scholarly journals Egg presence, egg loss, and female mate preferences in the sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus)

1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Lindström ◽  
Nuutti Kangas
Keyword(s):  
Mate Preferences ◽  
Sand Goby ◽  
Female Mate ◽  
Pomatoschistus Minutus

scholarly journals Fluctuating mate preferences in a marine fish

2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Topi K. Lehtonen ◽  
Bob B. M. Wong ◽  
Kai Lindström
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Marine Fish ◽  
Female Choice ◽  
Mate Preferences ◽  
Female Mate ◽  
Sexual Ornaments ◽  
Pomatoschistus Minutus ◽  
Sexual Traits ◽  
Mature Fish ◽  
Average Size

According to theory, directional female choice for male sexual ornaments is expected to erode underlying genetic variation. Considerable attention, in this regard, has been given to understanding the ubiquity of heritable genetic variation in both female choice and male sexual traits. One intriguing possibility emerging from this work is that persistent genetic variation could be maintained, over time, by variation in female mate preferences. Here, we report the results of a four-year study showing significant year-to-year fluctuations in mate preferences in a small marine fish, the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus . Although the average size of mature fish varied across years, we were unable to find direct evidence linking this variation to differences in female preferences among years. Our results, nevertheless, underscore the importance of temporal fluctuations in female mate preferences, as these can have important consequences for understanding variation in sexual traits and the intensity of sexual selection.

scholarly journals Hurry-up and hatch: selective filial cannibalism of slower developing eggs

2008 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hope Klug ◽  
Kai Lindström
Keyword(s):  
Egg Size ◽  
Adaptive Strategy ◽  
Filial Cannibalism ◽  
Sand Goby ◽  
Pomatoschistus Minutus ◽  
Fitness Consequences

Filial cannibalism (the consumption of one's own offspring) is thought to represent an adaptive strategy in many animals. However, little is known about the details of which offspring are consumed when a parent cannibalizes. Here, we examined patterns of within-brood filial cannibalism in the sand goby ( Pomatoschistus minutus ). Males spawned sequentially with two females, and we asked whether males cannibalized selectively with regard to egg size or the order in which eggs were received. Males preferentially consumed the larger eggs of the second female they spawned with. Because larger eggs took longer to hatch, and because female 2's eggs were up to 1 day behind those of female 1, such preferential cannibalism might allow males to decrease the time spent caring for the current brood and re-enter the mating pool sooner. More work is needed to understand the fitness consequences of such selective cannibalism.

scholarly journals Risk-sensitive mating decisions in a visually compromised environment

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 600-602 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob B. M. Wong ◽  
Marja Järvenpää ◽  
Kai Lindström
Keyword(s):  
Visual Cues ◽  
Perca Fluviatilis ◽  
Reproductive Decisions ◽  
Sand Goby ◽  
European Perch ◽  
Pomatoschistus Minutus ◽  
Risk Sensitive ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Reproductive Activities

Reproductive activities are often conspicuous and can increase the risk of predation. Evidence suggests that individuals are capable of responding to predators in a risk-sensitive manner. However, most studies tend to consider only the predator-mediated responses of males and females in isolation and with little regard to differences in local environmental conditions. Here, we experimentally investigate the effects of environmental visibility (turbidity) and predation risk on reproductive decisions in the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus , when exposed to a visually oriented predator, the European perch, Perca fluviatilis . We found that gobies were more reluctant to spawn in the predator's presence, although larger males spawned sooner than smaller males. Interestingly, latency to spawning was unaffected by the visual environment, suggesting that gobies may be relying on non-visual cues under turbid conditions.

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