Social Interaction With Females Modulates Context-Dependent Male Guppy Mating Tactics for Female Receptivity

Although females are traditionally viewed as the choosier sex, there is increasing evidence for the important role that male mate choice plays in sexual selection, even in species without male parental care. Social experience is a key factor influencing how individuals assess the quality of potential mates. Here, we examined how social experience shapes mating tactics and preferences in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Males were housed either in isolation from females or in mixed-sex groups, and we quantified their preferences and behavioral repertoire in response to receptive and non-receptive females in no-choice and dichotomous choice tests. Males reared in mixed-sex groups adjusted their mating tactics by increasing coercive behaviors toward non-receptive females, and exhibiting shorter latencies to initiate sexual behaviors in these interactions. However, social interaction with females did not affect the overall strength of male preference for female receptivity status. While these results suggest preference for female receptivity may be shaped through interactions with other ecological factors, the observed behavioral adjustments in males reared in mixed-sex groups align with theoretical predictions for maximizing insemination success, highlighting the key role of social experience in driving context-dependent variation in male mating behavior.