Choosy males could help explain androdioecy in a selfing fish

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  • Amy Ellison
    Aberystwyth University
  • Jennifer Jones
    Aberystwyth University
  • Charlotte Inchley
    Aberystwyth University
  • Sofia Consuegra
Androdioecy (the coexistence of males and hermaphrodites) is considered a transitional state derived from pure hermaphroditism or dioecy, but the processes selecting for this rare breeding system are unclear, particularly in animals. In androdioecious species, the proportion of males in relation to hermaphrodites is usually so reduced that it is not known whether there is scope for mate choice, particularly when simultaneous hermaphrodites can self-fertilize. We investigated the potential role of male mate choice in the persistence of androdioecy in animals using a self-fertilizing androdioecious fish (Kryptolebias marmoratus) as a model. Hermaphrodites preferred to associate with males but showed no preference based on genetic similarity. In contrast, males displayed a strong preference for genetically dissimilar hermaphrodites, based, apparently, on olfactory cues. We suggest that disassortative male mate choice could be a critical factor in stabilizing androdioecy in cases where high selfing rates are associated with inbreeding depression.
Original languageEnglish
JournalAmerican Naturalist
Volume181
Issue number6
Early online date26 Apr 2013
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2013
Externally publishedYes
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