Female Preference Research Articles

Sensory biases in response to novel complex acoustic signals in male and female grey treefrogs, Hyla chrysoscelis.

The sensory bias hypothesis proposes that female preferences for male sexual signalling traits evolved in contexts other than mating. Individuals of both sexes may experience similar selection pressures in these contexts; thus males may have similar biases to females for variation in signal traits. We tested this prediction in the grey treefrog, Hyla chrysoscelis, in which males produce simple advertisement calls, but females are more attracted to certain novel complex stimuli. We recorded males' responses to playbacks of both simple advertisement calls and complex calls consisting of the advertisement call with an acoustic appendage (filtered noise, or heterospecific call pulses) either leading or following the call. We tested females' preferences for the same stimuli in phonotaxis tests. We found evidence for a sensory bias in both sexes: males gave more aggressive calls in response to complex stimuli and females sometimes preferred complex over simple calls. These biases were not universal and depended on both temporal order and appendage characteristics, but how these effects manifested differed between the sexes. Ultimately, our approach of studying biases of both sexes in response to novel mating signals will shed light on the origin of mating preferences, and the mechanisms by which sensory biases operate.

Auditory processing neurons influence song evaluation and strength of mate preference in female songbirds.

Animals use a variety of complex signaling mechanisms to convey an array of information that can be detected by conspecifics and heterospecifics. Receivers of those signals perceive that information and use it to direct their subsequent actions. Thus, communication such as that which occurs between senders and receivers of vocal communication signals can be a powerful model in which to investigate the neural basis of sensory perception and action initiation that underlie decision-making. In this study, we investigated how female songbirds perceive the quality of acoustic signals (songs) performed by males and use that information to express preference for one song among many possible alternatives. We use behavioral measurement of song preference before and after lesion-induced alteration of activity in an auditory processing area (caudal nidopallium, NC) for which we have previously described its interconnections with other auditory areas and downstream reward pathways. Our findings reveal that inactivating NC does not change a female’s ability or willingness to perform behavioral indicators of mate choice, nor does it change their ability to identify the songs of individual males. However, lesioning NC does induce a decrease in the strength of song preference for specific males more than others. That decrease does not result in a complete elimination of preference, as female preferences for specific males are still evident but not as strongly expressed after lesioning of NC. Taken together, these data indicate that NC plays a role in a female’s strength of preference in song evaluation and mate choice, and activity in NC is an important facet of mate choice.

Joint effects of female preference intensity and frequency-dependent predation on the polymorphism maintenance in aposematic sexual traits.

Maintenance of variation in aposematic traits within and among populations is paradoxical because aposematic species are normally under positive frequency‐dependent predation (PFD), which is expected to erode variation. Aposematic traits can evolve in an ecological context where aposematic traits are simultaneously under mate choice. Here, we examine how the mate preference intensity affects the permissiveness of polymorphism in sexually selected aposematic traits under different PFD regimes. We use the haploid version of the classical sexual selection model and show that strong mate preferences can substantially increase the permissiveness of polymorphism in aposematic traits under different PFD regimes. The Fisher process can interact with PFD, and their interaction can promote the maintenance of polymorphism within populations when mate preferences are strong. We show that the same selective conditions that promote the maintenance of polymorphism within populations reduce the likelihood of divergence in aposematic traits among populations.

Older males whistle better: Age and body size are encoded in the mating calls of a nest-building amphibian (Anura: Leptodactylidae)

Courtship acoustic displays in anuran amphibians are energetically costly and risky, but have a major role in mating success since they encode relevant information regarding the caller’s identity and status. Age and size are essential traits shaping fitness, reproductive success and life-history strategies, and thus are expected to also have a role in courtship displays. We tested this assumption in a species of nest-building frogs,Leptodactylus bufonius, in northern Argentina. We conducted the first detailed quantitative description of the males’ mating calls and assessed the effects of biological traits (i.e., body size parameters and individual age) and local climate (i.e., air temperature and humidity) on the main acoustic features of these calls (i.e., call duration, inter-call duration, dominant frequency, and dominant frequency modulation). The calls were short (mean ± SE, 0.163 ± 0.004 s), whistle-like, single notes with harmonic structure. The dominant frequency (1381.7 ± 16.2 Hz) decreased with arm length (χ2= 5.244, df = 1,p= 0.022) and had an upward modulation (456.4 ± 11.0 Hz) which increased with age (χ2= 4.7012, df = 1,p= 0.030). Call duration and dominant frequency were the most static parameters at intra-individual level, indicating their role in individual recognition. Temperature and humidity shaped the temporal acoustic parameters, and the dominant frequency. Our findings suggest that the acoustic features of the mating calls in amphibians could promote female mate choice in relation to both size and age and open up new questions for future research: are females more attracted to older males, and what are the specific costs and benefits? We suggest that mating calls may direct female preferences toward males of certain size and age classes, ultimately shaping the life-history strategies in a given population. Finally, we found discrepancies in the mating calls ofL. bufoniusrecorded from Corrientes and those previously described from other populations, which suggests that multiple species may have been recorded under the same name.

Efficacy constraints on female directional preference stabilize a male call component in a multimodal cricket duet

Mate advertisement signals can vary in their variability, with some signals or signal components being highly stereotyped and others highly variable. One hypothesis for differences in variability suggests that receivers provide stabilizing selection for signal components important for mate recognition, resulting in low variability, while also providing directional selection for signal components indicating mate quality, correlating with greater variability. Factors that affect signal efficacy, however, can also influence signal design – and might interact with receiver preferences to influence variability. We investigated these hypotheses in the duetting cricket species Lebinthus bitaeniatus Stål. Like many other insects, these crickets use call-and-response signalling to find mates. Males produce an acoustic signal, females reply with a vibrational signal, and males use these vibrations to find females. Male calls have two components: a series of isolated syllables (ticks) followed by a rapid series of syllables (a trill). The number of ticks per call is highly variable, whereas the number of pulses in the trill is stereotyped. Male size was correlated positively with the number of trill pulses per call, but not with the number of ticks. Female response amplitude was not related to the number of ticks in the male call (the variable component) and it increased with trill duration (the stereotyped signal component), contrary to the stabilizing directional selection hypothesis. We also found, however, that the latency of the female vibrational reply became erratic as the trill increased beyond the typical duration. Since males in duetting insect species rely on the species-specific latency of the female reply to recognize the signal, this reduces the efficacy of the female reply for communication despite the females’ greater amplitude response. Given the prevalence of call-and-response signalling in insects, this relationship between female response amplitude and signal efficacy could be a common factor influencing signal variability across many species. • Male calls in a duetting cricket species have two components: ticks and a trill. • The number of ticks per call is highly variable, whereas the trill is stereotyped. • Female vibrational replies to males were unaffected by the number of ticks per call. • Females produced stronger replies to longer trills, but timing was adversely affected. • An interaction between female reply amplitude and efficacy explains uniform trills.

Variations in calling behaviour of wing dimorphic male crickets

A trade-off between flight and reproduction has been well studied in wing dimorphic female insects but less attention has been given to this trade-off in males. In this study, the authors analysed the differences in the calling behaviours of long-winged (LW) and short-winged (SW) male Velarifictorus aspersus crickets. Furthermore, the authors examined the effects of flight and wing dealation on the calling behaviour of LW males, as well as female preferences regarding the calling songs of males. The results showed that SW males sang more often than LW males during the first 9 days after emergence, but there were no significant differences in the song characteristics of SW and LW males. A flight of 5 min increased the singing time by LW males without changing the song characteristics, but a flight of 30 min or wing dealation increased both the singing time and chirp number per song. In binomial choice trials, female crickets did not prefer SW calling song to unflown LW calling song. But when LW males had either flown 30 min or been dealated, females preferred LW to SW calling song. Therefore, LW males may attract fewer females than SW males when they are preparing for dispersal, but this reproductive disadvantage may be absent during dispersal and the settling stage.

Male mating preference in an ixodid tick

BackgroundMate choice is a fundamental element of sexual selection and has the potential to shape the evolution of traits. Mate choice based on body size has been shown to be a common trait in several arthropod species. In hard ticks, a taxon of medical and veterinary importance, engorgement weight is positively correlated with reproductive output but it is unknown whether adult males show mate choice. Here, we experimentally investigated whether males (i) use chemical cues to choose their mating partner, (ii) consistently choose for the same female individual and (iii) prefer females with highest weight after feeding.MethodsWe used two experimental setups which allowed chemical communication between ticks: (i) a horizontal tube preventing physical contact with the female and (ii) an arena where tactile cues were allowed. In total, we tested 62 different triads in 124 tests (66 tests in the horizontal tube and 58 in the arena) composed of one male that could choose between two engorged females. Specifically, we tested 42 triads in the tube and 46 in the arena; 24 triads were repeatedly tested in the tube while 38 triads were tested in both setups.ResultsWe found no preference for individual or heavier females in either setup. However, in the horizontal tube setup, males significantly preferred females that were not visited by them in the previous test.ConclusionsOur results suggest a lack of male mate choice despite heavier females having higher fecundity. However, future studies should take into account that males may recognize the potential mating partners they previously met.Graphical

Evolutionary origins of sexual dimorphism: Lessons from female-limited mimicry in butterflies.

