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Small Subordinate Male Advantage in the Zebrafish
Author(s) -
Watt Penelope J.,
Skinner Andrew,
Hale Matt,
Nakagawa Shinichi,
Burke Terry
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
ethology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0179-1613
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0310.2011.01953.x
Subject(s) - danio , biology , zebrafish , dominance hierarchy , mating , dominance (genetics) , offspring , reproductive success , zoology , evolutionary biology , ecology , demography , aggression , social psychology , psychology , genetics , population , gene , pregnancy , sociology
Dominance is an important determinant of reproductive success in many species, and size is usually an indicator of dominance status, with larger, dominant individuals physically and physiologically preventing smaller subordinates from mating. However, small size may be advantageous in some mating contexts because enhanced manoeuvrability enables males to get closer to females during mating. Here, we determined the paternity success and testes size of dominant and subordinate male zebrafish ( Danio rerio ), in pairs that controlled for social status. There was no statistical difference in both body size and testes size between dominant and subordinate males. Dominant males sired significantly more offspring than subordinates, but when subordinates were small, they had a greater share of the paternity than larger subordinates. Small male advantage may be one mechanism by which variation in body size is maintained in this species.