Journal
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
Volume 10, Issue 10, Pages -Publisher
ROYAL SOC
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231428
Keywords
Syngnathidae; sexual dimorphism; sexual conflict; sexual selection; courtship displays; Stigmatopora nigra
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This study reports courtship displays in the wide-bodied pipefish, a species with extreme sexual dimorphism. Surprisingly, females also use their sex-specific ornament during courtship, while males initiate chasing behaviors in some cases. These findings provide important insights into the potential roles of sexual selection and sexual conflict in shaping sexual dimorphism.
In species with sex-specific signalling traits that appear to be ornamental (i.e. are conspicuous and with no obvious natural selection benefit), the ornamented sex typically initiates courtship and is most active in courtship. Here, we report for the first time courtship displays in the extremely sexually dimorphic, female-ornamented wide-bodied pipefish (Stigmatopora nigra), revealing unexpected behaviours. Females use their sex-specific ornament during courtship displays, as expected, but rarely in female-female interactions. Surprisingly, males initiated 61% of reciprocated courtship bouts and chased females in 17% of the bouts. This chasing behaviour could be a form of male harassment or be indicative of female disinterest in ardent males, either of which was unexpected to be found in this female-ornamented species. Our results highlight the need to study the details of species' behaviours in considering the potential roles of sexual selection and sexual conflict in shaping sexual dimorphism.
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