The striking female-limited mimicry observed in some butterfly species is a text-book example of sexually dimorphic trait submitted to intense natural selection. Two main evolutionary hypotheses, based on natural and sexual selection respectively, have been proposed. Predation pressure favoring mimicry toward defended species could be higher in females because of their slower flight, and thus overcome developmental constraints favoring the ancestral trait that limits the evolution of mimicry in males but not in females. Alternatively, the evolution of mimicry in males could be limited by female preference for non-mimetic males. However, the evolutionary origin of female preference for non-mimetic males remains unclear. Here, we hypothesize that costly sexual interactions between individuals from distinct sympatric species might intensify because of mimicry, therefore promoting female preference for non-mimetic trait. Using a mathematical model, we compare the evolution of female-limited mimicry when assuming either alternative selective hypotheses. We show that the patterns of divergence of male and female trait from the ancestral traits can differ between these selection regimes. We specifically highlight that divergence in female trait is not a signature of the effect of natural selection. Our results also evidence why female-limited mimicry is more frequently observed in Batesianmimics.

Home-Based Enterprises: Experimental Evidence on Female Preferences from Pakistan

Home-Based Enterprises: Experimental Evidence on Female Preferences from Pakistan

Behavioral, Neural, and Molecular Mechanisms of Conditioned Mate Preference: The Role of Opioids and First Experiences of Sexual Reward.

Although mechanisms of mate preference are thought to be relatively hard-wired, experience with appetitive and consummatory sexual reward has been shown to condition preferences for partner related cues and even objects that predict sexual reward. Here, we reviewed evidence from laboratory species and humans on sexually conditioned place, partner, and ejaculatory preferences in males and females, as well as the neurochemical, molecular, and epigenetic mechanisms putatively responsible. From a comprehensive review of the available data, we concluded that opioid transmission at μ opioid receptors forms the basis of sexual pleasure and reward, which then sensitizes dopamine, oxytocin, and vasopressin systems responsible for attention, arousal, and bonding, leading to cortical activation that creates awareness of attraction and desire. First experiences with sexual reward states follow a pattern of sexual imprinting, during which partner- and/or object-related cues become crystallized by conditioning into idiosyncratic “types” that are found sexually attractive and arousing. These mechanisms tie reward and reproduction together, blending proximate and ultimate causality in the maintenance of variability within a species.

The evolution of mating preferences for genetic attractiveness and quality in the presence of sensory bias

The aesthetic preferences of potential mates have driven the evolution of a baffling diversity of elaborate ornaments. Which fitness benefit-if any-choosers gain from expressing such preferences is controversial, however. Here, we simulate the evolution of preferences for multiple ornament types (e.g., "Fisherian," "handicap," and "indicator" ornaments) that differ in their associations with genes for attractiveness and other components of fitness. We model the costs of preference expression in a biologically plausible way, which decouples costly mate search from cost-free preferences. Ornaments of all types evolved in our model, but their occurrence was far from random. Females typically preferred ornaments that carried information about a male's quality, defined here as his ability to acquire and metabolize resources. Highly salient ornaments, which key into preexisting perceptual biases, were also more likely to evolve. When males expressed quality-dependent ornaments, females invested readily in costly mate search to locate preferred males. In contrast, the genetic benefits associated with purely arbitrary ornaments were insufficient to sustain highly costly mate search. Arbitrary ornaments could nonetheless "piggyback" on mate-search effort favored by other, quality-dependent ornaments. We further show that the potential to produce attractive male offspring ("sexy sons") can be as important as producing offspring of high general quality ("good genes") in shaping female preferences, even when preferred ornaments are quality dependent. Our model highlights the importance of mate-search effort as a driver of aesthetic coevolution.

