idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft

Nachrichten, Termine, Experten

Grafik: idw-Logo
Science Video Project
idw-Abo

idw-News App:

AppStore

Google Play Store



Instance:
Share on: 
02/26/2020 13:58

Bold female seeks bold male

Dr. Anke Sauter Public Relations und Kommunikation
Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main

    Study at Goethe University shows: When choosing a partner, fish pay attention to personality

    Pet owners have been sure of this for long time, and scientific research provides confirmation: animals, too, have personalities. A study originating at Goethe University documents that even with regard to fish, their own personality traits and that of their potential partner is critical when selecting a “groom”.

    Individual animals, from vertebrates to crabs and spiders, exhibit consistent behaviour tendencies that distinguish them from other members of their species. The most thoroughly researched personality trait in the animal world is propensity for risk-taking. A wide range of individuals, from very shy to quite courageous, can be found among the small freshwater fish Poecilia mexicana, which live primarily in the rivers of Mexico. Both traits can be of advantage: while shy fish have a lower risk of being eaten by predatory fish and birds, bold ones are often more efficient at finding food.

    Risk-taking males also have advantages when it comes to choosing a partner, as shown in a study by Dr. Carolin Sommer-Trembo and other scientists at Goethe University. Using behaviour tests, males and females were first classified on a scale from shy to bold. A partner selection test followed, in which females were allowed to choose between two males with different risk-taking propensities. To prevent the females from being too strongly affected by other criteria, the males were selected so that they were almost identical in their external characteristics such as body shape, colouration and size.

    The results seemed clear: bold males were preferred. But at second glance, the risk appetite of the females also played a role in the decision. Bold females exhibited the strongest preference for bold males, while this preference was weaker among shy females. Are courageous males more attractive to all females, or do less courageous males also have chance, since “birds of a feather flock together”? The study shows that these two mechanisms are intertwined and, as is so often the case, the truth is not a case of “either/or” but of “both/as well as”.

    Publication: Sommer-Trembo C, Schreier M, Plath M (2020) Different preference functions act in unison: mate choice and risk-taking behaviour in the Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana). Journal of Ethology, DOI: 10.1007/s10164-020-00643-5

    Images may be downloaded at: http://www.uni-frankfurt.de/86091187

    Caption:
    The female Atlantic molly is not very colourful, while the tail fins of the male glow in various shades of yellow and orange (Credits: Claudia Earp (Fishes1 and 2)/Martin Plath (Fishes3))

    Further information: Carolin Sommer-Trembo, Postdoc, Zoological Institute of the University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Telefon: +41 (0) 783079999, Email: sommer-trembo@gmx.de


    Contact for scientific information:

    Further information: Carolin Sommer-Trembo, Postdoc, Zoological Institute of the University of Basel, Vesalgasse 1, 4051 Basel, Telefon: +41 (0) 783079999, Email: sommer-trembo@gmx.de


    Original publication:

    Publication: Sommer-Trembo C, Schreier M, Plath M (2020) Different preference functions act in unison: mate choice and risk-taking behaviour in the Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana). Journal of Ethology, DOI: 10.1007/s10164-020-00643-5


    Images

    The female Atlantic molly is not very colourful, while the tail fins of the male glow in various shades of yellow and orange
    The female Atlantic molly is not very colourful, while the tail fins of the male glow in various sha ...
    Claudia Earp
    None

    The female Atlantic molly is not very colourful, while the tail fins of the male glow in various shades of yellow and orange
    The female Atlantic molly is not very colourful, while the tail fins of the male glow in various sha ...
    Martin Plath
    None


    Criteria of this press release:
    Scientists and scholars, Students, Teachers and pupils
    Biology, Oceanology / climate, Psychology, Zoology / agricultural and forest sciences
    transregional, national
    Miscellaneous scientific news/publications, Research results
    English


     

    The female Atlantic molly is not very colourful, while the tail fins of the male glow in various shades of yellow and orange


    For download

    x

    The female Atlantic molly is not very colourful, while the tail fins of the male glow in various shades of yellow and orange


    For download

    x

    Help

    Search / advanced search of the idw archives
    Combination of search terms

    You can combine search terms with and, or and/or not, e.g. Philo not logy.

    Brackets

    You can use brackets to separate combinations from each other, e.g. (Philo not logy) or (Psycho and logy).

    Phrases

    Coherent groups of words will be located as complete phrases if you put them into quotation marks, e.g. “Federal Republic of Germany”.

    Selection criteria

    You can also use the advanced search without entering search terms. It will then follow the criteria you have selected (e.g. country or subject area).

    If you have not selected any criteria in a given category, the entire category will be searched (e.g. all subject areas or all countries).