ABS Media Information

Variation in female choice of mates: condition influences selectivity

The research investigated causes of variation in the mate preferences of female zebra finches, a small songbird that has long-term pair bonds and care of young by both parents. In zebra finches, both males and females participate in choosing their mate. The goal was to determine whether a female’s self-perception of her mate-getting ability, or attractiveness to males, affected her own mate selectivity. The prediction was that females with high mate-getting ability would be more selective; individuals with lower attractiveness would be less selective, because they cannot expect to attract highly desirable mating partners. A female’s quality was manipulated by slight trimming of her flight feathers, which increased the effort needed to fly. Females were less selective of mates following this manipulation than they were before the manipulation. Males did not appear to recognize the impaired flight capacity of females and did not discriminate against females with clipped flight feathers. Results support the prediction that individuals adjust their mate selectivity based on their self-assessment of mating quality. This research will help to understand why different individuals within a species vary in their behavior, and will aid development of better techniques to study the contributions of environment and genetic history to the expression of complex behaviors.