Journal
COMPTES RENDUS BIOLOGIES
Volume 334, Issue 12, Pages 906-910Publisher
ACAD SCIENCES
DOI: 10.1016/j.crvi.2011.08.004
Keywords
Mate choice; Directional preference; Body size; Convict cichlid; Amatitliana nigrofasciata
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Funding
- University of Burgundy
- Burgundy Regional Council
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Although size-assortative mating in convict cichlids, Amatitliana nigrofasciata, is supposed to result from mutual mating preference for larger individuals, female choice in relation to male size remains ambiguous. We revisited the evidence for directional preference for larger males in female convict cichlids using a classical two-way choice apparatus in which each female could decide to spend time in front of a small male or a large one. We found evidence for female preference for large males, as assessed from association preference during a 4-hour period following encounter. Furthermore, females decided to spawn in front of the initially preferred male more often than expected by chance. Our results thus confirm the existence of a directional preference for large males in female convict cichlids, and indicate that association preference measured over a short period of time can provide a quick and reliable proxy for reproductive preference in this species. (C) 2011 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.
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