Article (Scientific journals)
Dissecting the mechanisms underlying old male mating advantage in a butterfly
Karl, Isabell; Heuskin, Stéphanie; Fischer, Klaus
2013In Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
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Keywords :
female choice; intersexual selection; male mating success; male sex pheromones; residual reproductive value
Abstract :
[en] Selection is expected to maximize an individual’s own genetic reward regardless of the potential fitness consequences for its sexual partners, which may cause sexual conflict. Although performance in holometabolous insects typically diminishes with age, old male mating advantage has been documented in a few species. Whether this pattern arises from female preference for older males based on, e.g., pheromone blends (intersexual selection), or from increased eagerness to mate in older compared to younger males is currently debated. We explore the mechanistic basis of old male mating advantage, using a series of experiments including behavioral as well as manipulative approaches, in the tropical butterfly Bicyclus anynana. Consistent with the residual reproductive value hypothesis, old male mating advantage was associated with a greater eagerness to mate, evidenced by a two times higher flying and courting activity in older than in younger males. In contrast, we found only limited support for a contribution of female preference for older males based on pheromone composition, although male sex pheromones clearly do play a role in mating success. Our results suggest that male behavior may play a primary role in old male mating advantage, and that pheromones are likely of secondary importance only. Male mating success was related to higher overall pheromone titers rather than variation in a single component. A dominant importance of male behavior in determining mating success may result in sexual conflict.
Disciplines :
Entomology & pest control
Life sciences: Multidisciplinary, general & others
Author, co-author :
Karl, Isabell
Heuskin, Stéphanie ;  Université de Liège - ULiège > Chimie et bio-industries > Analyse, qual. et risques - Labo. de Chimie analytique
Fischer, Klaus
Language :
English
Title :
Dissecting the mechanisms underlying old male mating advantage in a butterfly
Publication date :
2013
Journal title :
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology
ISSN :
0340-5443
eISSN :
1432-0762
Publisher :
Springer Science & Business Media B.V., New York, United States - New York
Peer reviewed :
Peer Reviewed verified by ORBi
Available on ORBi :
since 11 April 2013

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