Ontogenetic shifts in male mating preference and morph-specific polyandry in a female colour polymorphic insect.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sexual conflict over mating rates may favour the origin and maintenance of phenotypes with contrasting reproductive strategies. The damselfly Ischnura elegans is characterised by a female colour polymorphism that consists of one androchrome and two gynochrome female morphs. Previous studies have shown that the polymorphism is genetic and to a high extent maintained by negative frequency-dependent mating success that varies temporally and spatially. However, the role of learning in male mating preferences has received little attention. We used molecular markers to investigate differences in polyandry between female morphs. In addition, we experimentally investigated innate male mating preferences and experience-dependent shifts in male mating preferences for female morphs

SUBMITTER: Sanchez-Guillen RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3691580 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature