Female choice of a non-bodily ornament: an experimental study of cichlid sand craters in Cyathopharynx furcifer |
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Authors: | Franziska C Schaedelin Michael Taborsky |
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Institution: | (1) Behavioural Ecology, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Wohlenstrasse 50a, 3032 Hinterkappelen, Switzerland;(2) Konrad Lorenz Institute for Ethology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Savoyenstrasse 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria |
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Abstract: | In many species of East African cichlids, males build sand craters or “bowers” to attract females for spawning. It is commonly
assumed that these exaggerated sexual traits have a function similar to bodily ornaments. In non-bodily ornaments, however,
the behaviour creating the structure may serve as an additional source of information to potential partners, providing multiple
signals for mate choice. We tested whether and to what extent females use these signals for choosing males by observing the
individual sampling behaviour of female Cyathopharynx furcifer in the field. In addition, we experimentally manipulated crater characteristics in the field and laboratory. We found that
females spawn preferably with owners of large and well-maintained craters, but when crater size was enlarged or reduced, the
resulting building activity of crater owners affected female choice more strongly than the manipulated crater size per se. We discuss the importance of multiple signals in species constructing extended phenotypes. |
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