Studying mate choice in the wild using 3D printed decoys and action cameras: a case of study of male choice in the northern map turtle. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bulté, Grégory; Chlebak, Ryan J.; Dawson, Jeffery W.; Blouin-Demers, Gabriel
• Is Part Of: Animal behaviour. Volume 138(2018)
• Page Start: 141
• Page End: 143
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Graptemys geographica -- sexual selection -- 3D printing; Animal behavior -- Periodicals; 591.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.02.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-3472

Abstract

Abstract : Mate choice experiments are essential to further our understanding of sexual selection, but can be challenging to design and conduct with most wild animals. 3D printing technology is creating opportunities to conduct mate choice experiments in the field by facilitating the production of biologically accurate decoys. We used pairs of 3D printed female decoys differing only in size to test whether free-ranging male northern map turtles, Graptemys geographica, prefer larger females. Males interacted and attempted to mate significantly more with the larger decoys. By selecting larger females, males should increase their fitness because of the correlation between female size and hatchling size. Our experiment demonstrated that 3D printing technology can be a valuable tool to study animal behaviour in the field. Highlights: We studied mate choice in male map turtles using 3D printed decoys of females. Free-ranging males approached larger decoys significantly more often. Free-ranging males attempted to mate significantly more often with larger decoys. 3D printing allows new avenues for experimental study of mate choice in the field.