Frequency of moulting by shore crabs Carcinus maenas (L.) changes their colour and their success in mating and physiological performance

Male shore crabs, Carcinus maenas [Linnaeus, 1758], compete aggressively for access to receptive females to mate. Size is the single most important factor for the outcome of these conflicts, large males with carapace width (CW) over 60 mm being much more likely to gain access to receptive females than smaller males. To compete aggressively, large male shore crabs decrease moulting frequencies and may potentially terminate moulting to enter a state of anecdysis, in which further growth is suspended to increase reproductive output. This change from a “growth” strategy to a “reproduction” strategy results in the creation of two morphs, which can roughly be separated by their colouration. As the new exoskeleton created during moult is always green in appearance, crabs tend to be green in appearance during periods where they grow rapidly and moult frequently. Green crabs are found in all size classes. However, as the exoskeleton becomes older, the colour gradually changes to a darker red colour, and large crabs that have spent an extended period in intermoult are therefore often red in appearance. Also, the exoskeleton of red crabs exhibits a higher incidence of epibionts and wear and tear. Red crabs can also be found in all size classes, but their relative proportion in the population increases dramatically in size classes above 60-mm CW. Size for size, the red morph has a thicker carapace and larger master chelae than the green morph. Also, the reproductive indices (RI) for red crabs are higher than for green crabs, and they experience higher mating success. However, this mating success appears to be achieved at the expense of a lower physiological tolerance, green crabs being better adapted to deal with changes in the surrounding environment. This increased tolerance is not only observed with regard to natural variations in the habitats where shore crabs live, but green crabs also appear to be more tolerant to variations caused by anthropogenic pollution. Consequently, the shift from growth to reproduction exerts a profound effect on the behaviour, physiology and ecotoxicology of male shore crabs. The present paper reviews the studies conducted so far, proposes a mechanism by which some of these differences between the two morphs are created and discusses their ecological and ecotoxicological significance.     

Reflectance spectra and mating patterns support intraspecific mimicry in the colour polymorphic damselfly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ischnura elegans</Emphasis>

Coexistence of female colour morphs in animal populations is often considered the result of sexual conflict, where polymorphic females benefit from reduced male sexual harassment. Mate-searching males easily detect suitable partners when only one type of female is present, but become challenged when multiple female morphs coexist, which may result in frequency-dependent mate preferences. Intriguingly, in damselflies, one female morph often closely resembles the conspecific male in body coloration, which has lead to hypotheses regarding intra-specific male-mimicry. However, few studies have quantitatively evaluated the correspondence between colour reflectance spectra from males and male-like females, relying instead on qualitative visual assessments of coloration. Using colour analyses of reflectance spectra, we compared characteristics of the body coloration of ontogenetic male and female colour morphs of the damselfly Ischnura elegans. In addition, we evaluated whether males appear to (1) discriminate between immature and mature female colour morphs, and (2) whether male-like females experience reduced male mating attention and low mating frequencies as predicted from male-mimicry. Spectral reflectance data show that immature female morphs differ substantially in coloration from mature individuals. Mating frequencies were much lower for immature than mature female morphs. For the male-like female morph, measures of colour were statistically indistinguishable from that of both immature and mature conspecific males. Mating frequencies of male-like females were lower than those of other mature female morphs under field and experimental conditions. Together, our results indicate that males may use the observed spectral differences in mate choice decisions. Furthermore, male-like females may be regarded as functional mimics that have reduced attractiveness and lowered rates of sexual harassment by mate-searching males.     

Variation in the Visual Habitat May Mediate the Maintenance of Color Polymorphism in a Poeciliid Fish

The conspicuousness of animal signals is influenced by their contrast against the background. As such, signal conspicuousness will tend to vary in nature because habitats are composed of a mosaic of backgrounds. Variation in attractiveness could result in variation in conspecific mate choice and risk of predation, which, in turn, may create opportunities for balancing selection to maintain distinct polymorphisms. We quantified male coloration, the absorbance spectrum of visual pigments and the photic environment of Poecilia parae, a fish species with five distinct male color morphs: a drab (i.e., grey), a striped, and three colorful (i.e., blue, red and yellow) morphs. Then, using physiological models, we assessed how male color patterns can be perceived in their natural visual habitats by conspecific females and a common cichlid predator, Aequidens tetramerus. Our estimates of chromatic and luminance contrasts suggest that the three most colorful morphs were consistently the most conspicuous across all habitats. However, variation in the visual background resulted in variation in which morph was the most conspicuous to females at each locality. Likewise, the most colorful morphs were the most conspicuous morphs to cichlid predators. If females are able to discriminate between conspicuous prospective mates and those preferred males are also more vulnerable to predation, variable visual habitats could influence the direction and strength of natural and sexual selection, thereby allowing for the persistence of color polymorphisms in natural environments.     

Life cycle and mating behavior of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicotylenchus multicinctus</Emphasis> (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae) on excised <Emphasis Type="Italic">Musa cavendishii</Emphasis> roots

The life cycle and mating behavior of Helicotylenchus multicinctus (Nematoda: Hoplolaimidae) were observed in vitro on excised roots of Musa cavendishii in gnotobiotic culture. Eggs hatched into juveniles whose appearance and structure were similar to those of the adults. Juveniles grew in size and each juvenile stage was terminated by a molt. H. multicinctus had four juvenile stages. The first molt occurred outside the egg shortly after hatching. After the final molt the juveniles differentiated into adult males and females. Mating was required for reproduction. After mating, fertilized females began to lay eggs. The life cycle from second stage juvenile to second stage juvenile was completed in 39 days.     

Olfactory mate recognition in a sympatric species pair of three-spined sticklebacks

Mate recognition is critical to the maintenance of reproductiveisolation, and animals use an array of sensory modalities toidentify conspecific mates. In particular, olfactory informationcan be an important component of mate recognition systems. Weinvestigated whether odor is involved in mate recognition ina sympatric benthic and limnetic species pair of three-spinedsticklebacks (Gasterosteus spp.), for which visual cues andsignals are known to play a role in premating isolation. Weallowed gravid females of each species to choose between waterscented by a heterospecific male and water scented by a conspecificmale. Benthic females preferred the conspecific male stimuluswater significantly more often than the heterospecific malestimulus water, whereas limnetic females showed no preference.These species thus differ in their odor and may also differin their use of olfaction to recognize conspecific mates. Thesedifferences are likely a consequence of adaptation to disparateenvironments. Differences in diet, foraging mode, habitat, andparasite exposure may explain our finding that odor might bean asymmetric isolating mechanism in these sympatric sticklebackspecies.     

Male mate preference for large size overrides species recognition in allopatric flat lizards (<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Platysaurus broadleyi</Emphasis>)

Species recognition and mate preference both influence mate choice but can be in conflict with each other. In such cases the relative importance of the two functions depends on the costs of mating with heterospecifics and the frequency of such interactions. We tested whether male flat lizards (Platysaurus broadleyi) are able to discriminate between conspecific females and females of its allopatric sister species P. capensis. Given a simultaneous choice between equally sized females of both species, males courted conspecific females in 85% of trials. We then tested whether mate preference for large female body size can override species recognition. When offered a choice between a larger heterospecific female and a smaller conspecific, males showed no preference for conspecifics and courted larger heterospecific females in 58% of trials. Comparison of the two sets of trials showed a significant effect of female body size on male mate preference, supporting the hypothesis that mate quality can override species recognition.Communicated by K. Kotrschal     

Effect of Eyestalk-Ablation on Circulating Ecdysteroids in Hemolymph of Snow Crabs, Chionoecetes opilio: Physiological Evidence for a Terminal Molt

Bering Sea snow crabs (Chionoecetes opilio) are a commerciallyimportant crab harvested in the Bering Sea. Optimal managementof this species requires an understanding of the biology ofthis crab that is currently incomplete. Fisheries managers applya continuous growth model in their management of snow crab,which assumes that male crabs increase in size throughout theirlifespan. Male snow crabs undergo a morphometric molt that leadsto a disproportionate increase in chelae size and it is stilldebated whether this molt is associated with a terminal molt.This study was conducted to determine whether adult male C.opilio are anecdysic. Using current knowledge of the hormonalregulation of crustacean growth, snow crab physiology was manipulatedto induce an increase in molting hormones (ecdysteroids). Sincefemale snow crabs are known to undergo a terminal molt afterattaining reproductive maturity, we compared ecdysteroid levelsin eyestalk-ablated terminally molted females, small-clawedmales and large-clawed males. Snow crabs were collected fromthe Bering Sea and maintained in circulating seawater at approximately6°C. Animals were either eyestalk-ablated or left intact.Ecdysteroid levels in hemolymph were quantified using an enzyme-linkedimmunosorbant assay (ELISA). Circulating ecdysteroids were significantlyhigher in small-clawed male crabs when compared to large-clawedmales or terminally molted females. Eyestalk-ablation increasedcirculating ecdysteroids in small-clawed males, but had no significanteffect on circulating ecdysteroids in large-clawed males orin terminally molted females.     

