The Strength Of A Female Mate Preference Increases With Predation Risk

Main Category: Biology / Biochemistry
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 21 Nov 2008 - 2:00 PDT

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Females often encounter predators as they look for mates. Not surprisingly, as predation risk increases, females usually search less and they less often prefer males that use conspicuous signals.

To the contrary, when we experimentally increased predation risk perceived by mate-searching female fiddler crabs, they continued to search and they expressed a stronger preference for males that built conspicuous mud pillars by their burrows, in which crabs mate.

We suggest that the strength of the preference increased with risk because the preference is based on a behavior that helps keep females safe as they search for mates.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

Proceedings B is the Royal Society's flagship biological research journal, dedicated to the rapid publication and broad dissemination of high-quality research papers, reviews and comment and reply papers. The scope of journal is diverse and is especially strong in organismal biology.

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences