REPEATABILITY OF MATING-BEHAVIOR IN MONTANDONS NEWT, TRITURUS-MONTANDONI (CAUDATA-SALAMANDRIDAE)

Models of sexual selection assume that there is genetic control of mat ing behaviour. A useful tool for studies of consistency in male displa y and female mate preference is repeatability, a quantitative genetics measure that sets an upper limit on heritability. In this study, repe atability of several parameters of courtship behaviour in Montandon's newt, Triturus montandoni, were calculated. Only one characteristic of male display had repeatability significantly different from zero. Est imates of repeatability for absolute female preferences with respect t o two male characteristics were near-zero. Other parameters of female mating behaviour were also inconsistent. The results may suggest that there is little additive genetic variation in mating behaviour.