The Trinidadian guppy, Poecilia reticulata, is a tropical freshwater fish with a long history as a model species for the study of evolution and adaptation to changing environments. The guppy is widespread in Trinidad, and many rivers on the island are host to multiple populations subject to varying levels of predation. Population structure in the guppy is influenced by several factors, including colonization history, presence or absence of barrier waterfalls within rivers, and both documented and accidental human-mediated introduction events. This study used genetic data from both microsatellite markers and mtDNA to investigate guppy population structure in 25 rivers and lakes across Trinidad and Tobago, with particular focus on the north shore Marianne and Paria Rivers. Most sites were located in the Northern Range Mountains of northern Trinidad, where rivers are divided into three major aquatic areas – the Caroni drainage, the Oropouche drainage, and the north shore. Results show a deep genetic divide between populations in the west-flowing Caroni drainage and those in the east-flowing Oropouche drainage, likely due to the colonization of these two drainages from two separate branches of the Orinoco, a large river located on the South American mainland. On Trinidad’s north shore, guppies collected in rivers on the western side of the island appeared to be genetically related to Caroni drainage guppies, while those in rivers on the eastern side of the north shore were predominantly related to Oropouche drainage guppies but showed evidence of admixture from the Caroni. Detailed study of Marianne and Paria River guppy populations showed downstream-biased gene flow in both rivers, with waterfalls in the Marianne limiting the movement of guppies in that river. Evidence of migration between the Marianne and Paria River watersheds was also found at two separate locations.

Submitted by Mendes Eduardo (dasilva@ufba.br) on 2012-03-21T00:26:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Cristiano.pdf: 656578 bytes, checksum: db814e7920e2705e9f75a1087e7d994b (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-03-21T00:26:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Cristiano.pdf: 656578 bytes, checksum: db814e7920e2705e9f75a1087e7d994b (MD5) / Capes e Millennium Inorganics Chemicals / Buscou-se avaliar o potencial tóxico da redução do pH sobre o peixe Poecilia reticulata,através de ensaios de ecotoxicidade agudos, bem como avaliar como um aumento no pH da água da lagoa pode influenciar na sua toxicidade. Amostras de água da Lagoa de Dunas foram coletadas e testadas com os seguintes tratamentos: água in natura (pH ± 3,0) e amostras com pH alterados para 3,5, 3,8, 4,0, 4,3, 4,6, 5,0, 5,5, 6,0 e 6,5. Foram usadas ainda amostras da água de cultivo dos peixes, cujos valores de pH foram reduzidos para o mesmo da Lagoa de Dunas. Os resultados médios e respectivos intervalos de confiança do 96 h-LT50 da Lagoa de Dunas e da água de cultivo com pH reduzido foram 1,37 (1,18-1,56)h, e 1,04 (0,73-1,34) h, respectivamente, sem diferença estatística significativa (p ≥ 0,05).Para as amostras da Lagoa de Dunas com valores de pH elevados houve uma redução significativa da toxicidade, não sendo detectada toxicidade a partir do pH 6,0. Estes resultados demonstram que, nestas condições, o pH é o fator limitante para P. reticulata. / Salvador, Bahia

Submitted by BRUNO BASTOS GONÇALVES null (goncalves.b.b@gmail.com) on 2017-06-28T21:57:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese v7.pdf: 1743616 bytes, checksum: 7c171df4f861986ef9acdec88235f353 (MD5) / Rejected by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com), reason: Solicitamos que realize uma nova submissão seguindo a orientação abaixo: O arquivo submetido está sem a ficha catalográfica. A versão submetida por você é considerada a versão final da dissertação/tese, portanto não poderá ocorrer qualquer alteração em seu conteúdo após a aprovação. Corrija esta informação e realize uma nova submissão com o arquivo correto. Agradecemos a compreensão. on 2017-06-30T13:09:05Z (GMT) / Submitted by BRUNO BASTOS GONÇALVES null (goncalves.b.b@gmail.com) on 2017-07-01T22:48:39Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese v7.pdf: 1761477 bytes, checksum: d86d5eb1b5c9afd9ac6c2c4bd90702b5 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luiz Galeffi (luizgaleffi@gmail.com) on 2017-07-04T17:04:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 goncalves_bb_dr_jabo.pdf: 1761477 bytes, checksum: d86d5eb1b5c9afd9ac6c2c4bd90702b5 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-04T17:04:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 goncalves_bb_dr_jabo.pdf: 1761477 bytes, checksum: d86d5eb1b5c9afd9ac6c2c4bd90702b5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-29 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / A população humana cresce em proporções maiores que a produção de alimentos. Nesse cenário, a agricultura potencializa este cultivo por meio do uso de defensivos agrícolas, como por exemplo, herbicidas à base de glifosato (HBG). Entretanto, tais produtos possuem vários efeitos adversos em organismos não-alvos, como peixes. Estudos apontam danos em tecidos e em material genético de peixes, porém, não há estudos sobre o comportamento reprodutivo dessa espécie quando expostas a concentrações permitidas por lei. Assim, testamos os efeitos de HBG na seleção sexual de parceiros e na qualidade espermática de machos de Poecilia reticulata. Para isso, avaliamos o comportamento sexual, o interesse sexual, a qualidade espermática e a receptividade das fêmeas a machos expostos a 2 concentrações de HBG (50 e 100 μg/L) por 48 horas. Para avaliar a escolha de parceiros, utilizamos o método de escolhas dicotômicas e análise de múltiplas escolhas. Já para análise da qualidade espermática, avaliamos a morfologia, a viabilidade, a concentração e a motilidade dos espermatozoides. Nossos resultados indicam que machos não expostos ao HBG diminuem a exibição para fêmeas expostas ao HBG e evitam copular com fêmeas expostas à concentração de 100μg/L. Além disso, fêmeas expostas ao HBG são menos receptivas à cópula. O HBG afetou a morfologia dos espermatozoides, onde machos expostos a 50μg/L apresentaram maior quantidade de células com danos primários. Porém, não afetou a viabilidade, concentração e motilidade dos espermatozoides. Nossos dados indicam que concentrações ambientalmente relevantes de HBG podem afetar o comportamento reprodutivo e a qualidade espermática de peixes. / Human population grows in bigger proportions then food production worldwide. To solve this problem, increase food production is required. Agriculture has potentialized food production through pesticides usage. Besides that, GMO's increase production and usage of glyphosate based herbicide (HBG), since this product does not affect GMO’s. HBG's have many side effects on non-target animals, such as fishes. Many studies demonstrated damage in a lot of tissues and DNA. However, effects on behavior and even in concentrations allowed by law have not been studies. We aim to assess the effects of a GHB on physiological and behavioral reproductive features of Poecilia reticulata as male sexual behavior, sexual interest, sperm quality and female receptivity. We used dichotomous and multiple-choice arenas for mate choice and viability, concentration, motility and morphology to assess sperm quality. HBG decrease female receptivity, affects male interest on perform displays and mate attempt with females exposed to 100µg/L. HBG also affected sperm quality of males exposed to 50µg/L concentration. Despite this, we did not find any effect on viability, concentration and motility of sperm cells of exposed males to any concentration. We conclude that HBG affects female receptivity, and, in turn, it affects sexual male effort, reducing display and mate attempt rate. Our data shows that HBG, even in environment relevant concentrations, can affect reproductive behavior and sperm quality. We show here the necessity to assess with more caution the toxicology of pollutants and its effects, as the law that regulates it. / CNPq: 147399/2013-0

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:16:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Jose de Souza Filho.pdf: 2614709 bytes, checksum: 05f4c3c1c352f60a58f2b188da4c4e90 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-01-31 / The effects of toxic, mutagenic and genotoxic on target organs and the fish genome has been the subject of many studies, especially those that seek to establish these bodies and responses of genes to environmental stimuli. Histopathological studies, mutagenic, genotoxic and Poecilia reticulata (Guppy) were motivated by the scarcity of data in the literature concerning the effects of the formulation of the herbicide Roundup Transorb®. With everything, we sought to ascertain the effects produced by this formulation that is widely used in the Midwest of the country. