Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Frequency-dependent Selection01:21

Frequency-dependent Selection

24.3K
When the fitness of a trait is influenced by how common it is (i.e., its frequency) relative to different traits within a population, this is referred to as frequency-dependent selection. Frequency-dependent selection may occur between species or within a single species. This type of selection can either be positive—with more common phenotypes having higher fitness—or negative, with rarer phenotypes conferring increased fitness.
24.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Hypertension in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: progress made, gaps remain.

Journal of hypertension·2026
Same author

Female Dahl, but Not SS13<sup>BN</sup>, Rats Are Susceptible to High-Fat Diet-Induced Hypertension.

Research square·2026
Same author

Inhibition of NLRP3 Differentially Regulates Blood Pressure and Inflammation in Male versus Female DOCA-Salt Sprague Dawley Rats.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2026
Same author

Humans share acoustic preferences with other animals.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

Cadences of the collective: conspecific stimulation patterns interact with endogenous rhythms to cue socially mediated response shifts.

The Journal of experimental biology·2025
Same author

Bedside Medication Management: Pharmacy Technicians Managing Patient Medication Supply to Improve Nursing Productivity and Patient Safety.

Pharmacy (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Assays to Detect UV-reflecting Structures and Determine their Importance in Mate Preference using the Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinna
06:41

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

Published on: September 14, 2016

6.9K

INTERSPECIFIC RECOGNITION AND DISCRIMINATION BASED UPON OLFACTORY CUES IN NORTHERN SWORDTAILS.

Deborah A McLennan1, Michael J Ryan1

  • 1Department of Zoology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 78712.

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|June 1, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Female Xiphophorus fish use smell to find mates. Females prefer their own species

Keywords:
Mate choiceXiphophorus.olfactory cuesphylogenyswordtail fishes

More Related Videos

Extracellular Multi-Unit Recording from the Olfactory Nerve of Teleosts
07:02

Extracellular Multi-Unit Recording from the Olfactory Nerve of Teleosts

Published on: October 6, 2020

7.2K
Functional Evaluation of Olfactory Pathways in Living Xenopus Tadpoles
07:33

Functional Evaluation of Olfactory Pathways in Living Xenopus Tadpoles

Published on: December 11, 2018

7.3K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 1, 2026

Assays to Detect UV-reflecting Structures and Determine their Importance in Mate Preference using the Sailfin Molly Poecilia latipinna
06:41

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

Published on: September 14, 2016

6.9K
Extracellular Multi-Unit Recording from the Olfactory Nerve of Teleosts
07:02

Extracellular Multi-Unit Recording from the Olfactory Nerve of Teleosts

Published on: October 6, 2020

7.2K
Functional Evaluation of Olfactory Pathways in Living Xenopus Tadpoles
07:33

Functional Evaluation of Olfactory Pathways in Living Xenopus Tadpoles

Published on: December 11, 2018

7.3K

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral Ecology
  • Neuroethology
  • Chemical Ecology

Background:

  • Olfactory cues play a crucial role in mate recognition and reproductive behaviors across various animal species.
  • The Xiphophorus genus, known for its diverse species and complex social interactions, provides a valuable model for studying olfactory communication.
  • Understanding the specificity and evolution of olfactory systems is key to deciphering speciation processes and reproductive isolation mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of olfactory cues in mate choice among three closely related Xiphophorus species: X. montezumae, X. cortezi, and X. nigrensis.
  • To determine the degree of conspecific and heterospecific olfactory recognition in female Xiphophorus.
  • To explore potential evolutionary divergence in olfactory cue-receiver systems within the Xiphophorus genus.

Main Methods:

  • Olfactory preference tests were conducted using female Xiphophorus fish.
  • Females were presented with choices between water and olfactory stimuli from conspecific and heterospecific males.
  • Behavioral responses, specifically attraction and preference, were quantified to assess olfactory cue recognition.

Main Results:

  • Female X. montezumae were attracted to both conspecific and heterospecific male olfactory cues, showing a preference for conspecifics only when contrasted with X. nigrensis.
  • Female X. nigrensis responded to olfactory cues from their close relative X. cortezi but not from the more distantly related X. montezumae, preferring conspecific cues.
  • An asymmetrical olfactory response was observed: X. montezumae showed moderate attraction to X. nigrensis cues, while X. nigrensis did not respond to X. montezumae cues.

Conclusions:

  • X. cortezi and X. nigrensis likely share an evolutionary change in their olfactory cue-receiver system not present in X. montezumae.
  • The findings reveal species-specific olfactory recognition abilities and potential reproductive isolation mechanisms within the Xiphophorus genus.
  • Asymmetrical olfactory responses suggest complex evolutionary dynamics and varying degrees of interspecies communication.