TY - JOUR
T1 - Male mate choice based on ontogenetic colour changes of females in the damselfly Ischnura senegalensis
AU - Takahashi, Yuma
AU - Watanabe, Mamoru
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments This study was partially supported by a Research Fellowships of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science for Young Scientists (20-104) to Y.T.
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - While male mate choice behaviour has been reported in many taxa, little is known about its plasticity and evolutionary consequences. In the damselfly Ischnura senegalensis, females exhibit colour dimorphism (gynomorph and andromorph). The body colour of gynomorphs changed ontogenetically in accordance with sexual maturation, while little change occurred in andromorphs. To test the male mate choice between sexually immature and mature females of both morphs, binary choice experiments were conducted. Virgin males that were reared separately from females after emergence did not show significant preference between sexually immature and mature females for both morphs, indicating that virgin males were unable to discriminate female reproductive status. On the other hand, males that had experienced copulation with gynomorphs preferred sexually mature gynomorphs to sexually immature ones. However, males that had experienced copulation with andromorphs could not discriminate between sexually immature and mature andromorphs, probably due to the absence of significant ontogenetic change in their thoracic colour. Therefore, female body colour is an important cue for males in discriminating between sexual maturation stages. Learned mate discrimination depending on copulation experience might help males to detect potential mates effectively and avoid sexually unreceptive immature female. We finally discuss the adaptive significance of the ontogenetic colour change in females.
AB - While male mate choice behaviour has been reported in many taxa, little is known about its plasticity and evolutionary consequences. In the damselfly Ischnura senegalensis, females exhibit colour dimorphism (gynomorph and andromorph). The body colour of gynomorphs changed ontogenetically in accordance with sexual maturation, while little change occurred in andromorphs. To test the male mate choice between sexually immature and mature females of both morphs, binary choice experiments were conducted. Virgin males that were reared separately from females after emergence did not show significant preference between sexually immature and mature females for both morphs, indicating that virgin males were unable to discriminate female reproductive status. On the other hand, males that had experienced copulation with gynomorphs preferred sexually mature gynomorphs to sexually immature ones. However, males that had experienced copulation with andromorphs could not discriminate between sexually immature and mature andromorphs, probably due to the absence of significant ontogenetic change in their thoracic colour. Therefore, female body colour is an important cue for males in discriminating between sexual maturation stages. Learned mate discrimination depending on copulation experience might help males to detect potential mates effectively and avoid sexually unreceptive immature female. We finally discuss the adaptive significance of the ontogenetic colour change in females.
KW - Female polymorphism
KW - Innate mating preference
KW - Learned mating preference
KW - Male harassment
KW - Ontogenetic colour change
KW - Sexual maturation
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U2 - 10.1007/s10164-010-0257-6
DO - 10.1007/s10164-010-0257-6
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79955048906
VL - 29
SP - 293
EP - 299
JO - Journal of Ethology
JF - Journal of Ethology
SN - 0289-0771
IS - 2
ER -