Male courtship decisions are influenced by light environment and female receptivity.

ABSTRACT: The appearance of animal colour signals depends jointly upon the ambient light spectrum and the signal's reflectance spectra. Light environment heterogeneity might, therefore, allow individuals to enhance their signal by signalling in an environment that increases signal efficacy. We tested this hypothesis by providing male guppies (Poecilia reticulata), a choice of three light environments in which to display their colour signal to females: green, lilac, and clear. We paired males with both receptive and non-receptive females to test whether female response might affect male behavioural decisions. Males preferred the clear environment in all trials and this environment also resulted in males having the highest average visual contrast. Sexual behaviour was influenced by complex interaction

SUBMITTER: Cole GL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5046890 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature