Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


DISSERTATION_BOLEN.pdf (1.02 MB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Sexual Selection in the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis): Context-Dependent Variation in Female Preference

Bolen, Donella S
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1546460364036071

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology.
Females can vary in their mate choice decisions and this variability can play a key role in evolution by sexual selection. Variability in female preferences can affect the intensity and direction of selection on male sexual traits, as well as explain variation in male reproductive success. I looked at how consistency of female preference can vary for a male sexual trait, song length, and then examined context-dependent situations that may contribute to variation in female preferences. In Chapter 2, I assessed repeatability – a measure of among-individual variation – in preference for male song length in female American goldfinches (Spinus tristis). I found no repeatability in preference for song length but did find an overall preference for shorter songs. I suggest that context, including the social environment, may be important in altering the expression of female preferences. In Chapter 3, I assessed how the choices of other females influence female preference. Mate choice copying, in which female preference for a male increases if he has been observed with other females, has been observed in several non-monogamous birds. However, it is unclear whether mate choice copying occurs in socially monogamous species where there are direct benefits from choosing an unmated male. I found evidence for mate choice copying and suggest that copying occurs when choosing extrapair mates. In Chapter 4, I examine how social relationships among females influence copying. A female may be more likely to copy another female if they are familiar with one another due to shared environments and experiences. I found that females are more likely to copy familiar rather than unfamiliar females, which has not been shown in this context. The latter two chapters show that social context is a source of variation that can cause a female to alter her preferences. This suggests an important potential role of female-female social relationships on male reproductive success and the evolution of male characteristics.
Ian Hamilton (Advisor)
J. Andrew Roberts (Advisor)
Jacqueline Augustine (Committee Member)
110 p.
Animals; Behavioral Sciences; Biology; Ecology; Organismal Biology; Zoology
American goldfinch; Spinus tristis; mate choice; female preference; repeatability; mate choice copying; familiarity; female choice; sexual selection

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Bolen, D. S. (2019). Sexual Selection in the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis): Context-Dependent Variation in Female Preference [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1546460364036071

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Bolen, Donella. Sexual Selection in the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis): Context-Dependent Variation in Female Preference. 2019. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1546460364036071.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Bolen, Donella. "Sexual Selection in the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis): Context-Dependent Variation in Female Preference." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1546460364036071

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1546460364036071
487
© 2019, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.