High mating success of low rank males in Limia perugiae (Pisces: Poeciliidae) as determined by DNA fingerprinting

Abstract

SummaryHierarchical structures among male individuals in a population are frequently reflected in differences in aggressive and reproductive behaviour and access to the females. In general social dominance requires !arge investments which in turn may have to be compensated for by high reproductive success. However, this hypothesis has so far only been sufficiently tested in small mating groups due to the difficulties of determining paternity by classical methods using non-molecular markers. DNA fingerprinting overcomes these problems offering the possibility to determine genetic relationships and mating patterns within !arger groups. Using this approach we have recently shown (Schart! et al., 1993) that in the poeciliid fish Limia perugiae in smaU mating groups the dominant male has 100% mating success, while in !arger groups its contribution to the offspring unexpectedly drops to zero. The reproductive failure under such social conditions is explained by the inability of the ex-male to protect all the females simultaneously against mating attempts of his numerous subordinate competitors.

Color polymorphism in the Cuban endemic livebearing fish Limia vittata (Teloestei, Poeciliidae): Potential roles of sexual and natural selection

“…This is because mating preferences can be context dependent where social and ecological conditions, time and interpopulation variation can influence the outcome of each study (Alonzo & Sinervo, 2001; Rolán‐Alvarez et al, 1999). Conversely, long‐term studies that incorporate analyses of social effects in mating behavior and/or the quantification of different phenotype frequencies in natural habitats have been used as an alternative to avoid the limitations mentioned above (Culumber et al, 2013; Hurtado‐Gonzalez & Uy, 2010; Schartl et al, 1993). Regarding the field component of our study, one caveat is that the locations were sampled only once, and the collection times are far apart, which may not offer a complete view of the dynamic and temporal variation of color polymorphism, as well as changes in salinity levels in natural environments.…”

Mating system of the rockfish, Sebastiscus marmoratus as revealed by DNA fingerprinting

“…The use of genetic methods can resolve such problems. DNA fingerprinting, which makes use of a variable number of tandem repeat DNA (VNTR) (Jeffreys et al, 1985;Nakamura et al, 1987), is an invaluable molecular technique for establishing genetic relationships between individuals or populations, and is commonly used in studies on animal mating systems, such as in birds (Gibbs et al, 1990;Soukup and Thompson, 1997) and fishes (Schartl et al, 1993;Jones and Avise, 1997;Dewoody et al, 2000).…”