{"id":{"repo_id":"potsdam-thes","oai_identifier":"oai:kobv.de-opus4-uni-potsdam:67342"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/potsdam-thes/oai:kobv.de-opus4-uni-potsdam:67342","repository":{"repo_id":"potsdam-thes","name":"Universität Potsdam - Thes","base_url":"https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/opus4-ubp/oai"},"display":{"title":"Female preferences, paternity and fitness: A combined morphometric/molecular genetic study on Poecilia latipinna and Poecilia formosa","abstract":"Mate preferences represent an adaptive choice when costs associated with reproduction can be alleviated through gaining direct or indirect benefits from choosing the better mate. Female poeciliid fishes do show clear mate preferences for certain males although males in this highly promiscuous taxon only contribute sperm to reproduction. Thus, females do not receive any direct benefits post-mating. Here, I investigated the assumption that female preferences of Poecilia latipinna (sailfin molly) and P. formosa (Amazon molly) increase their reproductive success (quality or quantity of offspring) through indirect or direct benefits associated with the sperm. Since the male's genome is not incorporated in the reproduction of the gynogenetic P. formosa (AVISE ET AL. 1991; SCHARTL ET AL. 1995), they do not receive any indirect (genetic) benefits. Therefore, they represent an ideal model organism to test for direct benefits associated with sperm. Poecilia latipinna females (N = 27) were mated with both a preferred as well as with a non-preferred male, paternity was assigned via microsatellite analysis. Poecilia formosa females (N = 34) were mated with either a preferred or a non-preferred male. I found evidence that female preferences in both species did not depend on male size (a measure for male quality). But in P. latipinna, the number of offspring significantly increased with male size (N = 6 successful broods, 110 analyzed embryos). However, neither offspring quantity nor offspring quality (embryo dry weight) was influenced by female preferences. With 4 successful matings in P. formosa no significant relations could be found. Nonetheless the study fulfilled its objective of being a pilot study. This comparative and integrative study is the first of its kind to methodically combine life history measures (embryo dry weight) and genetic analyses (paternity analysis) of poeciliid fish embryos. DNA could be preserved through gentle desiccation at a low temperature. Besides, tissues were preserved in ethanol instead of commonly used formaldehyde, allowing life history measures on poeciliid fish embryos without destroying the DNA for further genetic analyses.","abstract_html":"Mate preferences represent an adaptive choice when costs associated with reproduction can be alleviated through gaining direct or indirect benefits from choosing the better mate. Female poeciliid fishes do show clear mate preferences for certain males although males in this highly promiscuous taxon only contribute sperm to reproduction. Thus, females do not receive any direct benefits post-mating. Here, I investigated the assumption that female preferences of Poecilia latipinna (sailfin molly) and P. formosa (Amazon molly) increase their reproductive success (quality or quantity of offspring) through indirect or direct benefits associated with the sperm. Since the male&#x27;s genome is not incorporated in the reproduction of the gynogenetic P. formosa (AVISE ET AL. 1991; SCHARTL ET AL. 1995), they do not receive any indirect (genetic) benefits. Therefore, they represent an ideal model organism to test for direct benefits associated with sperm. Poecilia latipinna females (N = 27) were mated with both a preferred as well as with a non-preferred male, paternity was assigned via microsatellite analysis. Poecilia formosa females (N = 34) were mated with either a preferred or a non-preferred male. I found evidence that female preferences in both species did not depend on male size (a measure for male quality). But in P. latipinna, the number of offspring significantly increased with male size (N = 6 successful broods, 110 analyzed embryos). However, neither offspring quantity nor offspring quality (embryo dry weight) was influenced by female preferences. With 4 successful matings in P. formosa no significant relations could be found. Nonetheless the study fulfilled its objective of being a pilot study. This comparative and integrative study is the first of its kind to methodically combine life history measures (embryo dry weight) and genetic analyses (paternity analysis) of poeciliid fish embryos. DNA could be preserved through gentle desiccation at a low temperature. Besides, tissues were preserved in ethanol instead of commonly used formaldehyde, allowing life history measures on poeciliid fish embryos without destroying the DNA for further genetic analyses.