‘Mother knows best’: Maternal oviposition effects of a range‐expanding insect herbivore degrade coastal wetlands by targeting juvenile foundation plant species

AbstractSpecies range expansion induced by climate change and human activities threaten native populations and communities across the biosphere. Insect herbivores, important consumers of plants, are known to expand or contract their range under global change, with potential consequences to the newly reached environment. The selection of oviposition sites by herbivorous insects could notably impact offspring performance. However, the role of such effects in impacting the receiving ecosystem has been rarely explored. Here, we provide the first evidence showing that a terrestrial range‐expanding phytophagous wood‐borer moth (Zeuzera leuconotum Butler) heavily attacked the saplings of a foundation plant species tamarisk (Tamarix chinensis) in salt marshes. Long‐term field surveys and laboratory behaviour experiments revealed that the oviposition preference of adult females was beneficial to their larval performance. The preference to oviposit on young branches of the new host plants, which were often softer and contained enough nutrients for larval development, indicates that females could still make the right choice on novel host‐plants. This finding supports the ‘mother knows best’ hypothesis that female insects will evolve to oviposit on hosts on which their offspring fare best. Consequently, the survival of host‐plant saplings decreased dramatically under this top‐down control, revealing that herbivory of this range‐expanding insect has a profound negative impact on the recruitment and succession of coastal foundation species, thereby potentially leading to saltmarsh degradation. These findings highlight the importance of the maternal oviposition effects in range‐expanding insects and how these populations can establish using novel host‐plants and threaten coastal wetlands.

Female Preference for Males Varies with Resource Availability for Reproduction in the Freshwater Goby Tridentiger brevispinis.

Animals with resource-based breeding systems show varying sexual selection modes driven by resource availability. Males of the freshwater goby Tridentiger brevispinis (Pisces: Gobiidae), which are larger, with a longer dorsal-fin, than females, make nests under stones, and provide exclusive parental care of eggs in the nests. For this goby, the nest sites are crucial resources for reproduction. Laboratory experiments that controlled for nest-site abundance were conducted to investigate the effects of nest-site availability on male-male competition and female mate choice. Nest-holding males were on average larger than the average size of all males combined under conditions of low nest-site availability. This result indicates a greater advantage for large males in intrasexual competition for nest sites under conditions of low nest-site availability. Furthermore, egg-guarding males under conditions of low nest-site availability were larger than nest-holding males without eggs. Under conditions of high nest-site availability, the dorsal-fin length of nest-holding males with eggs were longer than those without eggs. These findings suggest that female preference for mates varies qualitatively with nest-site availability. This variation in female preference might result from mate availability that depends upon nest-site availability. The current study concludes that in nest-spawning fishes, nest-site availability can affect the intensity of male-male competition and cause variations of female preference for mates.

What do male and female zebrafish prefer? Directional and colour preference in maze tasks.

Studies regarding the animals' innate preferences help elucidate and avoid probable sources of bias and serve as a reference to improve and develop new behavioural tasks. In zebrafish research, data obtained in behavioural assessments are often not replicated between research groups or even inside the same laboratory raising huge concerns about replicability and reproducibility. Among the potential causes that are not well considered, sexual differences can be a probable source of bias. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the male and female zebrafish directional and colour preferences in the plus-maze and T-maze behavioural tasks. Experiment 1 evaluated directional preference, and experiment 2 evaluated colour preference in a plus-maze task; experiment 3 evaluated preference between black or white in a T-maze task. Individual preferences were expressed as the percentage of time spent in each zone. Our results showed that male and female zebrafish demonstrated no difference in directional preference in the plus-maze task. Surprisingly, male and female zebrafish showed colour preference differences in the plus-maze task; males did not show any colour preference, while female zebrafish demonstrated a red preference compared to white, blue and yellow colours. Moreover, both male and female zebrafish demonstrated a strong black colour preference compared to the white colour in the T-maze task. Our findings characterized the spontaneous preference of male and female zebrafish for direction and colour, identifying possible biases and providing insights that contribute to the standardization of future protocols.

