Audience Type and Receptivity Affect Male–Female Interactions in Siamese Fighting Fish

Abstract

The study of communication in a network setting has gained increasing popularity in recent years. While audience effects on aggressive interactions have been studied extensively, male–female interactions have often been overlooked. In addition, little is known about how reproductive status affects the nature of audience effects. Siamese fighting fish, Betta splendens, are a popular subject for communication network studies, but male–female interactions have not been explored in this setting. In this study, pairs of male and female Betta were presented with a male, female or no audience to determine whether the presence of an audience alters the behaviour of the interactants. Within these three audience types, there were four reproductive status conditions with receptivity indicated by nest presence for males and reproductive barring for females. It was predicted that male–female interactions would be affected by the presence of an audience, especially when both interactants are receptive as has been found in male–male interactions in this species. The results suggest that presence of an audience and reproductive status act in combination to influence male–female interactions, but only in interactant‐directed behaviours. Not all behaviours were equally affected by these factors. For example, while tail beats to the other interact were greatest when a female audience was present and both the interactants were receptive, this was not true for gill flaring. This study is among the first investigations into audience effects on male–female interactions including the first in Betta and suggests that courtship as well as aggression should be explored in a network setting.

Life in a bubble: the role of the labyrinth organ in determining territory, mating and aggressive behaviours in anabantoids

“…Males must make a trade‐off between being aggressive enough with the duelling male to win an interaction, but not scare away a potential female by putting them at risk of harm or being perceived as overtly aggressive (Matos & McGregor, ). Moreover, the degree to which an audience alters a male's behaviour depends upon the individual's reproductive state (Dzieweczynski et al ., , ), resources (Dzieweczynski & Walsh, ) and familiarity with their opponent and audience (Dzieweczynski et al ., , ; Dzieweczynski & Perazio, ; Bertucci et al ., ).…”

“…Audience effects have also been observed in male–female interactions (Dzieweczynski et al ., ; Dzieweczynski & Walsh, ) and female–female interactions (Dzieweczynski et al ., 2014 a ). During courtship with a female, males increase their opercular flaring, fin spreading and nest monitoring in the presence of an audience male rival.…”

“…The differences between these studies may be in part due to individual differences or due to the use of a dummy female in Dzieweczynski et al . 's () study, compared with live females by Bronstein () and Dzieweczynski & Walsh (). Females also increase their display behaviour in the presence of a male audience in an attempt to advertise their presence to both males (Dzieweczynski & Walsh, ).…”

“…The presence of a rival male, however, can also cause a reduction in courtship behaviours directed at the female, as males chose to behave aggressively towards the rival (Bronstein, 1982), rather than display to the female. The differences between these studies may be in part due to individual differences or due to the use of a dummy female in Dzieweczynski et al's (2009) study, compared with live females by Bronstein (1982) and Dzieweczynski & Walsh (2010). Females also increase their display behaviour in the presence of a male audience in an attempt to advertise their presence to both males (Dzieweczynski & Walsh, 2010).…”

Sexual selection, social information and male mate choice in a promiscuous fish

“…an 'audience', McGregor and Peake 2000). When sexually interacting with a particular female, a male (the 'demonstrator') may inadvertently reveal his mating preference to a nearby eavesdropping male rival, thereby conveying to the latter public information In general, it remains unknown whether the characteristics of an audience, such as the number of audience members or their phenotypes, influence the direction and(or) magnitude of the audience effect (see Dzieweczynski and Walsh (2010) and Bierbach et al (2011a) for exceptions). If an audience comprises several individuals, and therefore many potential 'copiers', males may face an even greater risk of sexual competition than if there was only one audience member (cf.…”