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Scherer, Ulrike"],"institution":"Universität Potsdam","degree_name":null,"degree_level":"master","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Schlupp, Ingo","Tiedemann, Ralph"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015-04-13","date_published":"2015-04-13","updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:52:13Z","subjects":["sexual selection","mate choice","life history","microsatellite analysis","live-bearing fish","sexuelle Selektion","Partnerwahl","Mikrosatelliten-Analyse","lebendgebärende Fische"],"languages":[],"rights":["CC BY-ND - Namensnennung, keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://publishup.uni-potsdam.de/frontdoor/index/index/docId/67342","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"source_url"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Schlupp, Ingo","Tiedemann, Ralph"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Scherer, Ulrike"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Universität Potsdam"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["masterThesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["master"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Universität Potsdam"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["sexual selection","mate choice","life history","microsatellite analysis","live-bearing fish","sexuelle Selektion","Partnerwahl","Mikrosatelliten-Analyse","lebendgebärende Fische"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["CC BY-ND - Namensnennung, keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Mate preferences represent an adaptive choice when costs associated with reproduction can be alleviated through gaining direct or indirect benefits from choosing the better mate. Female poeciliid fishes do show clear mate preferences for certain males although males in this highly promiscuous taxon only contribute sperm to reproduction. Thus, females do not receive any direct benefits post-mating. Here, I investigated the assumption that female preferences of Poecilia latipinna (sailfin molly) and P. formosa (Amazon molly) increase their reproductive success (quality or quantity of offspring) through indirect or direct benefits associated with the sperm. Since the male's genome is not incorporated in the reproduction of the gynogenetic P. formosa (AVISE ET AL. 1991; SCHARTL ET AL. 1995), they do not receive any indirect (genetic) benefits. Therefore, they represent an ideal model organism to test for direct benefits associated with sperm. Poecilia latipinna females (N = 27) were mated with both a preferred as well as with a non-preferred male, paternity was assigned via microsatellite analysis. Poecilia formosa females (N = 34) were mated with either a preferred or a non-preferred male. I found evidence that female preferences in both species did not depend on male size (a measure for male quality). But in P. latipinna, the number of offspring significantly increased with male size (N = 6 successful broods, 110 analyzed embryos). However, neither offspring quantity nor offspring quality (embryo dry weight) was influenced by female preferences. With 4 successful matings in P. formosa no significant relations could be found. Nonetheless the study fulfilled its objective of being a pilot study. This comparative and integrative study is the first of its kind to methodically combine life history measures (embryo dry weight) and genetic analyses (paternity analysis) of poeciliid fish embryos. DNA could be preserved through gentle desiccation at a low temperature. Besides, tissues were preserved in ethanol instead of