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Courtship behaviour in male red-backed salamanders: the ESS dating game
Animal Behaviour
|September 1, 1997
Summary
Female red-backed salamanders prefer males that allow foraging access, driving the evolution of male permissive territorial behavior. This benefits males by increasing mating opportunities.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Animal Behavior
Background:
- Social interactions in red-backed salamanders (Plethodon cinereus) are complex, influenced by sex and reproductive status.
- Males court annually, while females mate biennially, leading to a 2:1 male-to-gravid female ratio.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the evolutionary conditions favoring male "permissive" territorial behavior in Plethodon cinereus.
- To understand the role of female preference in the evolution of this behavior.
Main Methods:
- Game-theoretic analysis of male fitness models.
- Incorporation of behavioral assumptions regarding territory defense and female access.
Main Results:
- Female preference for permissive males is the critical factor for the evolution of permissive behavior.
- Permissive behavior is more likely to evolve if females preferentially mate with males allowing territory access.
- Energetic costs of territorial defense versus allowing female foraging also facilitate this evolution.
Conclusions:
- Female choice is a key driver for the evolution of male permissive territoriality in red-backed salamanders.
- This behavior is favored when it increases a male's reproductive success through female preference.