A role for ecology in male mate discrimination of immigrant females in Calopteryx damselflies

摘要: Sexual selection against immigrants is a mechanism that can regulate premating isolation between populations but, so far, few field studies have examined whether males discriminate immigrant and resident females. Males of the damselfly Calopteryx splendens show mate preferences are able to force pre-copulatory tandems. We related male responses ecological characteristics female origin, geographic distances populations, morphological traits females identify factors influencing discrimination. Significant heterogeneity in towards was found. In some discriminated strongly females, whereas pattern reversed or nonsignificant other populations. Immigrant were particularly attractive when they came from with similar predation pressures densities conspecifics. By contrast, dissimilar conspecific not males. Differences abiotic environment appeared affect mating success lesser degree. This suggests discrimination context-dependent influenced by differences key prediction speciation theory. The results obtained present study suggest gene-flow facilitated ecologically (C) 2010 Linnean Society London, Biological Journal Society, 2010, 100, 506-518. (Less)