Male mate choice unresolved in the mangrove rivulus

Abstract

Mate choice has the potential to drive phenotypic evolution because it can determine traits that increase an individuals likelihood to reproduce (courtship behaviors, elaborate ornamentation). These traits, however, can also be detrimental for health or survival, often antagonizing the evolution of extreme phenotypes. Mangrove rivulus fish (Kryptolebias marmoratus) develop as self-fertilizing simultaneous hermaphrodites. Hermaphrodites overwhelmingly self-fertilize their eggs internally, but occasionally oviposit unfertilized eggs. Some individuals change sex to male after sexual maturity, essentially forgoing the reproductive assurance of selfing. In a continuing effort to understand how sex change to male is maintained this species, I designed an experiment to determine whether males act as choosers to increase their likelihood of finding unfertilized eggs for reproduction. I hypothesized that males would prefer to associate with younger hermaphrodites when given a dichotomous choice, as they lay a greater proportion of unfertilized eggs compared to older hermaphrodites. The males in this study did not show a preference for either the younger or older hermaphrodite but exhibited greater within individual variance across subtrials than among individual variation. I discuss alternative hypotheses concerning male mate choice in mangrove rivulus, which may illuminate hypotheses to be tested in this and other hermaphroditic species.