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and mutagenic and genotoxic herbicide R. Transorb® in liver, gill and erythrocytes of the guppy, calculating and applying the LC50 test micronucleus (MN) and Comet assay (AC). The toxicity bioassays were performed to calculate the LC50;12-96h, to evaluate the effects of sublethal concentrations of herbicide subjected to acute treatment. We used 36 adult fish, weighing on average 0.496 g ± 0.28 g to calculate the LC50 and 75 adult fish also carry the MN and AC. During exposure to the herbicide was observed fish behavior at all concentrations and controlled chemical and physical changes of water. The erythrocytes were obtained by centrifugation of the gills being added to precipitate fetal calf serum, and then dripped on the slides to make the smear and electrophoresis. For the analysis of plates, 75.000 cells were counted and stipulate the frequency of occurrence of Nuclear Morphological Changes (AMNs) and AC were analyzed for 100 cells per specimen. The LC50; 12, 24, 48, 72 e 96h of R. Transorb® were 11:24, 8:55, 6.5, 6.10 and 5.65μl/L, respectively, indicating that this species is very sensitive to the herbicide studied in relation to other tropical species analyzed. These factors may be related to different formulations of herbicides and their respective surfactants. It was found that the mortality rate of fish poisoned by the herbicide increased as exposure concentrations increased. The values of LC50,12-96h show a downward trend over time, suggesting that during periods of reduced exposure will require greater amounts of herbicide to cause mortality of 50% of the population of animals. Animals exposed to the herbicide showed behavioral changes varied, such as aggressiveness, irritability, loss of the escape reflex, darkening of the body surface and banging against the wall of the aquarium. In addition, R. Transorb® hitológicas induced liver changes appreciably impairing the normal functioning of this organ. In MN and EC was possible to detect significant genotoxic and mutagenic effects in erythrocytes and gill cells, occurring gradual increase in the number of cells with AMNs and ADN damage under higher concentrations,indicating concentration-dependent effect. This herbicide has acute toxicity to guppy, promoting behavioral changes, possibly acting in a manner damaging to the liver but also in the nervous system and gill. These results also suggest that the formulation of this herbicide has genotoxic and mutagenic in erythrocytes and gill cells detected by the MN and AC. Therefore, it confirms the high risk of herbicide to the environment, its contamination may present a strong threat to populations of fish and other organisms both vertebrates and invertebrates and human health. / Os efeitos de substâncias tóxicas, mutagênicas e genotóxica sobre órgãos-alvos e o genoma de peixes tem sido objeto de muitos estudos, sobretudo daqueles que buscam estabelecer respostas destes órgãos e dos genes aos estímulos ambientais. Estudos histopatológicos, mutagênicos, genotóxicos e em Poecilia reticulata (Guppy) foram motivados pela escassez de dados na literatura referente aos efeitos provocados pela formulação do herbicida Roundup Transorb®. Com tudo, pretendeu-se conhecer os efeitos produzidos por essa formulação que é bastante utilizada no Centro-Oeste do país. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a ação tóxica, mutagênica e genotóxica do herbicida R. Transorb® em fígado, brânquia e eritrócito do guppy, calculando a CL50 e aplicando Teste de Micronúcleo (MN) e Ensaio Cometa (EC). Os bioensaios de toxicidade foram realizados para calcular a CL50,12-96h, avaliar os efeitos das concentrações subletais do herbicida submetido a tratamento agudo. Utilizou-se 36 peixes adultos, pesando em média 0,496g ± 0,28g para cálculo da CL50 e 75 peixes também adultos para realizar o MN e EC. Durante a exposição ao herbicida observou-se o comportamento dos peixes em todas as concentrações e controlada as variações químicas e físicas da água. Os eritrócitos foram obtidos pela centrifugação das brânquias sendo adicionado soro fetal bovino ao precipitado, e posteriormente gotejado sobre as lâminas para realizar o esfregaço e eletroforese. Para a análise das lâminas, foram contadas 75.000 células e estipulada a frequência de ocorrência de Alterações Morfológicas Nucleares (AMNs), e para EC foram analisadas 100 células por espécime. A CL50; 12, 24, 48, 72 e 96 h do R. Transorb® foram de 11.24; 8.55; 6.5; 6.10 e 5.65μl/L, respectivamente, indicando que esta espécie é bastante sensível ao herbicida estudado em relação às demais espécies tropicais analisadas. Esses fatores podem estar relacionados às