title: Uncoupling the links between male mating tactics and female attractiveness.
abstract: Because not all females are equally attractive, and because mating reduces the chances of getting further copulations, males should prefer better-quality mates. In this paper, we use the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata) to explore the effects of two non-correlated measures of female quality--size and reproductive status--on male mating decisions. All male guppies employ two alternative mating tactics. We found that large females, particularly those from a high predation site, were the target of most sneaky mating attempts. The response persisted in fish raised under standard conditions over several generations in the laboratory. In addition, non-pregnant females received more courtship displays. We conclude that males can discriminate among females and that they uncouple their mating tactics to track different axes of quality.
authors.affiliation: Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, Fife KY16 8LB, UK. afo@st-andrews.ac.uk
authors.forename: Alfredo F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Ojanguren
authors.forename: Anne E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Magurran
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D019370:Observation; D011036:Poecilia / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology; D045483:Rivers; D012737:Sex Factors; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago