role of male colour patterns in attracting females in endler’s livebearers ( poecilia wingei )

Gabrielle SolomonDept. of Biodiversity & Conservation Biology

University of the Western CapeP. Bag X17, Bellville 7535, RSA

[email protected]

BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline,

BCB UWC,23 February 2011, Gabrielle

Solomon

Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei)

Introduction

Sexual selectivity based onmale colour patternsis common in many species of fish

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BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC,23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon


Introduction

Extensive research has been conducted on different male colour patterns in the common guppy (Poecilia reticulata)



Introduction

The common guppy is a good exampleof the balance betweensexual selection (conspicuousness)and natural selection (crypsis)

(Millar et al. 2006)



Introduction

The general pattern of colour and contrastin males are positively related tofemale guppy preference

Brooks and Endler (2001)

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Introduction

Male colouring and pattern quantified in terms of area and number show thatfemales respond to males withmore complex patterns, and withmore orange carotenoids

Nicoletto (1993)

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Introduction

Female guppies prefer maleswith more orangeand more black colouring

Brooks and Couldridge (1999)

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Introduction

Endler’s livebearers are a wild strain of guppy only recently described (Poeser et al 2005)

Little research has been done

No research on sexual selectivityand male colour patterning

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Approach

Compare female response to two forms of male Endler’s:

one from Rio de Oro andone from Puerta la Cruz

E one f



Hypothesis

More complex male colour patterns and higher colour intensitiesattract more females



Key question

Which male attracts more females, the one from Rio de Oro or the one from Puerta la Cruz?

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Methods The most colourful and complexly patterned individual from each form will be chosen and placed in a plastic jar and placed next to the tank of females

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Tank with female Endler’s

Male Endler – Rio de Oro

Male Endler – Puerta la Cruz



Methods The tank will be videotaped

Pattern of female clusteringon either side of the tanknoted and recorded

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BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline,

BCB UWC,23 February 2011, Gabrielle

Solomon


Terns in att



role of male colour patterns in attracting females in endler’s livebearers ( poecilia wingei )

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