Sex Differences in Mate Choice Preference Characteristics of <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i>
The mating roles of males and females, to a certain extent, are dynamic and variable. Several factors influence the mate choice process. Nonetheless, the main preference features have not yet been fully understood in <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i>. In this study, because of its natural pairi...
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/9/1205 |
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| author | Haixia Li Jie Wang Xu Zhang Yu Hu Qinglin Cai Ying Liu Zhen Ma |
| author_facet | Haixia Li Jie Wang Xu Zhang Yu Hu Qinglin Cai Ying Liu Zhen Ma |
| author_sort | Haixia Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The mating roles of males and females, to a certain extent, are dynamic and variable. Several factors influence the mate choice process. Nonetheless, the main preference features have not yet been fully understood in <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i>. In this study, because of its natural pairing characteristics, <i>A. rivulatus</i> was selected to explore the mate choice preferences of different sexes. Specifically, male and female behavioral performances were described and quantified through a “no-choice paradigm” during mate choice. A total of 12 behavioral performances were defined in male mate choice (experiment 1), whereas 14 behavioral performances were defined in female mate choice (experiment 2). According to the obtained results, unselected females did not display any proactive behaviors in experiment 1, whereas unselected males exhibited proactive behaviors in experiment 2, including quivering, nipping, tail beating, swimming up and down, and aggression. It was also found that both male and female individuals tend to express dislike rather than like. Those behaviors with higher frequencies (e.g., quivering) often mean less energy expenditure, thus easier repeatability. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to extract and identify mate choice preference features. Preliminary results indicated that male preferences for a mate were mainly associated with body size, behavioral intention, and appearance, whereas the intensity of female preferences was in the order of body size, appearance, and behavioral intention. In addition, sex hormone levels were associated with mate choices. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:24:02Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-90097e2b76cc46e49d3251c30d370781 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T04:24:02Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-90097e2b76cc46e49d3251c30d3707812023-11-23T07:43:50ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-05-01129120510.3390/ani12091205Sex Differences in Mate Choice Preference Characteristics of <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i>Haixia Li0Jie Wang1Xu Zhang2Yu Hu3Qinglin Cai4Ying Liu5Zhen Ma6Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116023, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116023, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116023, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116023, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116023, ChinaSouthern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 511458, ChinaKey Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture, Ministry of Education, Dalian 116023, ChinaThe mating roles of males and females, to a certain extent, are dynamic and variable. Several factors influence the mate choice process. Nonetheless, the main preference features have not yet been fully understood in <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i>. In this study, because of its natural pairing characteristics, <i>A. rivulatus</i> was selected to explore the mate choice preferences of different sexes. Specifically, male and female behavioral performances were described and quantified through a “no-choice paradigm” during mate choice. A total of 12 behavioral performances were defined in male mate choice (experiment 1), whereas 14 behavioral performances were defined in female mate choice (experiment 2). According to the obtained results, unselected females did not display any proactive behaviors in experiment 1, whereas unselected males exhibited proactive behaviors in experiment 2, including quivering, nipping, tail beating, swimming up and down, and aggression. It was also found that both male and female individuals tend to express dislike rather than like. Those behaviors with higher frequencies (e.g., quivering) often mean less energy expenditure, thus easier repeatability. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to extract and identify mate choice preference features. Preliminary results indicated that male preferences for a mate were mainly associated with body size, behavioral intention, and appearance, whereas the intensity of female preferences was in the order of body size, appearance, and behavioral intention. In addition, sex hormone levels were associated with mate choices.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/9/1205mate choicemate preferencesno-choice testsex differencessex selection<i>Aequidens rivulatus</i> |
| spellingShingle | Haixia Li Jie Wang Xu Zhang Yu Hu Qinglin Cai Ying Liu Zhen Ma Sex Differences in Mate Choice Preference Characteristics of <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i> Animals mate choice mate preferences no-choice test sex differences sex selection <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i> |
| title | Sex Differences in Mate Choice Preference Characteristics of <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i> |
| title_full | Sex Differences in Mate Choice Preference Characteristics of <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i> |
| title_fullStr | Sex Differences in Mate Choice Preference Characteristics of <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sex Differences in Mate Choice Preference Characteristics of <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i> |
| title_short | Sex Differences in Mate Choice Preference Characteristics of <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i> |
| title_sort | sex differences in mate choice preference characteristics of i aequidens rivulatus i |
| topic | mate choice mate preferences no-choice test sex differences sex selection <i>Aequidens rivulatus</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/9/1205 |
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