestlings for which paternity was determined by DNA profiling. Larger males sired more young on their territories, principally because they obtained larger harems. The success of larger males at acquiring more mates did not appear to be a consequence of larger males holding larger or better-quality territories. Older and longer-lived males sired more young by extra-pair fertilizations. Larger males sired the most offspring overall (on territory + off territory). Variation in epaulet size and color, responses to male and female models, nest defence and parasitism was not correlated with male success either on or off their territories or overall. Male success in a given year was significantly correlated with success the previous year, as expected if females were selecting genetically superior males. The male that was by far the most successful individual in this study was highly consistent from year to year. Because male body size is positively correlated with survival in this population (although not within the sample of males included in this study), female preference for larger males may have reflected a general preference for males with superior survival ability. We propose that the direct advantage realized by older males in extra-pair matings might indicate that experience is important, such that experienced males are better at creating or exploiting the opportunities for extra-pair mating. This hypothesis is consistent with a pairwise analysis of cuckoldry that showed that cuckolders were most often older than the males they cuckolded.

Female Choice in the Midwife Toads (Alytes Obstetricans and a. Cisternasii)

AbstractA previous study reported that large males had greater mating success than small males in two species of midwife toads. A behavioural mechanism that would explain such a pattern is sought. Dominant frequency is inversely correlated with male size in Alytes obstetricans and A. cisternasii. In both cases, two-speaker playback tests with synthetic calls show that females have a significant preference for calls with low frequencies. The results shows that female preference may impose directional sexual selection upon a static acoustic character that is correlated with male size. Male Alytes tend their eggs on land, but male size is not correlated with hatching success. Therefore female preference for larger males does not appear to directly increase female fitness.

Male parental care and female choice in the bicolor damselfish, Stegastes partitus: bigger is not always better

Female mate choice and patterns of clutch loss were investigated in a natural population of the bicolor damselfish, Stegastes partitus, in an attempt to link criteria used by females in mate choice with male or territory characteristics that enhance egg survival. Previous studies of mate choice in fish species with paternal care have demonstrated the importance of male size and the brood size defended by males in determining female choice. In the present study, neither male size nor brood size influenced male mating success. Of the measured male and territory characteristics, females chose males solely on the basis of their courtship rate. The lack of a female preference for large males and for males with relatively larger broods appeared to result from the patterns of clutch loss. Egg-hatching success was unrelated to either male size or brood size. Future work will determine whether males with high courtship rates provide superior parental care.

Mate Choice in Ground Crickets (Gryllidae: Nemboiinae)

To infer mating preferences of female Neonemobius sp., we monitored their proximity to males paired in laboratory enclosures. Females were found significantly more often near the larger of the males, and more often near a calling male than a silent one. The proportion of time individual males were observed calling was significantly correlated with male size. Females did not prefer virgin to mated males. When allowed to mate, females mated with the larger of the pair 5 of 7 times. Female preference for large males may result from selection on females to obtain larger investments from males. Female nemobiine crickets feed on glandular secretions provided by males during mating. Large males may offer more material, and females may use male calling songs as a cue to male size.

Female choice and male reproductive success in the angel blenny, Coralliozetus angelica (Teleostei: Chaenopsidae)

Correlates of reproductive success of male Coralliozetus angelica were studied in field populations in the central Gulf of California by collecting males with their shelters (vacant barnacle tests) and counting the number of eggs defended. Male body size was positively correlated with the number of eggs defended. This apparently resulted from female preference for large males since females preferred to mate with the larger of two males in laboratory choice experiments. Condition of males, as assessed by their relative head width, was also positively correlated with the number of eggs defended. Fit of males in their shelter entrance, male colour intensity, and male size relative to immediately surrounding males were not correlated with reproductive success. The quality of shelters was an important determinant of male reproductive success since females apparently avoided mating with males in heavily fouled shelters. Large shelters tended to be more heavily fouled than small shelters and male size and shelter size were positively correlated. The resulting negative correlation of male size and shelter quality apparently constrained female preference for large males and may be an important factor limiting the degree of polygyny in this species.

Mate selection in the fly Scatophaga stercoraria: female choice in a male-controlled system

Sexual pairing in the fly Scatophaga stercoraria involves ‘capture’ of females by males. Sizerelated choice by males and females is considered, because these flies are highly variable in size, and size strongly affects reproductive success. Results show that males do not discriminate among females on the basis of size. Females choose large males when free to select mates. They move toward larger males when contronted by more than one possible mate, and their movement on the oviposition site takes them to areas where large males are more common. Females paired with large males gain from (1) reduced harm in struggles; (2) more rapid copulation and oviposition, with lower risk to the female and her progeny; and (3) greater ability to escape danger during copulation. These benefits may account for female preference for large males.