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Author (up) Dugatkin, L.A.; Godin, J.-G.J.
Title Female mate copying in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata): age-dependent effects Type Journal Article
Year 1993 Publication Behavioral Ecology Abbreviated Journal Behav. Ecol.
Volume 4 Issue 4 Pages 289-292
Keywords mate choice, copying, guppy, Poecilia reticulata
Abstract Virtually all studies of mate choice to date have assumed that females choose mates independent of one another. Social cues, however, such as the mate choice of conspecifics, may also play an important role in such decisions. Previous work has shown that female guppies of similar age copy each other's choice of mates. Here we examine the effect of relative age on mate choice copying in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata, and examine whether younger individuals are more likely to copy the mate choice of older conspecifics than vice versa. Results indicate that younger females copy the mate choice of older females, but older individuals do not appear to be influenced by the mate choice of younger individuals.
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Call Number Equine Behaviour @ team @ Serial 2181
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Author (up) Dugatkin, L.A.; Godin, J.G.
Title Reversal of female mate choice by copying in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) Type Journal Article
Year 1992 Publication Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society Abbreviated Journal Proc Biol Sci
Volume 249 Issue 1325 Pages 179-184
Keywords Acclimatization; Animals; *Choice Behavior; Female; Male; Poecilia; *Sexual Behavior, Animal
Abstract Ever since Fisher (1958) formalized models of sexual selection, female mate choice has been assumed to be a genetically determined trait. Females, however, may also use social cues to select mates. One such cue might be the mate choice of conspecifics. Here we report the first direct evidence that a female's preference for a particular male can in fact be reversed by social cues. In our experiments using the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata), this reversal was mediated by mate-copying opportunities, such that a female (the 'focal' female) is given the opportunity to choose between two males, followed by a period in which she observes a second female (the 'model' female) displaying a preference for the male she herself did not prefer initially. When allowed to choose between the same males a second time, compared with control tests, a significant proportion of focal females reversed their mate choice and copied the preference of the model female. These results provide strong evidence for the role of non-genetic factors in sexual selection and underlie the need for new models of sexual selection that explicitly incorporate both genetic and cultural aspects of mate choice.
Address Department of Biology, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada
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ISSN 0962-8452 ISBN Medium
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Notes PMID:1360679 Approved no
Call Number Serial 1824
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Author (up) Hill, S.E.; Ryan, M.J.
Title The role of model female quality in the mate choice copying behaviour of sailfin mollies Type Journal Article
Year 2006 Publication Biology letters Abbreviated Journal Biol Lett
Volume 2 Issue 2 Pages 203-205
Keywords Animals; *Choice Behavior; Female; Male; *Mating Preference, Animal; Poecilia/*physiology
Abstract Female mate choice copying is a socially mediated mate choice behaviour, in which a male's attractiveness to females increases if he was previously chosen by another female as a mate. Although copying has been demonstrated in numerous species, little is known about the specific benefits it confers to copying females. Here we demonstrate that the mate choice behaviour of female sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) is influenced by the phenotypic quality of model females with whom males are observed consorting. Test females choosing between two males of similar body length were found to significantly increase time spent with previously non-preferred males after having observed them with a relatively high-quality female. Conversely, females were found to significantly decrease time spent with previously preferred males after having observed them with a relatively low-quality female. Female mate choice copying might be maintained by selection based on the heuristic value it provides females choosing between males whose quality differences are not easily distinguishable.
Address University of Texas at Austin, Department of Psychology, 1 University Station A8000, Austin, TX 78712, USA. sehill@mail.utexas.edu
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ISSN 1744-9561 ISBN Medium
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Notes PMID:17148362 Approved no
Call Number Serial 1820
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