Characteristics that influence male reproductive success on a lek of Lethrinops c.f. parvidens (Teleostei : Cichlidae)

Sexual selection has long been proposed as a mechanism leading to the diver se cichlid (Teleostei: Cichlidae) fauna of Lake Malawi, Africa. Many of the shallow-water, sand-dwelling, bower-building cichlid species are particula rly well suited for studies of sexual selection because they participate in leks. Since females in lekking systems appear to acquire only genetic mate rial from their mates, it has been suggested that leks are ideal systems to study female mate choice. The objectives of the investigation were to exam ine Lethrinops c.f. parvidens male bower characteristics (i.e., bower size and location) as well as other male characteristics (i.e., length, gular co lor and duration on the lek) for their influence on male mating success as measured by the number of visits, circles, and eggs laid by females. These measures are nested in that a visit by a female may or may not lead to circ ling, and circling by a female may or may not lead to egg-laying. We found increased bower height and higher numbers of conspecific neighbors (analogo us to shallow-water, near-shore bower positions) to be positively, signific antly associated with the number of visits: by females. The only significan t correlate with the number of circles was visits, and similarly circles wa s the only significant correlate with the number of eggs laid. The R-2 valu e for the egg-laying regression was quite low (19.8%) compared with visits (54.3%) and circling (78.9%), suggesting that fe males may be using additio nal cues, that we failed to measure, when in close proximity to males or si mply that a small proportion of the females were ready to spawn. Both indir ect selection and direct selection pressure due to egg predation may have i nfluenced female choice on the lek.