Genotype and growth rate influence female mate preference in Xiphophorus multilineatus: Potential selection to optimize mortality-growth rate tradeoff.

ABSTRACT: The extent to which mate preferences are adaptive requires a better understanding of the factors that influence variation in mate preferences. Xiphophorus multilineatus is a live-bearing fish with males that exhibit alternative reproductive tactics (courter/sneaker). We examined the influence of a female's genotype (courter vs sneaker lineage), growth rate, and social experience on mate preference for courter as compared to sneaker males. We found that females with a sneaker genotype and slower growth rates had stronger mate preferences for the faster growing courter males than females with a courter genotype, regardless of mating experience with one or both types of males. In addition, the relationship between strength of preference and growth rate depended on a females' genotype; females

SUBMITTER: Fitschen-Brown M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10310027 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature