Does the winner-loser effect determine male mating success?

Biology Letters
Lauren M HarrisonMegan L Head

Abstract

Winning or losing a fight can have lasting effects on competitors. Controlling for inherent fighting ability and other factors, a history of winning often makes individuals more likely to win future contests, while the opposite is true for losers (the 'winner-loser effect'). But does the winner-loser effect also influence a male's mating success? We experimentally staged contests between male mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) such that focal males either won or lost three successive encounters with stimulus males. We then placed a size-matched (to control for inherent fighting ability) winner and loser with a female and monitored their behaviour (n = 63 trios). Winners spent significantly more time associating with the female. Winners did not make more copulation attempts, nor have a greater number of successful attempts. There was, however, a significant effect of male size on the number of successful copulation attempts: success decreased with male size for losers, but size had no effect on the success rate of winners.

Associated Datasets

References

Sep 1, 1974·Journal of Theoretical Biology·G A Parker
Feb 8, 2006·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Yuying HsuLarry L Wolf
Dec 7, 2006·Biology Letters·Amanda BretmanTom Tregenza
Dec 8, 2015·Ecology and Evolution·Megan L HeadMichael D Jennions
Apr 25, 2016·Die Naturwissenschaften·Serafino TeseoFrédéric Mery

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Citations

Apr 4, 2019·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·David C S Filice, Reuven Dukas
Oct 1, 2020·Journal of Fish Biology·Yuritzi Castillo, Elsah Arce
Jan 31, 2021·Behavioural Processes·Lauren Mathews
Aug 27, 2021·Behavioural Processes·Michael KolaLauren Mathews

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