Juvenile colour polymorphism in the red rock crab,Cancer productus: patterns,causes, and possible adaptive significance

Juveniles of the common red rock crab of the Northeastern Pacific, Cancer productus, display a stunning diversity of colours and patterns, while adults all have the same drab colouration. Although this is widely known, key questions remain: (1) Does the frequency of different juvenile colours or patterns vary among collection sites or seasonally? (2) Does juvenile colour polymorphism reflect genetic heterogeneity or phenotypic plasticity in response to variable environmental conditions? (3) Do juveniles of different colours or patterns prefer substrata of different heterogeneity or brightness? We therefore: (i) described the variation in colour and pattern of juvenile C. productus; (ii) tested for associations between colour/pattern morphs and crab size, collection site, and season, in the field; (iii) conducted preliminary tests for habitat preferences (background colour, substratum type, light level) of different colour/pattern morphs in laboratory experiments, and (iv) tested the effect of diet (mussels versus shrimp) and feeding rate (high versus low) on juvenile colour/pattern. We describe 30 phenotypes that embrace a wide range of colour and pattern variants. The proportions of these phenotypes did not vary significantly among four collection sites, but they did vary significantly with season: over the summer and fall, juvenile colour and pattern variation was gradually replaced by the uniform adult colouration. The number of crabs displaying adult colouration also increased with crab size. Laboratory experiments suggest no significant preferences of different juvenile morphs for different backgrounds, substrata, or light levels. Diet (mussels versus shrimp) and feeding frequency had no effect on colour/pattern. Collectively, these results, although limited in scope, are not consistent with two likely hypotheses that could explain the extensive colour and pattern variation in juvenile C. productus: (i) selection for background matching by different cryptic forms and (ii) direct effects of diet or feeding rate on colour or pattern. Most probably, the large variety of different juvenile morphs is a result of frequency-dependent selection in which abundant variants are attacked disproportionately often and rarer forms are favoured. Juvenile colour polymorphism in C. productus may reduce the vulnerability to visual predators, impede the formation of a search image, and consequently decrease the risk of predation during the juvenile stages.     

Alternative mating tactics and extreme male dimorphism in fig wasps

The dimorphisms in morphology and behaviour of male fig wasps are among the most extreme in the animal kingdom, and offer excellent opportunities to test the predictions of certain sexual selection models. Winged males resemble their conspecific females closely, but wingless males are so divergent in form that they have repeatedly been classified into different taxa. Wingless males mate within their natal fig fruits, whereas winged males disperse to mate. Individual species may have winged males, wingless males or both morphs. A key hypothesis proposes that sexual selection on male mating opportunities favours winged males in species with small broods and wingless males in species with large broods. Using data from 114 species in 33 genera, we show that both simple and formal comparative analyses support the correlated evolution of large brood size and male winglessness. Theoretical models further predict that, in male dimorphic species, the proportion of winged males should equal (in cases without local mate competition) or exceed (in cases with local mate competition) the proportion of females developing in fig fruits without wingless males. These predictions are met by eight out of nine male dimorphic species studied. Taken together, the patterns across all species, and between different male dimorphic species, strongly support sexual selection on mating opportunities as the major determinant of male morph ratios in fig wasps.     

