DOCSLIB.ORG

MECHANISMS THAT DRIVE VARIATION in FEMALE MATING PREFERENCES in XIPHOPHRUS MALINCHE a Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Co

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
MECHANISMS THAT DRIVE VARIATION in FEMALE MATING PREFERENCES in XIPHOPHRUS MALINCHE a Thesis Presented to the Faculty of the Co MECHANISMS THAT DRIVE VARIATION IN FEMALE MATING PREFERENCES IN XIPHOPHRUS MALINCHE A thesis presented to the faculty of the College of Arts and Sciences of Ohio University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Science M. Scarlett Tudor August 2007 2 © 2007 M. Scarlett Tudor All Rights Reserved 3 This thesis titled MECHANISMS THAT DRIVE VARIATION IN FEMALE MATING PREFERENCES IN XIPHOPHRUS MALINCHE by M. SCARLETT TUDOR has been approved for the Department of Biological Sciences and the College of Arts and Sciences by _______________________________________ Molly R. Morris Associate Professor of Biological Sciences _______________________________________ Benjamin M. Ogles Dean, College of Arts and Sciences 4 Abstract TUDOR, M. SCARLETT M.S., August 2007, Biological Sciences MECHANISMS THAT DRIVE VARIATION IN FEMALE MATING PREFERENCES IN XIPHOPHRUS MALINCHE (65 pp.) Director of Thesis: Molly R. Morris In Xiphophorus malinche, larger, older females prefer asymmetrical males while smaller, younger females prefer symmetrical males. Mating experience has been shown to alter female preferences. I examined whether copulatory experience as well as experience with males of different symmetry affected female preference for symmetry in X. malinche. Male aggressive behaviors and male preferences may affect female experience, thus influencing female preference. I examined whether male aggression and male preferences for female size varies with symmetry. Female size at maturity and female experience affected female preference for symmetry suggesting a genetic and environmental component exists for preference for symmetry. Male mating preference for female size did not vary with symmetry and is not likely to affect female preferences. The less aggressive response by symmetrical males to the symmetrical image and their overall lower frequency in the field could play a role if females perceive symmetrical males as less aggressive. Approved: ___________________________________________________________ Molly R. Morris Associate Professor of Biological Sciences 5 Acknowledgments I will be forever indebted to Molly Morris for being such a great advisor and most importantly a great friend. I can barely verbalize what Molly has done for me over the past four years. Molly has been a strong woman role model, which has influenced my academic career as well as my person life. I am very grateful for having someone to fully share my interest in science as well as the natural world. Through her support in many contexts Molly has allowed me to develop to my fullest potential as a scientist. The world can be very scary and I take comfort in knowing that Molly will be there for me even when I am no longer her student. I also want to thank Kevin de Queiroz for often getting me to think about things in a different perspective and for always giving good career advice. Everyone in the Morris’ lab has been extremely supportive. I feel very fortunate to have been able to work with such a great group of people and to call these people my friends. Oscar Rios-Cardenas was the first person to get me more involved in the lab as an undergraduate and got me involved in a project that became my first paper. Natalie Dubois has been like big sister to me, she has always had time to answer my many questions about science and life. Carla Gutiérrez-Rodríguez showed me that genetics could actually answer some really cool questions. Donelle Robinson answered my endless questions about statistics. Andre Fernandez has been a supportive lab-mate. Susan Lyons took great care of the fish in the lab. Jason Brewer does a great job at taking care of lab logistics. 6 I want to thank everyone on my thesis committee, Don Miles, Mark Waters and Matt White for taking the time to give me great feedback. Don Miles has made me feel more confident talking about science and on occasion allowed me to use his phone. Matt White took me on my first fish-collecting trip and introduced me to the seine and most importantly the electroshocker. Regina Macedo, Dan Wiegmann, Hugh Drummond and Colette St. Mary all made me feel welcome in a broader community. Regina Macedo could not have been more supportive of me; she came to see me give the same talk three times. Dan Wiegmann is a constant reminder that scientist can be smart and cool. I want to thank all of the students that helped collect data, Cari Moss, Marcie Ryder and Jason Williams. I would not have been able to accomplish this without the support of my family. My mom has been my “personal assistant” since I started college, which allowed me to spend more time in the lab. My grandparents and my Aunt Cathy have often helped me financially. My friends Mandy and Karl have also been there for me in ways that I can never repay them. Luna and Guthrie have given me the “doggy” attention that I needed to be able to get through the rough patches. 