Potential direct fitness consequences of ornament-based mate choice in a butterfly

摘要: Female mate choice has been shown to provide direct mating benefits in several animal groups. In butterflies, for which there are increasing reports of fine-scale color-based choice, the evolutionary that accrue from such biases, if any, largely unknown. We addressed this issue butterfly Colias eurytheme, a species females choose mates on basis iridescent ultraviolet (UV) wing ornamentation and males donate reproductively beneficial nuptial gifts. first experiment, we assessed mass gifts donated 77 virgin by sampled directly field encounter site. Despite large variance male adult phenotype ejaculate, no single aspect dorsal coloration, including UV brightness, chroma, or hue, was related ejaculate mass. There was, however, an interesting interaction between effects body size copula duration upon mass, with scaling positively among involved shorter copulations (those lasting <70 min) but negatively longer copulations. second lifetime fecundity, fertility, longevity 85 mated under similar circumstances free-flying wild males. Although color parameters proved subtly informative more sophisticated multivariable models, model predicted than about 20% variation any female fitness parameter. The copulation, ranged 35 min over 16 h carries putative costs females, again, only very weakly (i.e., R2 = 0.089). Given overall minor predictive power coloration general brightness particular, our results do not strongly support hypothesis C. eurytheme prefer bright obtain minimize associated lengthy