Food availability in beach and marsh habitats and the size of the fiddler crab claw,a sexually selected weapon and signal

Males of the sand fiddler crab Uca pugilator possess a greatly enlarged claw that is used as a weapon in ritualized contests for control of breeding burrows and is waved to attract females to breeding burrows. Approximately 5400 crabs were collected along the Atlantic coast of North America at 14 localities, all of which had both beach and salt marsh habitats. Five measurements were made on each claw. Principal components analysis was used to generate a single measure of claw size from the seven correlated measures and scores of the claw. Carapace width was measured to index body size. Claw size was greater in beach than marsh habitats, controlling for body size. However, body size did not differ by habitat type. Claw size was also greater in laboratory‐reared males receiving more food, suggesting that differential access to food could influence habitat‐associated differences in claw size. Chlorophyll a concentration and total organic content, reflecting, respectively, the abundance of benthic algae and other food, were greater in beach than marsh habitats. Moreover, feeding opportunities were greater in the wetter beach habitat because crabs there, but not in marsh habitat, can feed at breeding burrows. Adult fiddler crabs continue to molt and grow in both body and claw size as they age. Energetic investment in the claw relative to the body is plastic. It appears that the availability of food can affect the amount of energy invested in the claw.     

Trans-acting factors required for inclusion of regulated exons in the Ultrabithorax mRNAs of Drosophila melanogaster

Alternatively spliced Ultrabithorax mRNAs differ by the presence of internal exons mI and mII. Two approaches were used to identify trans-acting factors required for inclusion of these cassette exons. First, mutations in a set of genes implicated in the control of other alternative splicing decisions were tested for dominant effects on the Ubx alternative splicing pattern. To identify additional genes involved in regulation of Ubx splicing, a large collection of deficiencies was tested first for dominant enhancement of the haploinsufficient Ubx haltere phenotype and second for effects on the splicing pattern. Inclusion of the cassette exons in Ubx mRNAs was reduced strongly in heterozygotes for hypomorphic alleles of hrp48, which encodes a member of the hnRNP A/B family and is implicated in control of P-element splicing. Significant reductions of mI and mII inclusion were also observed in heterozygotes for loss-of-function alleles of virilizer, fl(2)d, and crooked neck. The products of virilizer and fl(2)d are also required for Sxl autoregulation at the level of splicing; crooked neck encodes a protein with structural similarities to yeast-splicing factors Prp39p and Prp42p. Deletion of at least five other loci caused significant reductions in the inclusion of mI and/or mII. Possible roles of identified factors are discussed in the context of the resplicing strategy for generation of alternative Ubx mRNAs.     

Conspecific cues affect stage-specific molting frequency, survival, and claw morphology of early juvenile stages of the shore crab Carcinus maenas

Benthic conspecific cues are used by competent larvae of many marine invertebrates to locate and settle on suitable habitat. However, aggregations of conspecifics can generate strong intraspecific competition and inter-cohort cannibalism. We investigated the effects of adult conspecific cues on general fitness parameters of juvenile Carcinus maenas (stages J1–J5), and used geometric morphometrics to investigate patterns of allometric growth indicative of life-history strategies and resource use potential. Cues induced faster metamorphosis and slightly shortened intermolt time in J2 individuals, at the expense of acute mortality in J1 crabs. These effects are cumulative but compensatory processes nullify differences by the end of the experiment. Allometric carapace change toward the adult standard remained unchanged, but conspecific cues induced first a change in size (J1) and then in shape (J5) of claws. In both control and cued juveniles, heterochely was incipient but apparent in J5 crabs. Independently of body side, conspecific cues triggered a very marked increase of the propodus posterior margin, presumably enhancing general strength. Therefore, early benthic stages may grow slightly faster to a size refuge, and develop stronger claws providing competitive advantage for the use of high-value food items when population density-dependent processes are more probable.     

Intra-sex dimorphism in crayfish females

A unique cycle of female form alternation has been revealed in an experimental population of Orconectes limosus during a year-long observation. Significant cyclic changes observed in chelae length, width, and robustness, as well as in abdomen width, demonstrated a form alternation similar to that in conspecific males. Small females alternate between sexually active and sexually inactive forms with a short time interval between successive molts as well as different growth patterns of some body parts. Form alternation efficiently produces larger chelae, abdomen, and body dimensions, especially the molt to form I (sexually active). Larger females that undergo only a single annual molt do not alter between forms and are sexually active. They grow slowly and lose chelae robustness. The cycle of form alternation, consisting of two molts per year, may facilitate the effective utilization of resources to increase the size of body parts important to survival and reproduction.     

