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Female preference for large males in sailfin mollies, Poecilia latipinna: the importance of predation pressure and reproductive status

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Abstract

We examined the effect of predation risk on female association patterns in the live-bearing sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna). We tested two classes of females, with and without the risk of predation by a green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus): (1) postpartum females (maintained with males until visibly gravid, then isolated and tested within 24–48 h of dropping a brood); and (2) non-postpartum females (different females, isolated from males for >50 days). When there was no apparent risk of predation, postpartum females showed a significant preference for large over small males, whereas non-postpartum females showed no size preference at all. When there was an apparent risk of predation, postpartum females maintained their preference for larger males and non-postpartum females continued to show no preference for large or small males. These results suggest that reproductive status (receptivity) plays a greater role in mate preference than predation risk. For postpartum females, the cost of not choosing a preferred mate may outweigh the potential cost of predation. Non-postpartum females either do not benefit from mating or are being indecisive about mating and thus are less likely to be choosy whether or not a predator is present.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank S. Sidhwani for her help performing the experiments, R. Jaeger for his helpful suggestions on the experimental design, A. Aspbury and J. Travis for critically reviewing the manuscript. Thanks to S. Ludwig for help collecting fish and J. Crutchfield and L. Gilbert of the Brackenridge Field Laboratory for providing fish rearing facilities. This research was partially supported by National Science Foundation grant DEB-9314081 to CRG and CRG was supported by Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board—Advanced Research Program grant #003615-0004-2001 during manuscript preparation. The experiments comply with the current animal care laws of the United States.

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  1. Department of Biology, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA

    Caitlin R. Gabor

  2. Section of Integrative Biology, C0930, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA

    Rachel Page

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  1. Caitlin R. Gabor
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  2. Rachel Page
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Correspondence to Caitlin R. Gabor.

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Communicated by I. Schlupp

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Gabor, C.R., Page, R. Female preference for large males in sailfin mollies, Poecilia latipinna: the importance of predation pressure and reproductive status. acta ethol 6, 7–12 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-003-0081-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10211-003-0081-x

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