biostudies-literatureFitschen-Brown MOhio Universitye0287843https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10310027biostudies-literatureUnknown18(6)The extent to which mate preferences are adaptive requires a better understanding of the factors that influence variation in mate preferences. Xiphophorus multilineatus is a live-bearing fish with males that exhibit alternative reproductive tactics (courter/sneaker). We examined the influence of a female's genotype (courter vs sneaker lineage), growth rate, and social experience on mate preference for courter as compared to sneaker males. We found that females with a sneaker genotype and slower growth rates had stronger mate preferences for the faster growing courter males than females with a courter genotype, regardless of mating experience with one or both types of males. In addition, the relationship between strength of preference and growth rate depended on a females' genotype; femalesPloS oneGenotype and growth rate influence female mate preference in Xiphophorus multilineatus: Potential selection to optimize mortality-growth rate tradeoff.PMC10310027Baker FundFitschen-Brown MMorris MfalseGenotype and growth rate influence female mate preference in Xiphophorus multilineatus: Potential selection to optimize mortality-growth rate tradeoff.The extent to which mate preferences are adaptive requires a better understanding of the factors that influence variation in mate preferences. Xiphophorus multilineatus is a live-bearing fish with males that exhibit alternative reproductive tactics (courter/sneaker). We examined the influence of a female's genotype (courter vs sneaker lineage), growth rate, and social experience on mate preference for courter as compared to sneaker males. We found that females with a sneaker genotype and slower growth rates had stronger mate preferences for the faster growing courter males than females with a courter genotype, regardless of mating experience with one or both types of males. In addition, the relationship between strength of preference and growth rate depended on a females' genotype; females2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232026-05-07T08:35:34.526Z2025-04-04T11:18:30.383ZS-EPMC103100273738475710.1371/journal.pone.0287843