Mating behavior of Daphnia: impacts of predation risk, food quantity, and reproductive phase of females.

ABSTRACT: High predation risk and food depletion lead to sexual reproduction in cyclically parthenogenetic Daphnia. Mating, the core of sexual reproduction, also occurs under these conditions. Assessment of the environmental conditions and alteration of mating efforts may aid in determining the success of sexual reproduction. Here, we evaluated the impacts of predation risk, food quantity, and reproductive phase of females on the mating behavior of Daphnia obtusa males including contact frequency and duration using video analysis. Mating-related behavior involved male-female contact (mating) as well as male-male contact (fighting). Mating frequency increased while unnecessary fighting decreased in the presence of predation risk. In addition, low food concentration reduced fighting between males. Mal

SUBMITTER: La GH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4128813 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature