PRIOR EXPOSURE TO MALE PHENOTYPES INFLUENCES MATE CHOICE IN THE GUPPY, POECILIA-RETICULATA

This study examined the effect of experience on the pattern of mate ch oice in female guppies. Females from some natural populations are know n to discriminate among males on the basis of the relative area of ora nge in the color pattern. We exposed maturing Female guppies to groups of males that differed in phenotypic distribution of orange coloratio n (high orange, low orange, and mixed) and tested their subsequent mat ing preferences. Females that had bren exposed to high-orange or low-o range male groups showed no discrimination in choice tests, but female s exposed re:, mixed male groups favored high-orange males over low-or ange males. These results demonstrate that mating preferences of femal es can be modified depending on prior experience. Females may he able to adjust their pattern of mate choice depending on the degree to whic h choice cuts permit effective discrimination among males. This potent ial for short-term modification of mate choice patterns could affect t he evolutionary outcome of sexual selection.