Male dominance, female mate choice and intersexual conflict in the rose bitterling (Rhodeus ocellatus)
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2009 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Evolution |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Zoology |
| Keywords | female mating preference; good genes; olfactory cues; mate choice; MHC; Rhodeus ocellatus |
| Description | An intersexual conflict arises when males and females differ in their reproductive interests. Here we investigated the impact of male dominance on female mate choice and offspring growth and survival in the rose bitterling (Rhodeus ocellatus), a freshwater fish with a resource-based mating system. Using a combination of behavioral observation and parentage analyses it was shown that female preferences did not correspond with male dominance and that male aggression and dominance constrained female mate choice, resulting in a potential intersexual conflict. The survival of offspring to independence was significantly correlated with female mate preferences, but not with male dominance. A lack of strong congruence in female preference for males suggested a role for parental haplotype compatibility in mate choice. |
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