Modeling Mating Patterns Given Mutual Mate Choice: The Importance of Individual Mating Preferences and Mating System

2003 ◽  
Vol 11 (03) ◽  
pp. 205-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carmen Bessa-Gomes ◽  
Jean Clobert ◽  
Stéphane Legendre ◽  
Anders Pape Møller
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Mating System ◽  
Population Biology ◽  
Structured Populations ◽  
Operational Sex Ratio ◽  
Mating Preferences ◽  
Mating Patterns ◽  
Single Sex ◽  
Individual Mating

When we consider structured populations with sexual reproduction, the distribution of characters among mating pairs may influence the population biology, namely its dynamics and genetics. In the present paper, we propose a general framework to estimate the population mating patterns taking into account individual mating preferences and mating system, thus taking into account the inter- and intra-sexual interactions such as mate competition and mate choice. According to our results, mating patterns are not a direct reflection of mating preferences, but also depend upon the average sex ratio between individuals that are ready to mate at any given time (i.e., the Operational Sex Ratio, OSR). Therefore, mating patterns should be assessed not only in function of preferences, but also of OSR. It is then possible to distinguish three OSR regions: (1) the equilibrium OSR, where there is a predominance of assortative mating patterns due to differential access to mates (inter-sexual interactions); (2) the slightly biased OSR, where there is a high diversity of mating patterns and no clear predominance of inter- or intra-sexual interactions; and (3) the highly biased OSR where there is a predominance of mating patterns corresponding to single-sex uniform preferences and an increased influence of intra-sexual interactions. We hope that this approach may allow to further explore the interaction between OSR and mate choice, namely how such interaction may affect sexual selection and mate choice tactics.

Mate Choice and Human Exceptionalism

Mate Choice ◽  
2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gil G. Rosenthal
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Human History ◽  
Large Reservoir ◽  
Mating Preferences ◽  
Human Exceptionalism ◽  
The Social ◽  
Societal Changes ◽  
Individual Mating ◽  
Evolutionary Consequences ◽  
Reproductive Consequences

This chapter presents a biological perspective on the diversity and complexity of human mate choice. Mating preferences can change very rapidly owing to the fact that they depend on a large reservoir of standing genetic variations whose effects can be modified and reversed by environmental and social inputs. In contemporary global society, rapid technological and societal changes means that individual mating preferences have an unprecedented potential to be revealed and expressed as choices, some with reproductive consequences. Individuals now have more agency than they ever have in human history, with a greater opportunity than ever to sample potential mates. The social and evolutionary consequences are sure to be fascinating.

Patterns of Gonadic Development and Operational Sex Ratio Promote Promiscuity of Euxesta bilimeki (Diptera:Ulidiidae)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian L Rodríguez-Enríquez ◽  
Diana Pérez-Staples ◽  
Oscar Rios-Cardenas ◽  
Juan Rull
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Protein Content ◽  
Operational Sex Ratio ◽  
Mating Frequency ◽  
Body Protein ◽  
Protein Ingestion ◽  
Full Complement ◽  
Individual Mating ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Testes Size

Abstract Promiscuous mating systems are widely distributed among animals and can be promoted by operational sex ratios (number of receptive adults; OSR). In populations where OSR is not biased towards any sex, the possibility that males and females mate with several individuals increases. For both sexes to synchronize in time and space for reproduction, adults should possess or simultaneously acquire nutrients required to reach sexual maturity. Among synovigenic (without a full complement of eggs at eclosion) species, nutrient acquisition, protein in particular, may influence the OSR. In the Agave fly Euxesta bilimeki (Hendel) (Diptera: Ulidiidae), both sexes engage in multiple mating and females frequently expel all or part of the ejaculate. Here, we assessed the effect of protein intake on gonadic development, and estimated OSR from field-collected individuals. Body protein content was compared between wild and laboratory individuals with access to different diets, and mating frequency and individual mating rate were analyzed for cohorts at a 1:1 sex ratio. Both sexes required protein ingestion for gonadic development, but there were no differences in protein content between field-collected males and males fed protein and sugar in the laboratory, despite the fact that males assigned 9.3% of their corporal weight to testicles. Euxesta bilimeki is a promiscuous species where both males and females mate multiply with one or several individuals in short periods of time; thus, large testes size may be linked to the need of voluminous ejaculate production, and might be further exacerbated by female ejaculate expulsion.

scholarly journals Is Evolution of Mating Preferences Inevitable? Random Mating in the Multisex System of Tetrahymena thermophila

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sujal S. Phadke ◽  
Lauren Cooper ◽  
Rebecca A. Zufall
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Mate Choice ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Sexual Differentiation ◽  
Mating Systems ◽  
Tetrahymena Thermophila ◽  
Random Mating ◽  
Maximum Amount ◽  
Mating Preferences ◽  
Mechanistic Basis

Ciliate mating systems are highly diversified, providing unique opportunities to study sexual differentiation and its implications for mating dynamics. Many species of ciliates have multiple (>2) sexes. More sexes may mean more choice and an opportunity for evolution of preferential mating. We asked if the multiple sexes of the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila mate preferentially among each other. We quantified pairing frequencies among four sexes of T. thermophila using experiments that allowed the sexes to compete as mating partners. We found that all sexes mated equally frequently among each other, that is, we found no evidence of preferential mating with respect to sex. This suggests that the “mate choice” in this ciliate is binary, between whether to form a pair or not and, in this regard, sex facilitates only self-/non-self-distinction. Thus, presence of multiple sexes does not necessarily result in the evolution of mating bias, which could decrease the maximum amount of mating that would otherwise be possible in a population. Our result of random mating verifies a key assumption in the theoretical model of sex ratio evolution in T. thermophila. Investigation into molecular differences between the sexes will be necessary to reveal the mechanistic basis of random mating among them.

Mating Tactics in the Tropical Millipede Alloporus Uncinatus (Diplopoda: Spirostreptidae)

Behaviour ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 124 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 45-56 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven R. Telford ◽  
J. Mark Dangerfield
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Mating System ◽  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Breeding Season ◽  
Female Choice ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Operational Sex Ratio ◽  
Mating Tactics ◽  
Mate Acquisition

AbstractField and laboratory observations of mating behaviour in a population of the tropical millipede Alloporus uncinatus were carried out over one breeding season. Males obtained mates through random encounters and by forming triplet associations with copula pairs. The occurrence of triplet associations in the field was coincident with a highly male biased operational sex ratio. Mate acquisition by males was apparently stochastic and direct physical competition did not occur. In laboratory experiments mating was size-selective probably as a consequence of female choice. We consider the possibility that sperm competition has contributed to the evolution of the mating system in this species.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document