Effects of seagrass habitat fragmentation on juvenile blue crab survival and abundance

Seagrasses form temporally dynamic, fragmented subtidal landscapes in which both large- and small-scale habitat structure may influence faunal survival and abundance. We compared the relative influences of seagrass (Zostera marina L.) habitat fragmentation (patch size and isolation) and structural complexity (shoot density) on juvenile blue crab (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun) survival and density in a Chesapeake Bay seagrass meadow. We tethered crabs to measure relative survival, suction sampled for crabs to measure density, and took seagrass cores to measure shoot density in patches spanning six orders of magnitude (ca. 0.25-30,000 m²) both before (June) and after (September) seasonally predictable decreases in seagrass structural complexity and increases in seagrass fragmentation. We also determined if juvenile blue crab density and seagrass shoot density varied between the edge and the interior of patches. In June, juvenile blue crab survival was not linearly related to seagrass patch size or to shoot density, but was significantly lower in patches separated by large expanses of unvegetated sediment (isolated patches) than in patches separated by <1 m of unvegetated sediment (connected patches). In September, crab survival was inversely correlated with seagrass shoot density. This inverse correlation was likely due to density-dependent predation by juvenile conspecifics (i.e. cannibalism); juvenile blue crab density increased with seagrass shoot density, was inversely correlated with crab survival, and was greater in September than in June. Shoot density effects on predator behavior and on conspecific density also likely caused crab survival to be lower in isolated patches than in connected patches in June. Isolated patches were either large (patch area >3000 m²) or very small (<1 m²). Large isolated patches had the lowest shoot densities, which may have allowed predators to easily find tethered crabs. Very small isolated patches had the highest shoot densities and consequently a high abundance of predators (=juvenile conspecifics). Though shoot density did not differ between the edge and the interior of patches, crabs were more abundant in the interior of patches than at the edge. These results indicate that seagrass fragmentation does not have an overriding influence on juvenile blue crab survival and density, and that crab cannibalism and seasonal changes in landscape structure may influence relationships between crab survival and seagrass habitat structure. Habitat fragmentation, structural complexity, faunal density, and time all must be incorporated into future studies on faunal survival in seagrass landscapes.     

Navigation by Male Crab Spiders <Emphasis Type="Italic">Misumenoides formosipes</Emphasis> (Araneae: Thomisidae): Floral Cues May Aid in Locating Potential Mates

The crab spider Misumenoides formosipes is an ambush predator whose males search for relatively sedentary females within a heterogeneous habitat. Females are receptive to mating immediately after their adult molt and a male biased adult sex ratio together with precopulatory guarding places a premium on male ability to locate females quickly. It is unknown what cues males use to find females; we report here on male movements in association with floral cues. Males in field trials moved towards inflorescences more frequently when both visual and chemical cues were available, than when chemical cues were eliminated. Males in lab trials chose an inflorescence over leaf substrates even in the absence of visual cues. These findings support the hypothesis that M. formosipes males could utilize floral chemistry as a navigational cue in mate searches.     

The annual cycle of molt in the Cape hare<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepus capensis</Emphasis> in northern China: pattern,timing and duration

Molt is an important life history event for mammals occurring in temperate and cold zones. In the present paper, I investigate the pattern, timing and duration of seasonal molts of the Cape haresLepus capensis Linnaeus, 1798 in northern China, by tracing and scoring the process of each molt quantitatively. All the seasonal molts in both overwintering and juvenile hares went through a similar order: midback (together with nape), flanks, belly, upper tail, and legs. Yet, there was a relatively confused pattern of replacement during the heaviest molting period of overwintering hares, compared to a relatively uniform pattern among juvenile hares. Overwintering hares experienced a spring and a fall molt. The fall molt was already initiated prior to completion of the spring molt and had a relatively short duration. Juveniles born early in the year (before July), before their fall molt, had undergone a postnatal molt, but those born late (July to September) had not. The juvenile fall molt had already begun when the postnatal molt was at its later stages. These facts suggest that the time budget for fall molt is tight and seasonally constrained. The timing and duration of molts in the overwintering and early-born juvenile hares were independent of individual age. Among overwintering hares, both sexes started spring molt synchronously, but the females were behind the males in late period of this molt and consequently further delayed throughout subsequent fall molt. This may be related to a higher cost of reproduction in females. No sexual difference was found in the molting progress of juvenile hares.     

