Dougherty, Liam 
ORCID: 0000-0003-1406-0680
(2021)
Meta-analysis shows the evidence for context-dependent mating behaviour is inconsistent or weak across animals.
Ecology Letters, 24 (4).
pp. 862-875.
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Dougherty, 2021 Author accepted copy.pdf - Author Accepted Manuscript Download (993kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Animals often need to invest significantly in mating behaviour in order to successfully mate. However, the expression of mating behaviour can be costly, especially in unfavourable environments, so animals are expected to adjust their behaviour in a context-dependent way to mitigate these costs. I systematically searched the literature for studies measuring animal mating behaviour (sexual signalling, response to sexual signals or the strength of mate choice) in more than one environment, and used a phylogenetically controlled meta-analysis to identify environmental factors influencing these behaviours. Across 222 studies, the strength of mate choice was significantly context-dependent, and most strongly influenced by population density, population sex ratio and predation risk. However, the average effect sizes were typically small. The amount of sexual signalling and the strength of response to sexual signals were not significantly related to the environment. Overall, this suggests that the evidence for context-dependent mating behaviour across animals is surprisingly weak.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Behavioural plasticity, breeding date, choosiness, courtship, density-dependence, ecology of fear, mate choice, responsiveness, sexual signalling, terminal investment |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 13 Jan 2021 09:52 |
| Last Modified: | 18 Jan 2023 23:03 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/ele.13679 |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3113491 |
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