Witte Klaudia, Kniel Nina, Kureck Ilka Maria
Research Group of Ecology and Behavioral Biology, Institute of Biology, University of Siegen, 57068 Siegen, Germany.
Curr Zool. 2015 Dec;61(6):1073-1081. doi: 10.1093/czoolo/61.6.1073. Epub 2015 Dec 1.
Mate-choice copying is a fascinating and widespread mate-choice strategy. Individuals gather public information about potential mates by observing others during sexual interactions and choose or reject the same individual as a mate as the observed individual did before. The influence of copying behavior on an individual's mate choice can be so strong that socially acquired information can override genetically based preferences for certain phenotypes. Thus, mate-choice copying enforces dynamic processes in sexual selection. Here, we review the current state of research on mate-choice copying and focus on sex-specific aspects. We present evidence that mate-choice copying can support the evolution of novel sexual ornaments, and we discuss potential costs of mate-choice copying when public information is not reliable. Moreover, we discuss the conflict faced by males that copy since mate-choice copying increases sperm competition. In conclusion we suggest interesting topics for future research in mate-choice copying.
择偶模仿是一种引人入胜且广泛存在的择偶策略。个体通过在性互动过程中观察他人来收集有关潜在配偶的公共信息，并像之前观察到的个体那样选择或拒绝同一个体作为配偶。模仿行为对个体择偶的影响可能非常强烈，以至于通过社会获得的信息可以超越基于基因的对某些表型的偏好。因此，择偶模仿在性选择中推动了动态过程。在此，我们回顾择偶模仿的当前研究现状，并关注性别特异性方面。我们提供证据表明择偶模仿可以支持新的性装饰的进化，并且我们讨论当公共信息不可靠时择偶模仿的潜在成本。此外，我们讨论了进行模仿的雄性所面临的冲突，因为择偶模仿会增加精子竞争。总之，我们提出了择偶模仿未来研究的有趣主题。
