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Are ‘preferences’ and ‘tolerances’ in cichlid mate choice important for speciation?
Author(s) -
Crapon de Caprona M.D.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1986.tb05006.x
Subject(s) - biology , cichlid , reproductive isolation , spawn (biology) , mate choice , mating preferences , genetic algorithm , assortative mating , interspecific competition , hybrid , evolutionary biology , context (archaeology) , zoology , captivity , ecology , sympatric speciation , mating , population , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , paleontology , botany , demography , sociology
Although early experience influences the development of preferences in cichlid mate choice, the same species can be very ‘tolerant’ and spawn with members of other species appearing very different from conspecifics. The conditions under which such interspecific spawnings occur in captivity are described, and are considered to exist in the field. Many cichlid species are genetically similar, and interspecific spawning often produces fertile hybrids. Pre‐mating behavioural barriers to hybridization are important. The ability of cichlids to develop preferences based on subtle cues, but also to produce fertile hybrids, is discussed in the context of speciation: genetic isolation of morphs (and possibly of hybrids) from their parental species, through social learning.