10.5061/DRYAD.GG1839B
Bertram, Michael G.
Monash University
Saaristo, Minna
Monash University
Ecker, Tiarne E.
Monash University
Baumgartner, John B.
Macquarie University
Wong, Bob B.M.
Monash University
Wong, Bob B M
Monash University
Data from: An androgenic endocrine disruptor alters male mating behaviour
in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
Dryad
dataset
2018
Agricultural pollution
Reproductive behaviour
Endocrine-disrupting chemical
Veterinary pharmaceutical
Trenbolone
2018-08-16T17:33:03Z
2018-08-16T17:33:03Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ary121
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Hormonally active chemical pollution threatens human and wildlife
populations globally. However, despite the well-established capacity of
endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) to alter reproductive traits,
relatively few studies have examined the impacts of EDCs on mechanisms of
sexual selection. This study investigated the effects of short-term
exposure to an environmentally realistic level of 17β-trenbolone—a potent
anabolic steroid used in livestock production worldwide—on male mate
preference, reproductive behaviour and morphology in the guppy (Poecilia
reticulata). Male guppies prefer to mate with larger females because such
females are generally more fecund. Hence, males gain direct fitness
benefits by being choosy. Here, we found no significant effect of
17β-trenbolone exposure on male courting behaviour, with both unexposed
and exposed males courting larger females more often. However, exposure to
17β-trenbolone significantly altered the amount of coercive copulatory
behaviour (‘sneak’ matings) performed. Specifically, while both unexposed
and exposed males demonstrated a preference for larger females by
conducting more sneaking attempts towards these females, exposed males
carried out a greater number of sneaks towards large females than did
unexposed males. Further, exposure resulted in increased male condition
index (i.e., mass relative to length). Together, our results show for the
first time that 17β-trenbolone can alter reproductive behaviour and
morphology in male fish at concentrations as low as 4 ng/L, highlighting
the potential for disruption of reproductive processes in wildlife exposed
to this potent agricultural contaminant.
Bertram 2018 - Behav Ecol