7 Table of Contents Page Abstract...........................................................................................................................4 Acknowledgments ..........................................................................................................5 List of Tables..................................................................................................................8 List of Figures.................................................................................................................9 CHAPTER 1: Experience plays a role in female preferenece for symmetry in the swordtail fish Xiphophorus malinche...........................................................................10 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................10 METHODS...............................................................................................................12 Preference Test:....................................................................................................13 Experiment 1: Virgin preference for symmetry ...................................................15 Experiment 2: Mating experience and preference for symmetry .........................15 Analysis:...............................................................................................................17 RESULTS.................................................................................................................18 Experiment 1: Virgin preference for symmetry ...................................................18 Experiment 2: Mating experience and preference for symmetry .........................19 DISCUSSION...........................................................................................................23 LITERATURE CITED.............................................................................................30 CHAPTER 2: Differences between symmetrical and asymmetrical males; how male behavior could be influencing female preference for symmetry in the swordtail Xiphophorus malinche..................................................................................................40 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................40 METHODS...............................................................................................................43 Experiment 1: Male Aggression and Response to Symmetry..............................43 Experiment 2: Male Preference for Female Size..................................................45 RESULTS.................................................................................................................47 Experiment 1: Male Aggression and Response to Symmetry..............................47 Experiment 2: Male Preference for Female Size..................................................49 DISCUSSION...........................................................................................................52 LITERATURE CITED.............................................................................................57 8 List of Tables Table Page 1.1: Female strength of preference, female mortality and male aggression for each replicate aquaria…………………………………………………. 39 9 List of Figures Figures Page 1.1: Frequencies of symmetrical and asymmetrical males………………………..34 1.2: Comparison of the preference strengths across female age………………….35 1.3: Comparison of the preference strengths across three treatments groups for when females where a) young and b) old…………………………………….36 1.4: Correlation between standard length and preference for both young (A) and old (B) age classes……………………………………………………….37 1.5: Correlation between SL and preference for the young age class split by treatment group……………………………………………………………...38 2.1: Mean number of bites by symmetrical and asymmetrical males during a five-minute mirror-image stimulus trial…………………………………......61 2.2: Comparison of the time spent with small vs. large females for both symmetrical and asymmetrical males………………………………………..62 2.3: The relationship between male size and strength of preference (difference in time spent with small and large females) during the interaction test..........63 2.4: Comparison of male behaviors directed towards small verse large females during the interaction test……………………………………………………64 2.5: The relationship between male isolation period and strength of male preference for female size during the choice tests………………………….65 10 CHAPTER 1 EXPERIENCE PLAYS A ROLE IN FEMALE PREFERENCE FOR SYMMETRY IN THE SWORDTAIL FISH XIPHOPHORUS MALINCHE
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Evolution of the Placenta Drives a Shift in Sexual Selection in Livebearing Fish
    LETTER doi:10.1038/nature13451 The evolution of the placenta drives a shift in sexual selection in livebearing fish B. J. A. Pollux1,2, R. W. Meredith1,3, M. S. Springer1, T. Garland1 & D. N. Reznick1 The evolution of the placenta from a non-placental ancestor causes a species produce large, ‘costly’ (that is, fully provisioned) eggs5,6, gaining shift of maternal investment from pre- to post-fertilization, creating most reproductive benefits by carefully selecting suitable mates based a venue for parent–offspring conflicts during pregnancy1–4. Theory on phenotype or behaviour2. These females, however, run the risk of mat- predicts that the rise of these conflicts should drive a shift from a ing with genetically inferior (for example, closely related or dishonestly reliance on pre-copulatory female mate choice to polyandry in conjunc- signalling) males, because genetically incompatible males are generally tion with post-zygotic mechanisms of sexual selection2. This hypoth- not discernable at the phenotypic level10. Placental females may reduce esis has not yet been empirically tested. Here we apply comparative these risks by producing tiny, inexpensive eggs and creating large mixed- methods to test a key prediction of this hypothesis, which is that the paternity litters by mating with multiple males. They may then rely on evolution of placentation is associated with reduced pre-copulatory the expression of the paternal genomes to induce differential patterns of female mate choice. We exploit a unique quality of the livebearing fish post-zygotic maternal investment among the embryos and, in extreme family Poeciliidae: placentas have repeatedly evolved or been lost, cases, divert resources from genetically defective (incompatible) to viable creating diversity among closely related lineages in the presence or embryos1–4,6,11.
