Mate choice by male water striders (Gerris lacustris): expression of a wing morph preference depends on a size difference between females |
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Authors: | Batorczak, Anna Jahlbnski, Piotr Rowinski, Andriej |
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Affiliation: | Institute of Ecology PAS 05-092 Lomianki, Poland |
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Abstract: | Natural selection maintains wing polymorphism in populationsof water striders. Long-winged females benefit from being ableto migrate because they avoid the risk of pool evaporation,but early in the season their fecundity is lower than that ofshort-winged females. We tested preferences of 18 long-wingedmales and 29 short-winged males in spring. Males preferred long-wingedfemales, and there was no difference between the two male morphs.The preference was only observed when the long-winged femalewas heavier; when the short-winged female was larger, the malesshowed no preference. There was a positive relationship betweenlong-winged female weight and number of eggs laid per day, andthe males behaved as if they were taking into account that large,long-winged females are more fecund. We suggest that males preferredlong-winged females because this preference increases the proportionof long-winged individuals in the autumn F2 generation. |
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Keywords: | Gerridae life history male mate choice water strider wing dimorphism sexual selection. |
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