Female pintado catfish choose well-fed males

Author: Giaquinto, Percilia Cardoso

Source: Behaviour, Volume 147, Number 3, 2010 , pp. 319-332(14)

Publisher: BRILL

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Abstract:

This study tested the preference of pintado catfish females (Pseudoplatystoma coruscans) for associating with well-fed or food-deprived males in simultaneous choice tests. Females were tested under three different treatments in which: (1) females could choose on the basis of multiple cues from the well-fed or food-deprived males (visual plus chemical); (2) only chemical cues were presented; (3) only visual cues were presented. Females chose well-fed males when chemical cues were presented (either visual + chemical or only chemical cues). When only visual cues were presented, females spent an equal amount of time in the choice apparatus compartments. Chemical signals, either directly through control of pheromone production, or indirectly by excreted metabolites, are likely to be an important source of information about nutritional condition in mating choice.

Keywords: PHEROMONE; CHEMICAL CUES; MATING CHOICE; SEXUAL SELECTION; CATFISH

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/000579509X12535339073761

Affiliations: 1: Laboratory of Animal Physiology and Behaviour/Physiology Department, State University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil, Depto. Fisiologia, IBB, Unesp, Cx. Postal 510, Cep 18618-000, Botucatu, SP, Brasil;, Email: perciliag@gmail.com

Publication date: 2010-02-01