10.5061/DRYAD.CT182
Hernandez-Jimenez, Armando
Instituto de Ecología
Rios-Cardenas, Oscar
Instituto de Ecología
Data from: Condition-dependent female preference for male genitalia length
is based on male reproductive tactics
Dryad
dataset
2017
Alternative Reproductive Tactics
Swordtail fish
Xiphophorus helleri
Xiphophorus multilineatus
Female preference
male genitalia
2017-11-10T14:12:41Z
2017-11-10T14:12:41Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2017.2223
38667 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
There is extensive morphological variation of male genitalia across
animals with internal fertilization, even among closely related species.
Most studies attempting to explain this extraordinary diversity have
focused on processes that occur post-copula (e.g. sperm competition,
cryptic female choice). Only a few studies have focused on the pre-copula
process of female preference. In addition, the extent to which this
variation could be associated with the use of different reproductive
tactics has yet to be explored. Here, we show that female preference for
male genitalia length in two livebearing fishes depends on the type of
reproductive tactic of the males being evaluated as well as the body
condition of the female. In a species where all males coax females to
acquire matings (courters), females preferred males with short genitalia.
In a species with genetically influenced alternative reproductive tactics
(courter males that only court and produce courter sons, sneaker males
that use the coercive tactic of sneak chase and produce sneaker sons),
female preference depended on an interaction between male tactic and
female condition: females in good condition preferred courter males with
short genitalia, and sneaker males with long genitalia. Our results
suggest that female preference for male traits favourable to their sons
may be an important factor contributing to the diversification of male
genitalia. Despite the contrasting selection for genitalia length that our
female preference tests suggest, we found no significant differences in
genitalia length between coaxing (courters) and coercive (sneakers) males.
Our study represents a starting point to more clearly understand the role
of alternative reproductive tactics and variation in female mate
preference in the evolution of male genitalia.
Condition-dependent female preference for male genitalia length is based
on male reproductive tacticsThis data set contains a copy of the main data
file exactly as used for this paper and was obtained in the laboratory
from fish collected in the field. This data file was made in excel and can
be converted to most formats of different statistical programs. the same
document has a description of the included variables. Please feel free to
contact me if you have suggestions, find errors, inconsistencies, or any
other bug in the file. As well, please let me know about your uses of this
data.Condition_Dependent_Female_Preference.xlsx
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