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Females should prefer to mate with males that will confer fitness benefits on them or their offspring and should select mates on the basis of traits associated with those benefits. If the association between male traits and mate choice benefits differs with environments, then preferences should also differ. Previous work in flagfish, Jordanella floridae, has shown that female preferences for male nesting and parental care activities depend on the environment's salinity. I tested the hypothesis that variation in preference reflects variation in mate choice benefits. Specifically, I quantified the effects of salinity and parental care activities on hatching success and hatchling mass. I found that the effects of male nest preparation on hatching success were greater in fresh than in brackish water, consistent with the pattern of female preference for male activity directed towards empty nests. Similarly, the effects of egg fanning were the same at the two salinities, matching the pattern of female preference for male activity directed towards nests containing eggs. These results suggest that female mating preferences are stronger in environments in which the direct benefit of distinguishing between potential mates is greater. |
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