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Ultraviolet vision and mate choice in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata)
journal contribution
posted on 2002-01-01, 00:00 authored by E Smith, J Partridge, K Parsons, E White, I Cuthill, Andy Bennett, S ChurchUltraviolet (UV) vision is well documented for many species of vertebrates. UV cues are known to be used in foraging, navigation and in mate choice. We conducted a series of behavioral experiments to investigate the role of UV perception in mate choice in both female and male guppies (Poecilia reticulata). In our experiments the visual appearance of potential mates was manipulated using either UV transmitting (UV+) or UV blocking (UV-) filters. Female guppies significantly preferred UV+ males. Male guppies tended to prefer UV- females, but their preferences were marginally nonsignificant. Further experiments investigating the role of luminance, indicate that UV wavelengths are probably being used for color discrimination rather than for detecting differences in brightness. These experiments raise the possibility that UV is used in mate assessment in different ways by male and female guppies. This may reflect the different strategies that the two sexes have in order to maximize reproductive success. To our knowledge, these are the first data showing that UV is used by any fish species in mate selection.
History
Journal
Behavioral ecologyVolume
13Issue
1Pagination
11 - 19Publisher
Oxford University PressLocation
Oxford, EnglandPublisher DOI
ISSN
1045-2249eISSN
1465-7279Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2002, International Society for Behavioral EcologyUsage metrics
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Keywords
Science & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineBehavioral SciencesBiologyEcologyZoologyLife Sciences & Biomedicine - Other TopicsEnvironmental Sciences & Ecologyguppiesmate choicePoecilia reticulatasexual selectionultraviolet visionMALE COLOR PATTERNSFEMALE CHOICEBLUE TITSGEOGRAPHIC-VARIATIONTRINIDADIAN GUPPIESMATING SUCCESSZEBRA FINCHESMALE TRAITSLIGHTEvolutionary BiologyZoologyEcology
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