    [Show full text]
  • Dieter Thomas Tietze Editor How They Arise, Modify and Vanish
    Fascinating Life Sciences Dieter Thomas Tietze Editor Bird Species How They Arise, Modify and Vanish Fascinating Life Sciences This interdisciplinary series brings together the most essential and captivating topics in the life sciences. They range from the plant sciences to zoology, from the microbiome to macrobiome, and from basic biology to biotechnology. The series not only highlights fascinating research; it also discusses major challenges associated with the life sciences and related disciplines and outlines future research directions. Individual volumes provide in-depth information, are richly illustrated with photographs, illustrations, and maps, and feature suggestions for further reading or glossaries where appropriate. Interested researchers in all areas of the life sciences, as well as biology enthusiasts, will find the series’ interdisciplinary focus and highly readable volumes especially appealing. More information about this series at http://www.springer.com/series/15408 Dieter Thomas Tietze Editor Bird Species How They Arise, Modify and Vanish Editor Dieter Thomas Tietze Natural History Museum Basel Basel, Switzerland ISSN 2509-6745 ISSN 2509-6753 (electronic) Fascinating Life Sciences ISBN 978-3-319-91688-0 ISBN 978-3-319-91689-7 (eBook) https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-91689-7 Library of Congress Control Number: 2018948152 © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2018. This book is an open access publication. Open Access This book is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.
    [Show full text]
  • Species Names in Phylogenetic Nomenclature
    Syst. Biol. 48(4):790–807, 1999 Species Names in Phylogenetic Nomenclature PHILIP D. CANTINO,1* HAROLD N. BRYANT,2 KEVIN DE QUEIROZ,3 MICHAEL J. DONOGHUE,4 TORSTEN ERIKSSON,5 DAVID M. HILLIS,6 AND MICHAEL S. Y. LEE7 1Department of Environmental and Plant Biology, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio 45701, USA; E-mail: [email protected] 2Royal Saskatchewan Museum, 2340 Albert Street, Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 3V7, Canada; E-mail: [email protected] 3Department of Vertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560, USA; E-mail: [email protected] 4Harvard University Herbaria, 22 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA; E-mail: [email protected] 5Bergius Foundation, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, Box 50017, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden; E-mail: [email protected] 6Section of Integrative Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712, USA; E-mail: [email protected] 7Department of Zoology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; E-mail: [email protected] Abstract.—Linnaean binomial nomenclature is logically incompatible with the phylogenetic nomenclature of de Queiroz and Gauthier (1992, Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 23:449–480): The former is based on the concept of genus, thus making this rank mandatory, while the latter is based on phylo- genetic definitions and requires the abandonment of mandatory ranks. Thus, if species are to re- ceive names under phylogenetic nomenclature, a different method must be devised to name them. Here, 13 methods for naming species in the context of phylogenetic nomenclature are contrasted with each other and with Linnaean binomials.
    [Show full text]
  • Dissolution of Sexual Signal Complexes in a Hybrid Zone Between the Swordtails Xiphophorus Birchmanni and Xiphophorus Malinche (Poeciliidae)
    COPEIA Friday Feb 21 2003 06:25 PM cope 03_210 Mp_299 Allen Press x DTPro System File # 10TQ Copeia, 2003(2), pp. 299±307 Dissolution of Sexual Signal Complexes in a Hybrid Zone between the Swordtails Xiphophorus birchmanni and Xiphophorus malinche (Poeciliidae) GIL G. ROSENTHAL,XOCHITL F. DE LA ROSA REYNA,STEVEN KAZIANIS, MATTHEW J. STEPHENS,DONALD C. MORIZOT,MICHAEL J. RYAN, AND FRANCISCO J. GARCIÂADELEOÂ N The evolution of sexual signaling systems is in¯uenced by natural and sexual selection acting on complex interactions among traits. Natural hybrid zones are ex- cellent systems for assessing ®tness effects on sexual phenotypes. Most documented hybrid zones, however, show little variation in sexual signals. A hybrid zone between the swordtails Xiphophorus birchmanni and Xiphophorus malinche is characterized by numerous recombinants for male sexual traits. Analyses of geographic variation in morphological and isozyme traits in the RõÂo Calnali, Hidalgo, Mexico, reveal an upstream-to-downstream gradient from X. malinche-toX. birchmanni-type traits. A second hybrid zone, likely isolated from the R. Calnali, occurs in the nearby Arroyo Pochutla. Although the presumed female preference for swords predicts the intro- gression of swords from X. malinche-like populations into hybrid populations, the opposite pattern was observed. Swords are reduced in populations otherwise char- acterized by X. malinche traits. Sexually dimorphic traits were poorly correlated with- in individuals, indicating that sexual selection does not act against recombinant phe- notypes. Hybrid males also exhibit trait values outside the range of parental varia- tion. These patterns are consistent with predictions that females are permissive, preferring generally conspicuous males without attending to speci®c features.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylocode: a Phylogenetic Code of Biological Nomenclature
    PhyloCode: A Phylogenetic Code of Biological Nomenclature Philip D. Cantino and Kevin de Queiroz (equal contributors; names listed alphabetically) Advisory Group: William S. Alverson, David A. Baum, Harold N. Bryant, David C. Cannatella, Peter R. Crane, Michael J. Donoghue, Torsten Eriksson*, Jacques Gauthier, Kenneth Halanych, David S. Hibbett, David M. Hillis, Kathleen A. Kron, Michael S. Y. Lee, Alessandro Minelli, Richard G. Olmstead, Fredrik Pleijel*, J. Mark Porter, Heidi E. Robeck, Greg W. Rouse, Timothy Rowe*, Christoffer Schander, Per Sundberg, Mikael Thollesson, and Andre R. Wyss. *Chaired a committee that authored a portion of the current draft. Most recent revision: April 8, 2000 1 Table of Contents Preface Preamble Division I. Principles Division II. Rules Chapter I. Taxa Article 1. The Nature of Taxa Article 2. Clades Article 3. Hierarchy and Rank Chapter II. Publication Article 4. Publication Requirements Article 5. Publication Date Chapter III. Names Section 1. Status Article 6 Section 2. Establishment Article 7. General Requirements Article 8. Registration Chapter IV. Clade Names Article 9. General Requirements for Establishment of Clade Names Article 10. Selection of Clade Names for Establishment Article 11. Specifiers and Qualifying Clauses Chapter V. Selection of Accepted Names Article 12. Precedence Article 13. Homonymy Article 14. Synonymy Article 15. Conservation Chapter VI. Provisions for Hybrids Article 16. Chapter VII. Orthography Article 17. Orthographic Requirements for Establishment Article 18. Subsequent Use and Correction of Established Names Chapter VIII. Authorship of Names Article 19. Chapter IX. Citation of Authors and Registration Numbers Article 20. Chapter X. Governance Article 21. Glossary Table 1. Equivalence of Nomenclatural Terms Appendix A.
    [Show full text]
  • BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS and EVOLUTIONARY THEORY By
    BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY THEORY by Aleta Quinn BA, University of Maryland, 2005 BS, University of Maryland, 2005 Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Pittsburgh 2015 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH KENNETH P. DIETRICH SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES This dissertation was presented by Aleta Quinn It was defended on July 1, 2015 and approved by James Lennox, PhD, History & Philosophy of Science Sandra Mitchell, PhD, History & Philosophy of Science Kenneth Schaffner, PhD, History & Philosophy of Science Jeffrey Schwartz, PhD, Anthropology Dissertation Director: James Lennox, PhD, History & Philosophy of Science ii Copyright © by Aleta Quinn 2015 iii BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTIONARY THEORY Aleta Quinn, PhD University of Pittsburgh, 2015 In this dissertation I examine the role of evolutionary theory in systematics (the science that discovers biodiversity). Following Darwin’s revolution, systematists have aimed to reconstruct the past. My dissertation analyzes common but mistaken assumptions about sciences that reconstruct the past by tracing the assumptions to J.S. Mill. Drawing on Mill’s contemporary, William Whewell, I critique Mill’s assumptions and develop an alternative and more complete account of systematic inference as inference to the best explanation. First, I analyze the inadequate view: that scientists use causal theories to hypothesize what past chains of events must have been, and then form hypotheses that identify segments of a network of events and causal transactions between events. This model assumes that scientists can identify events in the world by reference to neatly delineated properties, and that discovering causal laws is simply a matter of testing what regularities hold between events so delineated.
    [Show full text]
  • Pheromonal Mechanisms of Reproductive Isolation in Xiphophorus
    PHEROMONAL MECHANISMS OF REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATION IN XIPHOPHORUS AND THEIR HYBRIDS A Dissertation by CHRISTOPHER HOLLAND Submitted to the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Chair of Committee, Gil G. Rosenthal Committee Members, Michael Smotherman Kevin W. Conway Jessica L. Yorzinski Head of Department, Thomas McKnight December 2018 Major Subject: Biology Copyright 2018 Christopher Holland ABSTRACT Pheromones play an important role in conspecific mate preference across taxa. While the mechanisms underlying the pheromonal basis of reproductive isolation are well characterized in insects, we know far less about the mechanisms underlying the production and reception of chemical signals in vertebrates. In the genus Xiphophorus, conspecific mate recognition depends on female perception of male urine-borne pheromones. I focused on interspecific differences between the sympatric X. birchmanni and X. malinche, which form natural hybrid zones as a consequence of changes in water chemistry. First, I identify the organ of pheromone production and compounds comprising chemical signals. I localized pheromone production to the testis; testis extract elicited the same conspecific preference as signals generated by displaying males. I used solid phase extraction (SPE) in combination with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)/ mass spectrometry (MS) to characterize pheromone chemical composition. Analyzing HPLC/MS readouts for pure peaks with high relative intensity identified two compounds of interest, which were identified according to their fraction pattern and retention times and then individually assayed for their effect on female behavior. The ability to directly measure the pheromones with paired responses of female conspecific mate recognition gives insight into what specific components are important to female mate choice.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylocode: a Phylogenetic Code of Biological Nomenclature Version 2B
    PhyloCode: A Phylogenetic Code of Biological Nomenclature Version 2b Philip D. Cantino and Kevin de Queiroz (equal contributors; names listed alphabetically) Advisory Group: William S. Alverson, David A. Baum, Christopher A. Brochu, Harold N. Bryant, David C. Cannatella, Peter R. Crane, Michael J. Donoghue, Torsten Eriksson, Jacques Gauthier, Kenneth Halanych, David S. Hibbett, Kathleen A. Kron, Michel Laurin, Michael S. Y. Lee, Alessandro Minelli, Brent D. Mishler, Gerry Moore, Richard G. Olmstead, Fredrik Pleijel, J. Mark Porter, Greg W. Rouse, Timothy Rowe, Christoffer Schander, Per Sundberg, Mikael Thollesson, and André R. Wyss. Most recent revision: June 17, 2004* *The only change since the previous version (December 21, 2003) in a rewording of Recommendation 10A. 1 Table of Contents Preface 3 Preamble 15 Division I. Principles 16 Division II. Rules 17 Chapter I. Taxa 17 Article 1. The Nature of Taxa 17 Article 2. Clades 17 Article 3. Hierarchy and Rank 19 Chapter II. Publication 19 Article 4. Publication Requirements 19 Article 5. Publication Date 20 Chapter III. Names 20 Section 1. Status 20 Article 6 20 Section 2. Establishment 21 Article 7. General Requirements 21 Article 8. Registration 22 Chapter IV. Clade Names 23 Article 9. General Requirements for Establishment of Clade Names 23 Article 10. Selection of Clade Names for Establishment 26 Article 11. Specifiers and Qualifying Clauses 27 Chapter V. Selection of Accepted Names 34 Article 12. Precedence 34 Article 13. Homonymy 34 Article 14. Synonymy 37 Article 15. Conservation 37 Chapter VI. Provisions for Hybrids 38 Article 16. 38 Chapter VII. Orthography 39 Article 17. Orthographic Requirements for Establishment 39 Article 18.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic Analyses of Rates of Body Size Evolution Should Show
    SSStttooonnnyyy BBBrrrooooookkk UUUnnniiivvveeerrrsssiiitttyyy The official electronic file of this thesis or dissertation is maintained by the University Libraries on behalf of The Graduate School at Stony Brook University. ©©© AAAllllll RRRiiiggghhhtttsss RRReeessseeerrrvvveeeddd bbbyyy AAAuuuttthhhooorrr... The origins of diversity in frog communities: phylogeny, morphology, performance, and dispersal A Dissertation Presented by Daniel Steven Moen to The Graduate School in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology and Evolution Stony Brook University August 2012 Stony Brook University The Graduate School Daniel Steven Moen We, the dissertation committee for the above candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy degree, hereby recommend acceptance of this dissertation. John J. Wiens – Dissertation Advisor Associate Professor, Ecology and Evolution Douglas J. Futuyma – Chairperson of Defense Distinguished Professor, Ecology and Evolution Stephan B. Munch – Ecology & Evolution Graduate Program Faculty Adjunct Associate Professor, Marine Sciences Research Center Duncan J. Irschick – Outside Committee Member Professor, Biology Department University of Massachusetts at Amherst This dissertation is accepted by the Graduate School Charles Taber Interim Dean of the Graduate School ii Abstract of the Dissertation The origins of diversity in frog communities: phylogeny, morphology, performance, and dispersal by Daniel Steven Moen Doctor of Philosophy in Ecology and Evolution Stony Brook University 2012 In this dissertation, I combine phylogenetics, comparative methods, and studies of morphology and ecological performance to understand the evolutionary and biogeographical factors that lead to the community structure we see today in frogs. In Chapter 1, I first summarize the conceptual background of the entire dissertation. In Chapter 2, I address the historical processes influencing body-size evolution in treefrogs by studying body-size diversification within Caribbean treefrogs (Hylidae: Osteopilus ).
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Social Environment and Genomic Plasticity in the Maintenance of Alternative Mating Strategies in Sailfin Mollies
    Clemson University TigerPrints All Theses Theses 8-2018 The Role of Social Environment and Genomic Plasticity in the Maintenance of Alternative Mating Strategies in Sailfin Mollies Mary Katharine Ramos-Negrete Clemson University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses Recommended Citation Ramos-Negrete, Mary Katharine, "The Role of Social Environment and Genomic Plasticity in the Maintenance of Alternative Mating Strategies in Sailfin Mollies" (2018). All Theses. 3246. https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/all_theses/3246 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses at TigerPrints. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Theses by an authorized administrator of TigerPrints. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE ROLE OF SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND GENOMIC PLASTICITY IN THE MAINTENANCE OF ALTERNATIVE MATING STRATEGIES IN SAILFIN MOLLIES A Thesis Presented to the Graduate School of Clemson University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Science Biology by Mary Katharine Ramos-Negrete August 2018 Accepted by: Margaret B. Ptacek, Committee Co-Chair Christina E. Wells, Committee Co-Chair Amy L. Lawton-Rauh Matthew W. Turnbull i ABSTRACT Sailfin molly fish, Poecilia latipinna, members of the family Poeciliidae, show extensive polymorphism in male body size, degree of ornamentation and mating behavior repertoires. They are a striking example of a species with alternative male mating strategies that result from an association between life history trait variation and developmental plasticity of mating behaviors. Sailfin molly male body size correlates to their lifelong mating strategy and male size at maturity is fixed and shows a continuous range of male sizes in natural populations.
    [Show full text]
  • (Platyhelminthes) Parasitic in Mexican Aquatic Vertebrates
    Checklist of the Monogenea (Platyhelminthes) parasitic in Mexican aquatic vertebrates Berenit MENDOZA-GARFIAS Luis GARCÍA-PRIETO* Gerardo PÉREZ-PONCE DE LEÓN Laboratorio de Helmintología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 70-153 CP 04510, México D.F. (México) [email protected] [email protected] (*corresponding author) [email protected] Published on 29 December 2017 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:34C1547A-9A79-489B-9F12-446B604AA57F Mendoza-Garfias B., García-Prieto L. & Pérez-Ponce De León G. 2017. — Checklist of the Monogenea (Platyhel- minthes) parasitic in Mexican aquatic vertebrates. Zoosystema 39 (4): 501-598. https://doi.org/10.5252/z2017n4a5 ABSTRACT 313 nominal species of monogenean parasites of aquatic vertebrates occurring in Mexico are included in this checklist; in addition, records of 54 undetermined taxa are also listed. All the monogeneans registered are associated with 363 vertebrate host taxa, and distributed in 498 localities pertaining to 29 of the 32 states of the Mexican Republic. The checklist contains updated information on their hosts, habitat, and distributional records. We revise the species list according to current schemes of KEY WORDS classification for the group. The checklist also included the published records in the last 11 years, Platyhelminthes, Mexico, since the latest list was made in 2006. We also included taxon mentioned in thesis and informal distribution, literature. As a result of our review, numerous records presented in the list published in 2006 were Actinopterygii, modified since inaccuracies and incomplete data were identified. Even though the inventory of the Elasmobranchii, Anura, monogenean fauna occurring in Mexican vertebrates is far from complete, the data contained in our Testudines.
    [Show full text]
  • The Species Problem: a Conceptual Problem?
    Chapter 2 The Species Problem: A Conceptual Problem? Richard A. Richards Additional information is available at the end of the chapter http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/54134 1. Introduction There have long been multiple ways of conceiving species that divide up biodiversity in dif‐ ferent and inconsistent ways. This “species problem” goes back at least to Aristotle, who used the Greek term eidos (translated as the Latin species) in at least three different ways. [1] Two thousand years later, Darwin confronted the species problem, listing some of the differ‐ ent ways species were conceived. How various are the ideas, that enter into the minds of naturalists when speaking of species. With some, resemblance is the reigning idea & descent goes for little; with others descent is the infallible criterion; with others resemblance goes for almost nothing, & Creation is everything; with other sterility in crossed forms is an unfailing test, whilst with oth‐ ers it is regarded of no value. [2] And one hundred years after Darwin, Ernst Mayr worried about this same problem in a book he edited, titled The Species Problem. Few biological problems have remained as consistently challenging through the past two centuries as the species prob‐ lem. Time after time attempts were made to cut the Gordian knot and declare the species problem solved either by asserting dogmatically that species did not exist or by defining, equally dogmatically, the precise characteristics of spe‐ cies. Alas, these pseudosolutions were obviously unsatisfactory. One might ask: “Why not simply ignore the species © 2013 Richards; licensee InTech. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
    [Show full text]