Intrasexual competition facilitates the evolution of alternative mating strategies in a colour polymorphic fish.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Intense competition for access to females can lead to males exploiting different components of sexual selection, and result in the evolution of alternative mating strategies (AMSs). Males of Poecilia parae, a colour polymorphic fish, exhibit five distinct phenotypes: drab-coloured (immaculata), striped (parae), structural-coloured (blue) and carotenoid-based red and yellow morphs. Previous work indicates that immaculata males employ a sneaker strategy, whereas the red and yellow morphs exploit female preferences for carotenoid-based colours. Mating strategies favouring the maintenance of the other morphs remain to be determined. Here, we report the role of agonistic male-male interactions in influencing female mating preferences and male mating success, and in facilitati

SUBMITTER: Hurtado-Gonzales JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3017046 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature