![](/images/graphics-bg.png)
Species-Specific Relationships between Water Transparency and Male Coloration within and between Two Closely Related Lake Victoria Cichlid Species
Joint Authors
Selz, Oliver M.
Castillo Cajas, Ruth F.
Ripmeester, Erwin A. P.
Seehausen, Ole
Maan, Martine E.
Source
International Journal of Evolutionary Biology
Issue
Vol. 2012, Issue 2012 (31 Dec. 2012), pp.1-12, 12 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2012-07-19
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
12
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
Environmental variation in signalling conditions affects animal communication traits, with possible consequences for sexual selection and reproductive isolation.
Using spectrophotometry, we studied how male coloration within and between populations of two closely related Lake Victoria cichlid species (Pundamilia pundamilia and P.
nyererei) covaries with water transparency.
Focusing on coloration patches implicated in sexual selection, we predicted that in clear waters, with broad-spectrum light, (1) colours should become more saturated and (2) shift in hue away from the dominant ambient wavelengths, compared to more turbid waters.
We found support for these predictions for the red and yellow coloration of P.
nyererei but not the blue coloration of P.
pundamilia.
This may be explained by the species difference in depth distribution, which generates a steeper gradient in visual conditions for P.
nyererei compared to P.
pundamilia.
Alternatively, the importance of male coloration in intraspecific sexual selection may differ between the species.
We also found that anal fin spots, that is, the orange spots on male haplochromine anal fins that presumably mimic eggs, covaried with water transparency in a similar way for both species.
This is in contrast to the other body regions studied and suggests that, while indeed functioning as signals, these spots may not play a role in species differentiation.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Castillo Cajas, Ruth F.& Selz, Oliver M.& Ripmeester, Erwin A. P.& Seehausen, Ole& Maan, Martine E.. 2012. Species-Specific Relationships between Water Transparency and Male Coloration within and between Two Closely Related Lake Victoria Cichlid Species. International Journal of Evolutionary Biology،Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-450728
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Castillo Cajas, Ruth F.…[et al.]. Species-Specific Relationships between Water Transparency and Male Coloration within and between Two Closely Related Lake Victoria Cichlid Species. International Journal of Evolutionary Biology No. 2012 (2012), pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-450728
American Medical Association (AMA)
Castillo Cajas, Ruth F.& Selz, Oliver M.& Ripmeester, Erwin A. P.& Seehausen, Ole& Maan, Martine E.. Species-Specific Relationships between Water Transparency and Male Coloration within and between Two Closely Related Lake Victoria Cichlid Species. International Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 2012. Vol. 2012, no. 2012, pp.1-12.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-450728
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-450728