2015
Strategic exploitation of fluctuating asymmetry in male Endler's guppy courtship displays is modulated by social environment
ŘEŽUCHA, Radomil and M. REICHARDBasic 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
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.