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Facultative mate choice drives adaptive hybridization.

Karin S Pfennig¹

¹Department of Biology, Campus Box 3280, Coker Hall, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. kpfennig@email.unc.edu

Science (New York, N.Y.)

|November 10, 2007

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Female spadefoot toads surprisingly chose males of other species when environmental conditions favored hybridization. This adaptive mate choice depended on female phenotype and environmental context, challenging typical avoidance of hybridization.

Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Behavioral Ecology
Reproductive Strategies

Background:

Hybridization between species is generally considered maladaptive, leading females to typically avoid mating with heterospecific males.
Understanding the evolutionary pressures and female decision-making processes that influence mate choice, especially in the context of hybridization, is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate whether environmental conditions and female phenotype influence mate choice in spadefoot toads, particularly regarding hybridization.
To determine if females adjust their mate selection strategies to favor hybridization when it is potentially beneficial.

Main Methods:

Observational studies on female spadefoot toads' mating preferences under varying environmental conditions.
Analysis of female phenotypic characteristics correlated with mate choice decisions.

Related Experiment Videos

Comparative analysis of mate choice evolution in populations with varying risks and benefits of hybridization.

Main Results:

Female spadefoot toads showed an increased likelihood of choosing heterospecific males when exposed to environmental conditions that promote hybridization.
Females possessing phenotypes that make hybridization most advantageous were more prone to switching from conspecific to heterospecific mate preference.
Environmentally dependent mate choice has evolved specifically in populations and species where hybridization poses risks but offers potential benefits.

Conclusions:

Female mate choice is not static and can be radically altered by environmental context and individual phenotype.
Spadefoot toads demonstrate a flexible mating strategy, choosing heterospecific mates when hybridization is environmentally favored and potentially advantageous.
The evolution of mate choice is strongly influenced by the varying benefits and risks associated with hybridization.