Individual variation in male mating preferences for female coloration in a polymorphic cichlid fish

Female color polymorphisms are common in the cichlid species radiations of Lake Victoria and Lake Malawi. According to theory, when a population harbors variation in sex-determining factors, polymorphism in female-linked coloration might generate individual variation in male mating preferences for female color morphs. We tested whether individual males exhibit consistent mating preferences for female color morphs in the Lake Malawi cichlid Pseudotropheus (Maylandia) 'zebra gold', a species polymorphic for female coloration and sex determination. We also explored whether male mating preferences could be predicted by maternal coloration or were acquired by imprinting on siblings' coloration. We found large individual variation in the strength and direction of male preferences for sex-linked female color patterns. Male mating preferences could be predicted by the mother's color morph and were not affected by visual imprinting. These findings represent the first evidence of male choice on sex-linked female coloration in a Lake Malawi cichlid. Our analysis indicates a strong genetic component to male preference for female coloration and large individual variation in the strength and direction of male mating preferences. Within-population variation in innate mating preferences might have important implications in cichlid fish species radiations. Copyright 2008, Oxford University Press.