diferentes formulações dos herbicidas e seus respectivos surfactantes. Verificou-se que a porcentagem de mortalidade dos peixes intoxicados pelo herbicida aumentou à medida que as concentrações de exposição aumentaram. Os valores da CL50; 12- 96 h apresentam tendência de queda ao longo do tempo, sugerindo que em períodos de menor exposição serão necessárias quantidades maiores de herbicida para causar a mortalidade de 50% da população de animais. Os animais expostos ao herbicida apresentaram alterações comportamentais variadas, tais como: agressividade; irritabilidade; perda do reflexo de fuga; escurecimento da superfície corporal e choque contra a parede do aquário. Além disso, o R. Transorb® induziu alterações hitológicas hepáticas prejudicando de forma sensível o funcionamento normal deste órgão. No MN e EC foi possível detectar efeitos mutagênicos e genotóxicos significativos nos eritrócitos e células da brânquia, ocorrendo aumento gradual no número de células com AMNs e com danos ao DNA de acordo com aumento das concentrações, indicando efeito concentração-dependente. Este herbicida apresenta toxidade aguda para guppy, promovendo alterações comportamentais, agindo possivelmente de forma danosa não só no fígado, mas também no sistema nervoso e branquial. Tais resultados sugerem também que a formulação deste herbicida possui ação genotóxica e mutagênica em eritrócitos e células branquiais detectados através dos MN e EC. Por tanto, se confirma o alto risco deste herbicida ao meio ambiente, sua contaminação pode apresentar forte ameaça para as populações de peixes e outros organismos tanto vertebrados como invertebrados e saúde do homem.

The processes and mechanisms that govern brain size evolution remain a widely discussed topic in evolutionary biology. How relative brain size relates to animal behaviour and cognition is even more controversial. Recent comparative and experimental studies have shown a positive relationship between relative brain size and complexity of behaviour. Some of the most important behaviours that have direct consequences for an individual’s fitness are reproductive behaviours, and they sometimes require quite complex behavioural repertoires. Selection for complex behaviour might therefore induce an expansion of brain size to allow for cognitively demanding tasks during courtship and mating. In the present study we investigated the effect of relative brain size on reproductive behaviour in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata), using fish from a recently established brain size artificial selection experiment. Females were paired with either a large- or a small-brained male, and we collected data on a suite of male courtship behaviours including sneak copulation attempts, courtship display, gonopodial swings and time spent following the female. Although the extent of orange colouration, a trait that varies across large- and small-brained males, affected male behaviour, we were not able to detect any difference in reproductive behaviour between the brain size selection lines. These results suggest that there is no strong association between male mating behaviour and relative brain size, and future studies will examine this question further. But currently, our results indicate that relative brain size might not be linked to reproductive behaviour to any significant extent, at least not in the guppy.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T10:39:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Jefferson Mendes Gomide.pdf: 1020338 bytes, checksum: 0191262649084f3b90170c5b28b340dd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-12-17 / The invasion of new environments is related to the genetic variability of the species. The guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is a species introduced accidentally or artificially, arisen from different populations of captivity around the world. In some countries, these introductions are made repeatedly, particularly to control the growth of disease-transmitting mosquitoes in small lakes and streams in tropical countries. The Guppy is feeding the larvae of mosquitoes, preventing it from coming into adult life. Because of the need to obtain a better understanding of the differentiation of introduced populations, and this may reduce the impact of the introduction of exotic species, since it is the third leading cause of extinction of native species, three populations in different cities of the state of Goias were collected, and their metric features analyzed. The review sought to determine the rate