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Nicole Kleinas HTC Thesis.pdf (1.89 MB)

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Variation in female mate preference for a male trait that provides information about growth rate in the swordtail Xiphophorus multilineatus

Kleinas, Nicole L
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1439637034

Abstract Details

2015, Bachelor of Science (BS), Ohio University, Biological Sciences.
Sexual selection is comprised of intersexual mate choice and intrasexual competition. In order for female choice to be adaptive, the benefits of being choosey need to outweigh the costs. Females could benefit from preferences for male traits that relay information about male quality and/or that increase offspring fitness. Female preferences are affected by genotype, environment, or a combination of the two. In the study species, Xiphophorus multilineatus, males belong to one of four genetic size classes, and one of two genetic reproductive tactics. Between these alternative reproductive tactics, growth rate may be under disruptive selection. Since growth rate relates to fitness, it is possible that females assess a potential mate’s growth rate by evaluating variation in male vertical body bars. I identified two aspects of the vertical body bars that are correlated with male juvenile growth rate. In addition, I demonstrated that females from a population of exclusively sneaker males show a preference for the barring pattern that represents a slower growth rate, which supports the proposed tactical disruptive selection on growth rate. Females from the sneaker line were also choosier in their preferences, which could potentially indicate that the fitness advantage to growing slower as a sneaker male may be greater than the fitness advantage to growing faster as a courter male.
Molly R. Morris (Advisor)
48 p.
Animal Sciences; Aquatic Sciences; Behaviorial Sciences; Biology; Evolution and Development
sexual selection; female preference; growth rate; disruptive selection; vertical body bars; xiphophorus multilineatus; swordtail

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kleinas, N. L. (2015). Variation in female mate preference for a male trait that provides information about growth rate in the swordtail Xiphophorus multilineatus [Undergraduate thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1439637034

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kleinas, Nicole. Variation in female mate preference for a male trait that provides information about growth rate in the swordtail Xiphophorus multilineatus. 2015. Ohio University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1439637034.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kleinas, Nicole. "Variation in female mate preference for a male trait that provides information about growth rate in the swordtail Xiphophorus multilineatus." Undergraduate thesis, Ohio University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1439637034

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ouhonors1439637034
603
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Ohio University Honors Tutorial College and OhioLINK.