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Female Characteristics that Influence Male Mate Preference in House Mice (Mus Musculus)

Abstract Details

2010, Doctor of Philosophy, Miami University, Zoology.
In promiscuous and polygynous species, males provide less parental investment and are generally assumed not to discriminate among mates. However, if there is variation in the quality of females, such that it influences the reproductive success of their mates, selection should favor males that discriminate among females. I investigated whether the quality of female house mice could affect male mate preference. First, I tested if males spent more time investigating non-food-deprived than food-deprived females, and whether the reproductive success of males was influenced by the nutritional status or preference status (preferred or non-preferred) of their mate. Males did not display a preference for non-food-deprived females nor did their reproductive success vary with the nutritional status or preference status of females. Interestingly, males spent more time investigating their preferred female when she was closer to his weight and pairs closer in weight were more likely to produce a litter. Second, I tested whether the dominance rank of males influenced the proportion of time they spent investigating their initially preferred or non-preferred female after one of the females was treated with the anogenital odor of the male’s opponent. Males did not spend a smaller proportion of time investigating the female that was treated regardless of their initial preference. However, in the second trial, males spent the same amount of time investigating their initially preferred and initially non-preferred females and spent more time overall investigating both females. Finally, I tested if males spent more time investigating females that were better mothers (built better nests, retrieved their pups more quickly) than they spent investigating poorer mothers. In addition, I tested whether differences in maternal quality influenced offspring characteristics at weaning or their performance as adults. Males did not spend more time investigating females that built higher-quality nests, but did spend more time investigating females that did not retriever their pups as quickly (non-retrievers). Maternal quality, however, did not affect the quantity or quality of pups at weaning or their performance as adults. Overall, my results provide some evidence that male house mice can discriminate among females and this discrimination may influence their reproductive success.
Doug Meikle (Advisor)
Brian Keane (Committee Member)
Ann Rypstra (Committee Member)
Nancy Solomon (Committee Member)
Robert Schaefer (Committee Member)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Costello, A. K. (2010). Female Characteristics that Influence Male Mate Preference in House Mice (Mus Musculus) [Doctoral dissertation, Miami University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1280754434

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Costello, Aron. Female Characteristics that Influence Male Mate Preference in House Mice (Mus Musculus). 2010. Miami University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1280754434.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Costello, Aron. "Female Characteristics that Influence Male Mate Preference in House Mice (Mus Musculus)." Doctoral dissertation, Miami University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1280754434

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)