of divergence among populations of free life, which contribute to the understanding of the process of colonization of natural environments by this alien species. The results indicated that the divergence between the populations analyzed, for most of the features is very large, ie the rate of divergence is greater than expected by neutral evolution, so that directional selection is expected to be acting on these characteristics. / A invasão de novos ambientes se relaciona com a variabilidade genética das espécies. O Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) é uma destas espécies introduzidas acidentalmente ou artificialmente, advindo de várias populações de cativeiro em todo o mundo. Em alguns países, estas introduções se deram várias vezes, particularmente para o controle do crescimento de mosquitos transmissores de doenças, em lagos e pequenos riachos nos países tropicais. O Guppy se alimenta das larvas desses mosquitos, impedindo que cheguem à fase adulta. Devido à necessidade de se obter uma maior compreensão da diferenciação de populações introduzidas, e com isto poder reduzir o impacto da introdução de espécies exóticas, já que é a terceira causa de extinção de espécies nativas, foram coletadas três populações em cidades diferentes do estado de Goiás, e as suas características métricas analisadas. A análise procurou determinar a taxa de divergência, entre populações de vida livre, que contribuirá para a compreensão do processo de colonização dos ambientes naturais por esta espécie exótica. Os resultados indicaram que a divergência entre as populações analisadas, para a maioria das características é muito grande, ou seja, a taxa de divergência é maior do que a esperada pela evolução neutra, de modo que seleção direcional deve estar atuando sobre estas características.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:16:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao mestrado Thiago Rocha.pdf: 3202693 bytes, checksum: 0519000d8f7c06ef3d8a404097ad8a82 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-02-29 / The mechanism of acute toxicity of the commercial formulation glyphosate, Roundup Transorb® (RDT), was investigated in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) gills using proteomic technologies associated with analyses of histopathological indexes (HI´s), followed by quantification of histopathological lesions of the gills. Additionally, the present study describes a protocol for the analysis of fish behavior using measurements of the Index of morphofunctional behavior (Imb) and Total (Itb). The results indicate that the acute toxicity of RDT may change P. reticulata behavior as a consequence of changes in the expression of proteins associated with cyto-histopathological lesions of the gills. RDT LC50,96h for guppy females was 7.54 ± 0.93 μL.L-1, indicating that the species is moderately sensitive to this herbicide. Acute exposure to RDT sublethal concentration of 3.8 μL.L-1 induced time-dependent histopathological lesions of the gills in different epithelial and muscle cell types. HI´s were related to increase in severity and frequency of histopathological lesions and suggest that RDT may cause regressive, circulatory, and progressive disorders in the guppy gills. Two-dimensional electrophoresis associated with mass spectrometry and biocomputing permitted to verify 48 spots of proteins/isoforms regulated by RDT, which are involved in different cell processes, such as energy metabolism, regulation and maintenance of cytoskeleton, metabolism of nucleic acids and proteins in response to stress. The study of behavior biomarkers (BM´s) indicates that Imb and Itb were viable in the analysis of P. reticulata behavioral changes induced by RDT. Furthermore, proteomic and histological changes in the gills of P. reticulata induced by RDT may be histopathological and proteomic BM´s to biomonitor water pollution caused by glyphosate-based herbicides. / O mecanismo de toxicidade aguda da formulação comercial de glifosato, Roundup Transorb® (RDT), foi investigado para as brânquias do guaru (Poecilia reticulata) por meio de tecnologias proteômicas associadas às análises dos índices histopatológicos (HI´s), seguido da quantificação das lesões histopatológicas branquiais. Além disso, o presente trabalho também descreve um protocolo para análise do comportamento de peixes utilizando mensurações dos Índices de Comportamento Morfofuncional (Icmf) e Total (Ict). Os resultados indicam que a toxicidade aguda do RDT pode alterar o comportamento de P. reticulata como reflexo das