Rival male effects on courtship behaviour in the Enos Lake species pair of sticklebacks (Gasterosteus)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Two species of stickleback (Gasterosteus) coexist in Enos Lake, on Vancouver Island. Field observations and trapping data indicate that limnetic males nest on open substrate whereas benthic males nest on substrate in vegetation. Given these habitat differences, we conducted laboratory experiments to determine the effect of conspecific rival nesting males on the courtship behaviour of the two species. Courtships of limnetic fish were longer in duration than those of benthic fish because of longer territorial interactions between limnetic males. Limnetic females, and not benthic females, reduced their positive responses to their male partner when a rival male was present. The cost of competitive courtship, in terms of male competition and female choice, is thus greater in limnetics than benthics. Differences in competitive courtship between the two species are behavioural adaptations to habitats that promote (open habitat, limnetics) or reduce (vegetation, benthics) courtship disruptions.

This publication has 11 references indexed in Scilit: