Meeting Abstract

P3.159  Tuesday, Jan. 6  Female choice of Betta splendens using a socially complex paradigm LOUNSBERRY, Zachary*; SOARES, Daphne; University of Maryland; University of maryland daph@umd.edu

What are the parameters used by females when choosing a mate? I chose to study the behavior of the siamese fighting fish (Betta splendens) to examine the underlying mechanisms that dictate female choice. Males of this species are known for their elaborated displays and violent fights, presumably investing their resources to influence mating success. Former studies have tested parameters such as fin length, body size, coloration, visual displays, and nest size. While it is likely a combination of these characteristics that ultimately causes the female to choose a mate, it has been shown that a female that eavesdrops on a fight between two males will almost certainly choose the winner over the loser. However, it is still unknown what other social parameters will influence B. splendens females, and here we ask whether familiarity is a factor. Is a female more apt to choose a male that she has lived with in a larger social group or one she has never seen before? Moreover, how does the importance of familiarity compare to the importance of fighting outcome? To help answer these questions, females from two socially raised clutches of B. splendens were given a choice between the males from their respective clutches or a completely novel male. The results strongly suggest a preference for an unknown male. This preference is checked against the importance of eavesdropping and other possible traits that influence female mate choices.