Lived Experiences of Married Postgraduate Students at University of Zambia Regarding Marriage Mate Selection

This research sought to find out the lived experiences of married postgraduate students at UNZA regarding marriage mate selection. The study used a qualitative research methodology as well as a Case Study as its research design towards data collection. The data was collected using a semi-structured interview guided questions. The sample selection was 16 in total of postgraduate students at UNZA which included 8 males and 8 female participants. The general literature overview of this research indicated that marriage is a fundamental social institution that exists throughout the world. And that marriage mate selection is one of the most important decisions of people’s social life which determines their happiness in marriage. However, the findings in this study revealed that people looked for attributes or factors such as education in marriage mate selection because they believed that marrying a fellow educated person made it easy to relate as their thinking would be aligned to theirs. Secondly the financial stability of a potential marriage partner was also an important attribute that both males and females looked for in their prospective mate. Thirdly the study showed that a God-fearing partner was preferred unlike a non-believer because of the belief that Godly people were less likely to indulge in unholy conduct such as infidelity. The other perspectives includes some female preference of a man who is tall in height and dark in complexion, while some men preferred women who are beautiful with small and curvy body structure. Finally, the overall attributes in marriage mate selection included a man who is loving, caring and with good leadership qualities, while males preferred a woman who is respectful, intelligent, trustworthy, understanding and one who refrained from taking alcohol. For further studies, it is recommended that other research focus should be conducted in communities where there are less educated males and females.

Morphological and olfactory tree traits influence the susceptibility and suitability of the apple species Malus domestica and M. sylvestris to the florivorous weevil Anthonomus pomorum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The florivorous apple blossom weevil, Anthonomus pomorum (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is the most economically relevant insect pest of European apple orchards in early spring. Neither efficient monitoring nor ecologically sustainable management of this insect pest has yet been implemented. To identify heritable traits of apple trees that might influence the host selection of A. pomorum, we compared the susceptibility of apple tree species using infestation rates of the domesticated apple, Malus domestica (Rosaceae: Pyreae), and the European crab apple, M. sylvestris. We evaluated the suitability of the two apple species for A. pomorum by quantifying the mass of weevil offspring. Because volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from flower buds of the domesticated apple have previously been suggested to mediate female weevil preference via olfactory cues, we conducted bioassay experiments with blossom buds of both apple species to explore the olfactory preference of adult weevils and, furthermore, identified the headspace VOCs of blossom buds of both apple species through GC-MS analysis. The infestation analysis showed that A. pomorum infested the native European crab apple more prevalently than the domesticated apple, which originated from Central Asia. The European crab apple also appeared to be better suited for weevil larval development than the domesticated apple, as weevils emerging from M. sylvestris had a higher body mass than those emerging from M. domestica. These field observations were supported by olfactory bioassays, which showed that A. pomorum significantly preferred the odor of M. sylvestris buds compared to the odor of M. domestica buds. The analysis of headspace VOCs indicated differences in the blossom bud volatiles separating several M. domestica individuals from M. sylvestris individuals. This knowledge might be employed in further studies to repel A. pomorum from M. domestica blossom buds.

Hybridization decreases native cutthroat trout reproductive fitness.

Examining natural selection in wild populations is challenging, but crucial to understanding many ecological and evolutionary processes. Additionally, in hybridizing populations, natural selection may be an important determinant of the eventual outcome of hybridization. We characterized several components of relative fitness in hybridizing populations of Yellowstone cutthroat trout and rainbow trout in an effort to better understand the prolonged persistence of both parental species despite predictions of extirpation. Thousands of genomic loci enabled precise quantification of hybrid status in adult and subsequent juvenile generations; a subset of those data also identified parent-offspring relationships. We used linear models and simulations to assess the effects of ancestry on reproductive output and mate choice decisions. We found a relatively low number of late-stage (F3+) hybrids and an excess of F2 juveniles relative to the adult generation in one location, which suggests the presence of hybrid breakdown decreasing the fitness of F2+ hybrids later in life. Assessments of reproductive output showed that Yellowstone cutthroat trout are more likely to successfully reproduce and produce slightly more offspring than their rainbow trout and hybrid counterparts. Mate choice appeared to be largely random, though we did find statistical support for slight female preference for males of similar ancestry. Together, these results show that native Yellowstone cutthroat trout are able to outperform rainbow trout in terms of reproduction and suggest that management action to exclude rainbow trout from spawning locations may bolster the now-rare Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

