Size-dependent mating preference of the male fiddler crab Austruca perplexa |
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Authors: | Fahmida Wazed Tina Daisuke Muramatsu |
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Affiliation: | 1. Faculty of Science and Technology, Nakhon Si Thammarat Rajabhat University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand;2. Center for Natural Environment Education, Nara University of Education, Nara, Japan |
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Abstract: | 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. |
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Keywords: | choosiness claw-waving energy allocation male mate choice reproductive investment signalling cost |
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