commonly used formaldehyde, allowing life history measures on poeciliid fish embryos without destroying the DNA for further genetic analyses.","Partnerwahlverhalten stellt ein adaptives Verhalten dar, wenn direkte oder indirekte Vorteile der Partnerwahl Kosten mindern, die mit der Reproduktion verbunden sind. Auch Weibchen poeciliider Fische zeigen klare Paarungspräferenzen, obwohl die Männchen in diesem hochgradig promiskuitiven Taxon nur Gameten zur Reproduktion beitragen. Weibchen erhalten also keine direkten Vorteile außerhalb der Verpaarung. Hier wurde die Annahme untersucht, dass Paarungspräferenzen der Weibchen inPoecilia latipinna (Breitflossenkärpfling) und P. formosa (Amazonenkärpfling) deren Reproduktionserfolg (Qualität und Quantität der Nachkommen) durch direkte oder indirekte Vorteile, die mit dem Sperma zusammenhängen erhöhen. Da das männliche Genom nicht in die Reproduktion der gynogenetischen P. formosa einbezogen wird (AVISE ET AL. 1991; SCHARTL ET AL. 1995), können sie keine indirekten (genetischen) Vorteile erhalten. Daher stellt die Art einen idealen Modell-Organismus dar, um zu testen, ob Sperma mit direkten Vorteilen verbunden ist. Poecilia latipinna Weibchen (N = 27) wurden mit einem präferierten und einem nicht- präferierten Männchen verpaart, die Vaterschaft wurde mittels Mikrosatelliten-Analyse bestimmt. Poecilia formosa Weibchen (N = 34) wurden entweder mit einem präferierten oder einem nicht-präferierten Männchen verpaart. Die Partnerpräferenzen der Weibchen beider Arten waren nicht von der Größe der Männchen (Maß für deren Qualität) abhängig. In P. latipinna nahm die Anzahl der Nachkommen aber signifikant mit der Größe des Männchens zu (N = 6 erfolgreiche Verpaarungen, 110 analysierte Embryos). Die Präferenzen haben hier weder die Anzahl, noch die Qualität der Nachkommen (Trockengewicht der Embryos) beeinflusst. Mit 4 erfolgreichen Verpaarungen in P. formosa konnten keine signifikanten Beziehungen festgestellt werden. Nichtsdestotrotz hat diese Arbeit ihr Ziel als Pilot-Studie erfüllt. Diese vergleichende und integrative Studie ist die Erste, bei der Life History Parameter (Trockengewicht) und die genetische Analyse (Vaterschaftsanalyse) von poeciliiden Fisch-Embryos methodisch verbunden wurden. DNA wurde durch Konservierung des Gewebes in Ethanol anstelle von üblicherweise verwendetem Formaldehyd und schonender Trocknung bei geringer Temperatur konserviert. So ist die Bestimmung von Life History Parametern an Embryos von poeciliiden Fischen möglich, ohne die DNA für weitere genetische Analysen zu zerstören."]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["application/pdf"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Female preferences, paternity and fitness: A combined morphometric/molecular genetic study on Poecilia latipinna and Poecilia formosa","Weibchenwahl, Vaterschaft und Fitness: Eine kombinierte morphometrische/molekulargenetische Studie an Poecilia latipinna und Poecilia formosa"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Schlupp, Ingo","Tiedemann, Ralph"],"dc:creator":["Scherer, Ulrike"],"dc:description.abstract":["Mate preferences represent an adaptive choice when costs associated with reproduction can be alleviated through gaining direct or indirect benefits from choosing the better mate. Female poeciliid fishes do show clear mate preferences for certain males although males in this highly promiscuous taxon only contribute sperm to reproduction. Thus, females do not receive any direct benefits post-mating. Here, I investigated the assumption that female preferences of Poecilia latipinna (sailfin molly) and P. formosa (Amazon molly) increase their reproductive success (quality or quantity of offspring) through indirect or direct benefits associated with the sperm. Since the male's genome is not incorporated in the reproduction of the gynogenetic P. formosa (AVISE ET AL. 1991; SCHARTL ET AL. 1995), they do not receive any indirect (genetic) benefits. Therefore, they represent an ideal model organism to test for direct benefits associated with sperm. Poecilia latipinna females (N = 27) were mated with both a preferred as well as with a non-preferred male, paternity was assigned via microsatellite analysis. Poecilia formosa females (N = 34) were mated with either a preferred or a non-preferred male. I found evidence that female preferences in both species did not depend on male size (a measure for male quality). But in P. latipinna, the number of offspring significantly increased with male size (N = 6 successful broods, 110 analyzed embryos). However, neither offspring quantity nor offspring quality (embryo dry weight) was influenced by female preferences. With 4 successful matings in P. formosa no significant relations could be found. Nonetheless the study fulfilled its objective of being a pilot study. This comparative and integrative study is the first of its kind to methodically combine life history measures (embryo dry weight) and genetic analyses (paternity analysis) of poeciliid fish embryos. DNA could be preserved through gentle desiccation at a low temperature. Besides, tissues were preserved in ethanol instead of commonly used formaldehyde, allowing life history measures on poeciliid fish embryos without destroying the DNA for further genetic analyses.","Partnerwahlverhalten stellt ein adaptives Verhalten dar, wenn direkte oder indirekte Vorteile der Partnerwahl Kosten mindern, die mit der Reproduktion verbunden sind. Auch Weibchen poeciliider Fische zeigen klare Paarungspräferenzen, obwohl die Männchen in diesem hochgradig promiskuitiven Taxon nur Gameten zur Reproduktion beitragen. Weibchen erhalten also keine direkten Vorteile außerhalb der Verpaarung. Hier wurde die Annahme untersucht, dass Paarungspräferenzen der Weibchen inPoecilia latipinna (Breitflossenkärpfling) und P. formosa (Amazonenkärpfling) deren Reproduktionserfolg (Qualität und Quantität der Nachkommen) durch direkte oder indirekte Vorteile, die mit dem Sperma zusammenhängen erhöhen. Da das männliche Genom nicht in die Reproduktion der gynogenetischen P. formosa einbezogen wird (AVISE ET AL. 1991; SCHARTL ET AL. 1995), können sie keine indirekten (genetischen) Vorteile erhalten. Daher stellt die Art einen idealen Modell-Organismus dar, um zu testen, ob Sperma mit direkten Vorteilen verbunden ist. Poecilia latipinna Weibchen (N = 27) wurden mit einem präferierten und einem nicht- präferierten Männchen verpaart, die Vaterschaft wurde mittels Mikrosatelliten-Analyse bestimmt. Poecilia formosa Weibchen (N = 34) wurden entweder mit einem präferierten oder einem nicht-präferierten Männchen verpaart. Die Partnerpräferenzen der Weibchen beider Arten waren nicht von der Größe der Männchen (Maß für deren Qualität) abhängig. In P. latipinna nahm die Anzahl der Nachkommen aber signifikant mit der Größe des Männchens zu (N = 6 erfolgreiche Verpaarungen, 110 analysierte Embryos). Die Präferenzen haben hier weder die Anzahl, noch die Qualität der Nachkommen (Trockengewicht der Embryos) beeinflusst. Mit 4 erfolgreichen Verpaarungen in P. formosa konnten keine signifikanten Beziehungen festgestellt werden. Nichtsdestotrotz hat diese Arbeit ihr Ziel als Pilot-Studie erfüllt. Diese vergleichende und integrative Studie ist die Erste, bei der Life History Parameter (Trockengewicht) und die genetische Analyse (Vaterschaftsanalyse) von poeciliiden Fisch-Embryos methodisch verbunden wurden. DNA wurde durch Konservierung des Gewebes in Ethanol anstelle von üblicherweise verwendetem Formaldehyd und schonender Trocknung bei geringer Temperatur konserviert. So ist die Bestimmung von Life History Parametern an Embryos von poeciliiden Fischen möglich, ohne die DNA für weitere genetische Analysen zu zerstören."],"dc:format.medium":["application/pdf"],"dc:publisher":["Universität Potsdam"],"dc:rights":["CC BY-ND - Namensnennung, keine Bearbeitungen 4.0 International"],"dc:subject":["sexual selection","mate choice","life history","microsatellite analysis","live-bearing fish","sexuelle Selektion","Partnerwahl","Mikrosatelliten-Analyse","lebendgebärende Fische"],"dc:title":["Female preferences, paternity and fitness: A combined morphometric/molecular genetic study on Poecilia latipinna and Poecilia formosa","Weibchenwahl, Vaterschaft und Fitness: Eine kombinierte morphometrische/molekulargenetische Studie an Poecilia latipinna und Poecilia formosa"],"dc:type":["masterThesis"],"thesis:degree_level":["master"],"thesis:institution_name":["Universität Potsdam"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T03:52:13Z"}