Date of Award
2009
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Biological Sciences
Keywords
Biological sciences
Supervisor
Lynda Corkum
Supervisor
Stéphanie Doucet
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Antagonistic interactions between sexual and natural selection influence the evolution of ornamental signals. I investigated possible functions of colourful traits in bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus). First, I conducted a descriptive study among eight lakes in Ontario to determine how colour traits varied with age, sex, season, and condition. My findings identified breast, cheek and opercular flap coloration as possible sexual ornaments. Subsequently, I investigated the role of sexual selection on coloration through observations of spawning bluegills. Results suggest that breast and cheek coloration influence female spawning behaviour and male reproductive success. Finally, I investigated effects of ecological factors on coloration. Vegetation type and density influenced coloration for all bluegills, and predator species richness influenced coloration of immature fish. These studies provide the first investigations of the function of coloration in bluegills and contribute to our understanding of the interacting influences of sexual and natural selection on the evolution of ornamental traits.
Recommended Citation
Cogliati, Karen Michelle, "Multiple social and ecological factors influence coloration in bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus)" (2009). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 8250.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/8250