Egg mimicry and allopaternal care: Two mate-attracting tactics by which nesting striped darter (Etheostoma virgatum) males enhance reproductive success

摘要: In a variety of fish species with paternal care offspring, females prefer to spawn in nests that already contain eggs. This female preference has been hypothesized explain egg thievery male sticklebacks, allopaternal eggs minnows, and the evolution egg-mimicking body features cichlids darters. Here we employ microsatellite-based parentage analyses evaluate reproductive success striped darter (Etheostoma virgatum) males appear utilize two these functionally related tactics entice their nests. an isolated population (Clear Creek, Ky.), observed breeding develop conspicuous white spots on pectoral fins. If are mimics, as suspect, then this represents fourth independent evolutionary origin mimicry documented date darters, first based pigmentation (as opposed physical structures), which mimics vary greatly number among males. From direct counts microsatellite genotypes clutches embryos, at least 3.8 contributed progeny within typical nest, tended preferentially were larger displayed more egg-mimic spots. another (Hurricane Tenn.) without multi-locus genetic data document is common, especially smallest who sometimes tend containing own well earlier sire's offspring. Thus, foster had adopted egg-containing successfully spawned subsequent females. Overall, paternity maternity, conjunction field observations, suggest mate-attracting employed by exploit preferences for spawning 'eggs'.