Aesthetic preference for artificially selected color variant affects mate choice copying behavior in female Poecilia latipinna.

ABSTRACT: Three experiments were conducted examining whether an artificially selected "gold" color variant in female "models" affects mate choice copying behavior in sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna). Experiment I consisted of a pair of female preference assays, first assessing preference for male body size, followed by a mate choice copying assay that paired a model female with the smaller, non-preferred male from the initial preference test. Female subjects were divided into three groups that used either a wildtype female model, an artificially selected "gold" variant (cultivated within the aquarium fish trade) model, or control wherein no model was presented. Results showed females consistently copied the model's choice, switching preferences from the larger to smaller male when paired with a

SUBMITTER: MacLaren RD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10977783 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature