Effect of Predation Risk Assessment on Mating Behaviour, and Homosexual Behaviour in the Guppy, Poecilia reticulata

Sengupta, Ankita (2016) Effect of Predation Risk Assessment on Mating Behaviour, and Homosexual Behaviour in the Guppy, Poecilia reticulata. Masters thesis, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata.

PDF (MS dissertation of Ankita Sengupta (11MS066)) MS_Thesis_Ankita-Sengupta-11MS066.pdf - Submitted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (730kB)

Abstract

In Poecilia reticulata, there are intersexual differences in morphology, courting behaviour vulner- ability to predation, as well as asymmetric investment in mating and offspring-rearing. In the presence of a predator, I expected these differences to in uence the mating behaviour of the sexes. Due to bright coloration of males and larger body size of females, I expected the males to choose a less conspicuous mating strategy and females to pay lesser attention to males, under predation risk. To test the effect of predation risk on the mating behaviour of guppies, individuals were exposed to predators prior to mating trials and checked any differences in their mating behaviour. After exposure to predators, males did not increase their performance of the less conspicuous mating strategy. Also, on exposure to predator, females did not show significant reduction in male-oriented aggression from the control. The risk assessment of females in uenced the behaviour of the males. I concluded from my results that in this experiment, female behaviour played a greater role than predation risk in affecting male mating behaviour, and that neither male nor female behaviour depended on predation risk.

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