Mating Behavior of the Two-Spotted Goby
Author Information
Author(s): Mobley Kenyon B, Amundsen Trond, Forsgren Elisabet, Svensson Per A, Jones Adam G
Primary Institution: Department of Biology, Texas A&M University
Hypothesis
What is the genetic mating system of the two-spotted goby and how does it relate to sexual selection?
Conclusion
The study found that male two-spotted gobies mate with multiple females and experience very low rates of cuckoldry.
Supporting Evidence
- Male two-spotted gobies were found to have an average of 4.3 mothers per nest.
- Only one instance of sneaking was detected, contributing about 3.2% of the larvae.
- Nests were nearly full, indicating high reproductive success for males.
Takeaway
Male two-spotted gobies have many female partners and very few of their eggs come from sneaky males.
Methodology
Microsatellite-based parentage analysis was conducted on nests collected during the breeding season.
Potential Biases
Potential for misdiagnosis of maternal genotypes due to null alleles.
Limitations
The study may not capture all instances of sneaking due to sampling timing.
Participant Demographics
The study focused on male two-spotted gobies and their nests.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.03
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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