Examination of Virgin/Non-Virgin Gambusia affinis mating latency in a crossed experiment.

• In Event: Poster Presentation and Judging for: Biomedical; Cell & Molecular Biology; Chemistry & Biochemistry; Marine Science; Systematics & Evolutionary Biology.
  In Poster Session: Systematics & Evolutionary Biology Poster Session

Abstract

Gambusia affinis, or the western mosquitofish, is a widespread invasive species prevalent across the globe due to human introduction. Gambusia affinis operate a coercive mating system with females able to retain sperm from multiple males. Gambusia affinis males should prefer mating with virgin Gambusia affinis females, as it provides a larger chance of their genes being passed on than if they mated with non-virgin females, who have already mated with other males and may have retained sperm from them. The examination of coercive mating systems with virgin/non-virgin Gambusia affinis individuals can shed light on the mechanisms of this species' mating preferences, and the possible advantages or disadvantages of either sex being virgin/non-virgin during mating attempts. In a crossed experiment using virgin/non-virgin male and female Gambusia affinis, latency time until attempts to mate occurred were recorded, along with mating behaviors and their frequency. The mating behaviours recorded were gonopodial displays and gonopodial thrusts. An acclimation time of five minutes and trial time of fifteen minutes were used, and a total of forty trials were run. The data collected was run through a two-way ANOVA test, first with and then without covariates. Statistical difference was found in two behaviours, mating latency times and gonopodial thrusts. Results suggest that non-virgin females are selected over virgin females by males, both in overall mating attempts and latency time.

Authors

• Samuel Kenyon, St Edward's University

• Raelynn Deaton Haynes, St. Edward's University