Save

Mate Selection by Male Winter Moths Operophtera Brumata (Lepidoptera, Geometrldae): Adaptive Male Choice or Female Control?

in Behaviour
Autor:innen:
Stefan Van Dongen Department of Biology, University of Antwerp (UIA), Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium, Department of Ecology, Lund University, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden

Search for other papers by Stefan Van Dongen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Erik Matthysen Department of Biology, University of Antwerp (UIA), Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium

Search for other papers by Erik Matthysen in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Ellen Sprengers Department of Biology, University of Antwerp (UIA), Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium

Search for other papers by Ellen Sprengers in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, und
André Dhondt Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University, 159 Sapsuckerwoods Road, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA

Search for other papers by André Dhondt in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
Zitierung herunterladen Berechtigungen erhalten

Optionen für den Zugriff

Nutzen Sie bitte eine der untenstehenden Zugriffsmöglichkeiten, um den vollständigen Artikel zu lesen.

Institutszugang

Melden Sie sich mit Open Athens, Shibboleth oder Ihren institutionellen Anmeldedaten an.

Über Institut einloggen

Kauf

Sofortzugang erwerben (PDF-Download und unbegrenzter Online-Zugang):

36,93 €

Weitere Zugriffsmöglichkeiten

Auf DeepDyve mieten
Token einlösen

Abstract

Mate choice is an important component of sexual selection. It is expected to evolve if the benefits of choice outweigh the costs. Yet, the relative importance of costs and benefits in the evolution of mate choice remain poorly understood. In this study we present experimental evidence for adaptive mate choice by males, but not females, in the winter moth. In a series of experiments we show that: (a) males have a higher probability of attempting to copulate, and consequently also a higher probability to copulate with a larger, more fecund female; (b) if males are given the choice between two females they are more likely to copulate with the larger female; and (c) females do not seem to show any mate discrimination. A sample of winter moths collected in copula in the field did not show any assortative mating for body size. This is the first demonstration of male choice in a moth species with chemical communication. This choice is possibly based on variation in female pheromone quality and/or quantity. We argue that the relatively higher variation in female quality and the limited number of male matings probably have led to male choosiness despite a strongly male biased operational sex ratio. This is consistent with recent studies indicating that choice and competition may occur more frequently in the same sex than previously thought.

Kennzahlen

Insgesamt Letzte 365 Tage In den letzten 30 Tagen
Aufrufe von Kurzbeschreibungen 555 87 24
Gesamttextansichten 142 4 0
PDF-Downloads 65 9 0