Egg viability decreases rapidly with time since ovulation in the rainbow darter Etheostoma caeruleum: implications for the costs of choosiness. Issue 2 (11th December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moran, R. L.; Soukup, R. M.; Zhou, M.; Fuller, R. C.
• Is Part Of: Journal of fish biology. Volume 92:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 532
• Page End: 536
• Publication Date: 2017-12-11
• Subjects: egg overripening -- Etheostoma caeruleum -- female mate choice -- mate choice cost -- rainbow darter; Fishes -- Periodicals; Fishes -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 597
• DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13523
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-1112

Abstract

Abstract : Egg viability in the rainbow darter Etheostoma caeruleum, a fish apparently lacking female mate choice, was found to decline rapidly after ovulation. It was observed that the majority of a female's clutch may fail to hatch if she is prevented from mating for as little as 6 h. These data suggest that exercising female mate preferences may be selectively disfavoured in E. caeruleum due to the high cost of delaying mating.