Size-dependent mating preference of the male fiddler crab Austruca perplexa

In many animals, females prefer large males to small males, which allow large males to be choosier than small males when selecting a mate. We investigated the courtship intensity of small- and large-sized male fiddler crabs (Austruca perplexa) by examining their claw-waving rates (waves/min) towards small- and large-sized females. We found that large males showed a greater preference for large females by producing more waves/min towards them, whereas small males did not show any apparent preference for either large or small females. Moreover, the waving rate of large males was positively correlated with female size, but there was no correlation between waving rate and female size in small males. These results indicate that large males in a population become choosier and show strong mate choice, which is most likely due to their greater preference among females.     

Growth or reproduction: Intrasexual competition in a colonial damselfishStegastes nigricans

Intrasexual competition within colonies of the damselfishStegastes nigricans was investigated. Both males and females held individual territories, and these territories were adjacently distributed, forming distinct conspecific colonies with different size compositions. In both large and small colonies, only relatively large individuals participated in reproduction. Breeding males and females left their territories to court, spawn and aggregate more frequently than non-breeders of the same colonies. Breeders were less frequently attacked by other fish during these excursions than were non-breeders. Most attacks were conducted by breeders of the same sex. This intrasexual aggression may suppress the reproduction of non-breeders at least in large colonies. Non-breeders in large colonies had smaller gonads than breeders of both large and small colonies, but they grew faster than breeders of the same body size in small colonies. This suggests that non-breeders in large colonies allocate energy to growth in order to be reproductively competitive in the future, although only a few of them remained in the same colonies upon maturity. Colony size thus has an effect on the reproductive life histories of individual damselfish.     

Effects of juvenile non-indigenous Carcinus maenas on the growth and condition of juvenile Cancer irroratus

The Atlantic rock crab, Cancer irroratus, is a commercially fished species and a critical prey item for the American lobster, Homarus americanus, in Atlantic Canada. The recent invasion of European green crab, Carcinus maenas, may have significant effects on the growth and condition of native C. irroratus, because both species overlap spatially and temporally and have similar habitat and dietary requirements. To examine such potential effects, we measured the growth of juvenile C. irroratus in the presence of juvenile C. maenas over a period of 4 months (growing season), under the following species combinations: (1) one C. irroratus (10-25 mm CW); (2) two C. irroratus (10-25 mm CW); (3) one C. irroratus (10-25 mm CW) and one C. maenas (10-15 mm CW). Morphological measurements included pre- and post-molt carapace width, chela height, abdomen width (mm), weight (g), and estimates of molt increment (%) and intermolt duration (days). Analysis of the hepatopancreas for % lipid content at the end of the experiment provided an estimate of physiological condition. The effect of the presence of C. maenas on the growth of C. irroratus shifted from negative to positive, when C. irroratus reached CW of 19-22 mm and gained a presumably significant size advantage over C. maenas. The positive effect resulted from increased energy intake through crab consumption. In the absence of crab consumption, the presence of a second crab (conspecific or C. maenas) had no effect on growth. C. irroratus consumed crabs more frequently when the second individual was a green crab than a conspecific. Consumption of C. maenas had a pronounced effect on the growth rate of C. irroratus, resulting in shorter intermolt periods and larger percent molt increments than in the presence of a conspecific. Therefore, the presence of juvenile C. maenas does not appear to have a prolonged negative effect on the growth of C. irroratus; rather, it may provide an additional food item as rock crabs grow, as long as encounters between the two species occur at high enough rates.     

Mate Choice by Both Sexes Maintains Reproductive Isolation in a Species Flock of Pupfish (Cyprinodon spp) in the Bahamas

Female and male mate choices can reinforce reproductive isolation after sympatric speciation. Using a binary choice design, we examine the importance of visual cues in female mate choice in all three sympatric species of pupfish on San Salvador Island. We also examine the importance of olfactory cues in female choice of the hard‐shelled invertebrate specialist (Cyprinodon brontotheroides). We examine male mate choice in two of the three species, the scale eater (C. desquamator) and the detritivore (C. variegatus). Females of all three species use visual cues and prefer conspecific males. C. brontotheroides females do not use olfactory cues to discriminate between conspecific and heterospecific males. Males of C. desquamator and C. variegatus also preferentially court conspecific females. Thus, mutual mate choice, where both females and males exhibit mate choice, acts as a strong behavioral pre‐mating isolation mechanism in these sympatrically speciated pupfish.