J 2015

Strategic exploitation of fluctuating asymmetry in male Endler's guppy courtship displays is modulated by social environment

ŘEŽUCHA, Radomil and M. REICHARD

Basic information

Original name

Strategic exploitation of fluctuating asymmetry in male Endler's guppy courtship displays is modulated by social environment

Authors

ŘEŽUCHA, Radomil (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and M. REICHARD (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Birkhäuser Verlag, 2015, 1010-061X

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

10600 1.6 Biological sciences

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

Impact factor

Impact factor: 2.747

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/15:00093990

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

UT WoS

000351208800008

EID Scopus

2-s2.0-84925615201

Keywords in English

behavioural laterality; experience; Poecilia wingei; sidedness; sigmoid display; social environment

Tags

Changed: 5/3/2018 10:50, Mgr. Lucie Jarošová, DiS.

Abstract

In the original language

Lateral asymmetry in signalling traits enables males to strategically exploit their best side. In many animals, both body colouration and fluctuating asymmetry are signals of male attractiveness. We demonstrated experimentally that even sexually naive male Poecilia wingei were able to identify their most attractive side (i.e. that with a higher proportion of carotenoid pigmentation) and use it preferentially during courtship. Notably, males retained their strategic signalling in a male-biased social environment, whereas they ceased to signal strategically in a female-biased environment. The degree of asymmetry in colouration did not affect overall courtship activity. Strategic lateralization in courtship displays was strongest and most repeatable in the male-biased social environment where males competed with rivals for matings. Individual asymmetry in colouration changed considerably over a period of 3months. This suggests that colouration is a dynamic feature during adulthood and that males are capable of tracking and strategically exploiting their lateral asymmetry in accordance with their social environment.