MATING SUCCESS AND MALE COURTSHIP BEHAVIORS IN THREE POPULATIONS OF THE THREESPINE STICKLEBACK
- 1 January 2000
- Vol. 137 (7-8) , 1065-1080
- https://doi.org/10.1163/156853900502439
Abstract
Genetic and morphological studies indicated the existence of two phylogenetically distinct groups in the threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus, around Japan. These two morphotypes were named as the Pacific Ocean group and the Japan Sea group, respectively. In the Pacific Ocean group, there are anadromous populations and populations that reside permanently in freshwater. This study presented the results of mate choice tests among three allopatric populations of Japanese threespine sticklebacks and we found significant evidence of assortative mating. A total of 226 mate choice test was carried out in 1995 and 1996. Ten courtship behaviors were collected and comparisons were made among three intrapopulational pairings. It was concluded that the Pacific Ocean group and the Japan Sea group have distinct behavioral characteristics. We also found effects of male size and female size on the probability of mating success between populations.Keywords
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