Mate selection in threespine sticklebacks (<i>Gasterosteus</i>)

Abstract

Earlier studies suggest that the freshwater form of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) may be reproductively isolated from the anadromous form. In this study, assortative mating is examined as a possible isolating mechanism between the two forms. Mate selection tests were conducted in which (1) courting males were simultaneously exposed to receptive females of both forms, and (2) receptive females were simultaneously exposed to both forms of courting males. The results demonstrate clearly that in choice situations matings between similar phenotypes are more likely than matings between dissimilar phenotypes.