POSITIVE GENETIC CORRELATION BETWEEN FEMALE PREFERENCE AND PREFERRED MALE ORNAMENT IN STICKLEBACKS

被引:199
作者
BAKKER, TCM
机构
[1] University of Bern, Zoologisches Institut, Abteilung Verhaltensokologie, CH-3032 Hinterkappelen
关键词
D O I
10.1038/363255a0
中图分类号
O [数理科学和化学]; P [天文学、地球科学]; Q [生物科学]; N [自然科学总论];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
A NUMBER of population genetics models predict the evolution of male sexual ornaments through female choice1, but their genetic assumptions and predictions have hardly been investigated2,3. A key feature of these models is a positive genetic correlation between male ornaments and female preference for them4. Here I test this prediction at the within-population level with three-spined stickle-backs, Gasterosteus aculeatus, which show conspicuous sexual dichromatism5. Intense red males are preferred in various situations6-10, but there is great intrapopulational variation in redness both among wild-caught6,10 and among laboratory-bred males11, which is partly environmental6 and may be partly genetic12,13. Also, females show considerable intrapopulational variation in their preference for redder males6,8,9, which is partly environmental8,9. Wild-caught, intense red males and dull males were crossed with a number of females from the same population in a full-sib/half-sib breeding design. Daughters were tested for their preference for more intensely red males, and the sons' coloration was quantified. Both traits showed genetic variation. Also the redness of the sons correlated with the preference for red of their sisters, thus the two traits show positive genetic correlation.
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页码:255 / 257
页数:3
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