University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Reinforcement of Female Mating Preferences in Sympatric vs. Allopatric Populations of Lucania goodei and L. Parva

Rankhorn, Clare

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/94660

Description

Title
Reinforcement of Female Mating Preferences in Sympatric vs. Allopatric Populations of Lucania goodei and L. Parva
Author(s)
Rankhorn, Clare
Contributor(s)
Fuller, Becky
Issue Date
2013
Keyword(s)
  • animal biology
  • integrative biology
Abstract
Low fitness of hybrid offspring can generate selection on mate preferences so individuals avoid mating with heterospecifcs. This process is known as reinforcement and is observed as increased behavioral isolation in areas of sympatry compared to allopatry. We performed female-choice behavioral trials in which females of Lucania parva and Lucania goodei were allowed to choose between conspecific or heterospecific males. We tested females from both sympatric and allopatric populations using a novel female choice assay. Measures of time spent with each male revealed that females of sympatric populations prefer their own species significantly more often than females from allopatric populations. This pattern of preference was seen in both L. parva and L. goodei females. This shows that females prefer males of their own species only when from populations where there is the opportunity for hybridization. Our data suggests that reinforcement of female mate preference has occurred in sympatric populations of L. parva and L. goodei.
Publisher
OMSA Office of Minority Student Affairs
Type of Resource
  • text
  • other
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/94660
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2013 Clare Rankhorn

Owning Collections

TRiO - Vol. 1, no.1 2013 PRIMARY
The TRiO McNair journal is a culmination of research conducted by student scholars and their facutly representatives through the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program.