Florid cemento-osseous dysplasia-related osteonecrosis: A series of cases

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the clinicopathological features of florid cemento-osseous dysplasia (FCOD)-related osteonecrosis highlighting their histopathological aspects and bone structure. MethodsTwenty-two FCOD-related osteonecrosis cases were evaluated retrospectively. Osteonecrosis, osteomyelitis, bacterial colonization, bone resorption, reactive bone, osteon-like structure, lamellar bone, and basophilic lines were analyzed. Specific staining and fluorescence and polarized light microscopy analyses were also performed.Results: The mandible was more affected by FCOD-related osteonecrosis. There was a predominance of African-Brazilian women in the fifth and seventh decades of life. Osteomyelitis was present in 82 % of cases whereas bone resorption and bacterial colonization were present in 100 % of FCOD-related osteonecrosis cases. Thick basophilic lines were seen in all cases (100 %). Actinomycosis and osteoclasts were not often. ConclusionsThis study showed female adult preference, mandibular location, and some findings such as osteomyelitis, bone resorption, and bacterial colonization were histopathological features more frequent in FCOD-related osteonecrosis. In the absence of a close clinical and radiographic correlation, the morphology of the necrotized bone similar to cementum could help to recognize FCOD.

Marriage in the Melting Pot: An Evolutionary Approach to European Ancestry, Homogamy, and Fertility in the United States.

To understand marriage patterns, homogamy, and fertility of women of European ancestry in the United States from an evolutionary perspective, we investigated if a prevalence of ancestral homogamy exists, the factors influencing a female preference for an ancestral homogamous vs. heterogamous marriage, and if ancestral homogamous vs. heterogamous marriages have an impact on fertility. Furthermore, we aim to determine the heritability of homogamous vs. heterogamous marriage behavior. We used the census data of 369,121 women in the United States married only once and aged between 46 and 60 years, provided by IPUMS USA (https://usa.ipums.org/usa/). We used linear mixed models to determine the association between the probability of a homogamous vs. heterogamous marriage and the individual fertility of women. We aimed to estimate the heritability (genetics and parental environment) of marriage behavior using a linear mixed model. We found that ancestral heterogamous marriages are more frequent compared to homogamous marriages, but only if all ancestry groups are included. If ancestry is aggregated, homogamous marriages are more frequent compared to heterogamous marriages. Most of the variance (up to 27%) in inter-ancestry marriage and fertility (up to 12%) is explained by ancestry per se, followed by the ratio of individuals of a certain ancestral background in a county (∼6%), indicating a frequency depending selection into marriage: the more individuals of a certain ancestry live in a county, the lower is the tendency to marry someone of a different ancestral background. Furthermore, we found that about 12% (depending to some extent on the clustering) of the marriage behavior is heritable. Being in a homogamous marriage and the income of the spouse are both significantly positively associated with the number of children women have and the probability that women have at least one child, albeit explaining only a very low proportion of the overall variance. The most important factor (in terms of variance explained) for being in an ancestral homogamous vs. heterogamous marriage, for the number of children, and for childlessness is the ancestry of the women. Most children are born to women of Irish, French, and Norwegian ancestry (Irish X̄: 3.24, French X̄: 3.21, and Norwegian X̄: 3.18), the lowest number of children is to women of Latvian, Rumanian, and Russian ancestry (Latvian X̄: 2.26, Rumanian X̄: 2.19, and Russian X̄: 2.35). Albeit, we are not able to distinguish the genetic and social heritability on the basis of our data, only a small heritability for in-group vs. out-group marriage behavior is indicated (∼12% of variance explained).

Mismatch between calf paternity and observed copulations between male and female reindeer: Multiple mating in a polygynous ungulate?

In polygynous systems, such as that exhibited by reindeer Rangifer tarandus, mate choice can be difficult to disentangle from male intrasexual competition because male behavior may constrain female choice. Multiple mating may provide an avenue for female mate choice, though it is difficult to identify using behavioral estimators alone. Molecular techniques address this issue by affording ecologists an opportunity to reassess mating systems from a genetic perspective. We assessed the frequency and possible explanations for multiple mating in reindeer using a genetic approach to determine the success of observed copulations in a semi-domesticated herd in Kaamanen, Finland. Behavioral and genetic data were synthesized with population characteristics over a 7-year period to test the hypothesis that, if present, polyandry in reindeer is driven by sexual harassment from sub-dominant males. We observed multiple mating in 42% of females, with as many as 60% exhibiting multiple mating in certain years. We found no evidence that multiple mating resulted from sexual harassment by sub-dominant males, suggesting that it is likely a deliberate strategy among females. Conversion rate of copulations into paternities varied with male size, with smaller males more likely to experience mismatch than larger males. Female preference for larger males persisted despite the occurrence of multiple mating, possibly suggesting a mechanism for cryptic post-copulatory selection. We suggest further research to delineate the possible influence of cryptic post-copulatory selection and multiple mating to defend against infertility in exhausted males.