P. Michalak, REPEATABILITY OF MATING-BEHAVIOR IN MONTANDONS NEWT, TRITURUS-MONTANDONI (CAUDATA-SALAMANDRIDAE), Ethology, ecology and evolution, 8(1), 1996, pp. 19-27
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.