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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Assays to Detect UV-reflecting Structures and Determine their Importance in Mate Preference using the Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinna

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Published on: September 14, 2016

Fluctuating mate preferences in a marine fish.

Topi K Lehtonen¹, Bob B M Wong, Kai Lindström

¹School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Victoria 3800, Australia. topi.lehtonen@sci.monash.edu.au

Biology Letters

|August 14, 2009

Summary

Female mate preferences fluctuate yearly in sand gobies, potentially maintaining genetic variation in sexual traits. This study highlights temporal changes in preferences and their impact on sexual selection.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Behavioral Ecology
Genetics

Background:

Directional female choice for male ornaments theoretically reduces genetic variation.
Heritable genetic variation in female choice and male traits is crucial for understanding sexual selection.
Temporal variation in female mate preferences may maintain underlying genetic variation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate year-to-year fluctuations in female mate preferences.
To explore the link between fish size variation and female preferences.
To assess the role of fluctuating preferences in maintaining genetic variation in sexual traits.

Main Methods:

A four-year field study on the sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus).
Monitoring of female mate preferences across different years.
Analysis of average mature fish size variation between years.

Main Results:

Significant year-to-year fluctuations in female mate preferences were observed.
No direct evidence linked annual variation in fish size to differences in female preferences.
The study demonstrates temporal dynamics in mate choice behavior.

Conclusions:

Temporal fluctuations in female mate preferences are significant in sand gobies.
These fluctuations have implications for understanding variation in sexual traits.
Fluctuating preferences may play a role in maintaining genetic variation and influencing sexual selection intensity.