mudanças de expressão das proteínas associadas às lesões cito-histopatológicas branquiais. A CL50,96h do RDT para as fêmeas do guaru foi de 7,54 ± 0,93 μL.L-1, a qual indica que esta espécie é moderadamente sensível a esse herbicida. A exposição aguda à concentração subletal de 3,8 μL.L-1 de RDT induziu lesões histopatológicas branquiais de modo tempo dependente em diferentes tipos celulares epiteliais e muscular. Os HI´s foram relacionados com o aumento da severidade e da frequência das lesões histopatológicas e apontam que o RDT pode causar distúrbios regressivos, circulatórios e progressivos nas brânquias do guaru. A eletroforese bidimensional associada à espectrometria de massa e bioinformática permitiu verificar 48 spots de proteínas/isoformas reguladas pelo RDT, as quais estão envolvidas em distintos processos celulares, tais como metabolismo energético, regulação e manutenção do citoesqueleto, metabolismo de ácidos nucléicos e proteínas de resposta ao estresse. O estudo dos biomarcadores (BM´s) comportamentais indica que o Icmf e o Ict foram viáveis na análise das alterações comportamentais de P. reticulata induzidas pelo RDT. Ademais, as modificações proteômicas e histológicas nas brânquias de P. reticulata induzidas pelo RDT podem ser BM´s histopatológicos e proteômicos no biomonitoramento da poluição aquática por herbicidas baseados em glifosato.

Cooperative behaviour among unrelated individuals is an evolutionary paradox. Research suggests that an individual’s propensity to cooperate and its response to experiencing cooperation or defection from its social environment consistently varies among individuals and as a function of external factors. The biological and psychological underpinnings of such behavioural variation remain unknown; they can, however, provide more insight into the evolution and maintenance of cooperation among non-kin. This thesis explores the proximate effects of experiences of cooperation or defection from the social environment, as well as possible proximate drivers of cooperative behaviour, using the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata) as a study system. Firstly, the behavioural rules underpinning an individual’s decision to cooperate or not with unfamiliar individuals in the presence of specific or non-specific information were explored. When fish had information about their social partner’s cooperativeness, they behaved in a manner consistent with direct reciprocity, copying their partner’s last move. When paired with an ostensibly novel partner, a different, or at least additional, behavioural rule seemed to be employed. In order to help understand the drivers of individual variation in cooperative behaviour, phenotypic selection on cooperativeness was carried out over three filial generations, resulting in fish of high cooperativeness (HC) and low cooperativeness (LC). The divergence of individual cooperativeness observed between the two phenotypic selection lines suggests that cooperative behaviour in the context of predator inspection is at least in part heritable. Cooperative behaviour of F3 fish was found not to correlate with boldness or exploratory behaviour; HC and LC fish did, however, differ in some aspects of sociability and agonistic behaviour. Possible proximate neuromodulatory mechanisms underlying these differences in cooperativeness were also explored, focusing on brain expression patterns for the isotocin receptor (itr) gene in F3 females. HC females were found to have higher mid-section itr expression levels than LC females. Finally, I explored the effects of experiencing cooperation or defection on monoaminergic neurotransmission, which is thought to instantiate the effects of such experiences on the individual’s internal state. My findings suggest that experiencing cooperation or defection from the social environment affects internal state; this phenomenon may be crucial for the appropriate adjustment of the behavioural response to such experiences, and for the emergence of behavioural rules such as generalised reciprocity. Taken together these results suggest that neuromodulatory mechanisms are pivotal for the perception of stimuli from the social environment in the tested cooperative context and that variation in cooperative behaviour may be underpinned by individual differences in the structural properties of such systems. They also provide insight into how behavioural input may affect the behavioural response to such experiences, and ultimately how such mechanisms may lead to the evolution and maintenance of cooperation.

