Variation in innovation is maintained by disassortative mating and female choice

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Ecology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Animal Behavior

Background:

• Innovation is often linked to attractiveness and mating success in animals.
• However, significant variation in innovation rates exists within populations, with unclear selective forces maintaining this diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how female mate choice and male trade-offs influence the maintenance of variation in innovation.
• To understand the role of sexual selection in preserving differing innovation levels within a population.

Main Methods:

• Combined observational data from semi-natural enclosures with experimental mate choice tests in wild house mice.
• Analyzed female preference based on male innovative ability and physical size.
• Examined the trade-off between male innovation and competitive ability (size).

Main Results:

• Females with different innovative tendencies showed opposing mate preferences.
• Innovative females preferred physically larger males, irrespective of their innovation level.
• Non-innovative females preferred innovative males, irrespective of their size.
• Males exhibited a trade-off between innovation and size, a proxy for competitive ability.
• These preferences led to disassortative mating patterns.

Conclusions:

• Female mate choice, coupled with male trade-offs between innovation and competitive ability, can maintain variation in innovation.
• Sexual selection plays a crucial role in preserving diverse innovation levels within wild house mouse populations.