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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 7, 2026

Observation and Quantification of Mating Behavior in the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Observation and Quantification of Mating Behavior in the Pinewood Nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus

Published on: December 25, 2016

The mating game: do opposites really attract?

Jennifer L Gow¹

¹Department of Zoology, Biodiversity Research Centre and Native Fishes Research Group, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. gow@zoology.ubc.ca

Molecular Ecology

|February 13, 2008

Summary

Female mate choice is complex. While many species prefer genetically dissimilar mates to avoid inbreeding, spotted salamanders often choose similar partners, challenging the

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
Genetics

Background:

Female mate choice aims to optimize offspring genetic quality.
Choosing a genetically similar mate risks inbreeding.
Choosing a genetically dissimilar mate risks disrupting beneficial gene complexes.

Discussion:

Empirical evidence often supports the "opposites attract" hypothesis, showing female preference for dissimilar mates.
Chandler & Zamudio (2008) observed female spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) preferring genetically similar males.
This preference for similarity contrasts with the general expectation of dissimilarity in mate choice.

Key Insights:

Female spotted salamanders exhibit a preference for genetically similar males, contradicting the "opposites attract" rule.
Male size influences mate preference; females avoid similar but small males.
Mate choice relatedness is more nuanced than a simple preference for dissimilarity.

Outlook:

Further research is needed to understand the genetic and ecological factors driving varied mate choice strategies.
Investigating the specific benefits or costs of inbreeding avoidance versus outbreeding depression in different species.
Exploring the role of environmental factors and sexual selection in shaping female mate preferences across taxa.