STICKLEBACK COLOR FLUCTUATION OVER THE BREEDING SEASON: AN IN DEPTH FIELD STUDY

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Tyler B. T. Bowling (Creator)

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East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: The coloration of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is well studied in the field of evolution , mainly with regard to the role of sexual selection (Ostlund-Nilsson et al. , 2006; Foster et al. , 2008; Hendry et al. , 2013). Recent studies , however , suggest that natural selection has a larger impact on stickleback coloration than previously thought (Candolin and Tukiainen , 2015). In the present study we tested three competing hypotheses: 1) color patches function mainly in courtship; 2) color patches function mainly in egg and fry defense; or 3) patches function in courtship and late egg/fry defense. We tested these hypotheses by comparing variation in color intensity of males across nesting phases and in relation to stage or presence of offspring , and their development. We predicted that if red intensity peaked during courtship , hypothesis 1 would be supported. Alternatively , increasing red intensity during the parental phase would support hypothesis 2 , with natural selection being the main force at work on the color patterns , conflicting with dogma. Our data showed that throat and , to a lesser degree , jaw color patterns were consistent with a major role for sexual selection. Alternatively , spine coloration could be the result of multiple selective pressures.

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Language: English

Date: 2018

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