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Reversing sex role reversal: compete only when you must

dc.contributor.authorSilva, K.
dc.contributor.authorVieira, Maria Natividadepor
dc.contributor.authorAlmada, Vítor Carvalhopor
dc.contributor.authorMonteiro, Nuno Miguelpor
dc.date.accessioned2013-10-01T18:29:41Z
dc.date.available2013-10-01T18:29:41Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.description.abstractThe operational sex ratio (OSR) is thought to be a major factor influencing the intensity of mating competition and sexual selection. Even though many studies on species with conventional sex roles have shown that alterations in the OSR can either intensify male–male competition or promote female–female competitive interactions, sometimes resulting in a reversal of sex roles, it is not known how, and how quickly, individuals with reversed sex roles respond to fluctuations in this ratio. We tested for a direct influence of adult sex ratios (as a direct estimation of the OSR) on the reproductive behaviour of the sex role-reversed black striped pipefish, Syngnathus abaster. Although imbalances in the OSR effectively modulated the expression of sex roles, with males and females varying in the degree of choosiness and competitive displays, alterations in the sex ratios did not promote a similar response pattern in both sexes. A surplus of males resulted in a reversion to conventional sex roles observed when both sexes coexist in similar numbers, with males competing intensely and exhibiting a conspicuous ornament towards other males. An excess of females, in contrast, did not result in an overall increase in female competitive interactions. Only small, less attractive, females were more prone to compete as the proportion of males decreased. Large females, however, seemed to rely on their greater mating prospects, thereby avoiding the hypothetical costs of intrasexual competition.por
dc.identifier.citationAnimal Behaviour 79, 885-893por
dc.identifier.issn0003-3472
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/2398
dc.language.isoengpor
dc.peerreviewedyespor
dc.publisherElsevierpor
dc.subjectBlack striped pipefishpor
dc.subjectCompetitionpor
dc.subjectFemale–female interactionpor
dc.subjectMating tacticspor
dc.subjectOperational sex ratio (OSR)por
dc.subjectSex role reversalpor
dc.subjectSyngnathidaepor
dc.subjectSyngnathus abasterpor
dc.titleReversing sex role reversal: compete only when you mustpor
dc.typejournal article
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.conferencePlaceLondonpor
oaire.citation.endPage893por
oaire.citation.startPage885por
oaire.citation.titleAnimal Behaviourpor
oaire.citation.volume79por
rcaap.rightsrestrictedAccesspor
rcaap.typearticlepor

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