Background: Multidirectional interactions in social networks can have a profound effect on mate choice behavior; e.g., Poecilia mexicana males show weaker expression of mating preferences when being observed by a rival. This may be an adaptation to reduce sperm competition risk, which arises because commonly preferred female phenotypes will receive attention also from surrounding males, and/or because other males can copy the focal male's mate choice. Do P. mexicana males indeed respond to perceived sperm competition risk? We gave males a choice between two females and repeated the tests under one of the following conditions: (1) an empty transparent cylinder was presented (control); (2) another ("audience") male inside the cylinder observed the focal male throughout the 2nd part, or (3) the audience male was presented only before the tests, but could not eavesdrop during the actual choice tests (non-specific sperm competition risk treatments); (4) the focal male could see a rival male interact sexually with the previously preferred, or (5) with the non-preferred female before the 2nd part of the tests (specific sperm competition risk treatments). Results: The strength of individual male preferences declined slightly also during the control treatment (1). However, this decrease was more than two-fold stronger in audience treatment (2), i.e., with non-specific sperm competition risk including the possibility for visual eavesdropping by the audience male. No audience effect was found in treatments (3) and (5), but a weak effect was also observed when the focal male had seen the previously preferred female sexually interact with a rival male (treatment 4; specific sperm competition risk). Conclusion: When comparing the two 'non-specific sperm competition risk' treatments, a very strong effect was found only when the audience male could actually observe the focal male during mate choice [treatment (2)]. This suggests that focal males indeed attempt to conceal their mating preferences so as to prevent surrounding males from copying their mate choice. When there is no potential for eavesdropping [treatment (3)], non-specific specific sperm competition risk seems to play a minor or no role. Our results also show that P. mexicana males tend to share their mating effort more equally among females when the resource value of their previously preferred mate decreases after mating with a rival male (perceived specific sperm competition risk), but this effect is comparatively weak.

Male mating signals convey important mate-quality information to females and are regulated by androgens. Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are chemicals that interfere with proper hormonal functioning in exposed animals, causing altered hormone levels and resulting in changed reproductive characteristics, including mating signals. Altered signals can have ecological implications by influencing population and community dynamics and evolutionary implications via trans-generational reduction in signal reliability leading to reduced preference and eventual loss of the signal trait. I examined the effects of exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of atrazine, a widely used herbicide and EDC, on mating signals and behaviors in male guppies, a sexually dimorphic freshwater fish. Guppies were exposed either during adulthood or embryonic development. Prolonged atrazine exposure during adulthood reduced the size of the carotenoid-based ornament, the number of courtship displays performed, and aggression towards competing males. Embryonic exposure did not affect survival to adulthood and the time to develop male-specific morphologies. But there was a trend for smaller genitalia, and the ornament size was significantly increased. Possible increases in immunocompetence as a result of slight estrogenecity may have allowed for greater carotenoid allocation to the ornament. Embryonic exposure also resulted in reduced courtship behavior, forced copulatory attempts and aggression towards competitors; female guppies found these males less attractive. The low dose had the strongest effects with embryonic exposure, indicating the importance of low-dose exposures. These studies highlight the effects of low and environmentally relevant doses of atrazine on mating signals and behaviors in exposed wildlife. A mathematical model was used to understand the evolutionary effects of EDCs on the optimal allocation of carotenoids between ornament and immunocompetence. Animals obtain carotenoids through their diet, and allocate some of this to enhance immune function and the rest to ornaments for mate attraction. The model replicates the disruption of carotenoid-based ornaments as a result of EDC-exposure, and predicts that signal reliability will be reduced. The model simulates an evolutionary shift in the optimal allocation if exposure spanned multiple generations, but signal reliability is not restored. Including additional selective forces like predation further suppresses signal reliability.