Homosexual behavior makes male fish sexy for females. To this conclusion, scientists from the University of Frankfurt are in a study. The Atlantic kärpfling females, therefore, does not matter if a male also sex with sex genders.
Main thing, it is sexually active. Because that means health, vitality and good physical condition.
Explanation for bisexual behavior?
"Sexual activity itself is a quality feature for females, because sick or malnourished males show little sexual behavior," said the evolutionary biologist David Bierbach from the Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity. This could also be an explanation for bisexual behaviors of many other species. The scientists publish their findings in the British journal "Biology Letters".
Both-as well-is better than never
The researchers studied Atlantic carcasses (Poecilia mexicana), whose males show both hetero- and homosexual activities. The four to six centimeters of fish live in Central and South American rivers. The males are orange-turquoise, the females are beige.
In contrast to many other fish, fertilization takes place in the body of the female, which gives birth to the young. Moreover, they are easy to maintain and therefore suitable for such an experiment, Bierbach said.
Videos for fish
The researchers played kaispfling females through the discs of their aquarium different video animations on which males either sexually acted with a female or another male. "Both females have done the same," Bierbach said.
display
The scientist noted how much time the females spent before the respective animations - it was significantly more than before pictures that showed males without sex behavior.
Distraction maneuver in aquarium
In other studies, too, Kärpfen were already examined for their choice of partner. A study by researchers at the universities of Potsdam and Oklahoma a few years ago showed that the males change their courtship behavior when other males watch. Males are mainly interested in large females.
If, however, another male is watching, they return to the tail of their tails and ignore them. Their interest then applies to other, smaller females. It seems as if they wanted to divert the other male from the great female, and then continue her courtship with her.
Fish researchers, however, emphasize that the experiments in the aquarium are only conditionally comparable with the ones in the wild. There the behavior is determined by much more factors than in the experimental facilities of the scientists.
Tags:
Fish