Mating choices

Coopersmith C. and Lenington S. (1998). Pregnancy block in house mice (Mus domesticus) as a function of t-complex genotype examination of the mate choice and male infanticide hypotheses. J Comp Psychol 112, 82-91. 

Collins, S. A., Hubbard, C., and Houtman, A. M. 1994. Female mate choice in the zebra finch—The effect of male beak colour and male song. Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 35 21-25. 

Hill, G. E. 1999. Mate choice, male quality, and carotenoid-based plumage coloration. Proc. Int. Omithol. Congr. 22 1654-1668. 

Wolfenbarger, L. L. 1999c. Female mate choice in northern cardinals Is there a preference for redder males Wilson Bull. Ill 76-83. 

Some information (e.g. reproductive state) appears to be contained solely within the chemical matrix of certain marks, particularly within the stable genital secretions. Thus, longer-lasting signals may be broadcast to any animal that comes in contact with labial or scrotal marks. Such a scenario seems particularly applicable to females that scent mark most frequently prior to the onset of estrus cycles, but nonetheless when their sex steroids are on the rise (Drea 2007). Such advertisement may encourage male immigration at a time that would maximize the opportunity of female mate choice, even if the mechanism of, or criteria for, selection remain obscure. 

Parga, J.A. (2006) Mulitiple mating and female mate choice in Lemur catta does it pay to be a dominant male Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 42 supp, 144—144. 

Milinski, M., Griffiths, S., Wegner, K., Reusch, T., Haas-Assenbaum, A. and Boehm, T. (2005) Mate choice decisions of stickleback females predictably modified by MHC peptide ligands. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 102, 4414-4418. 

Tregenza, T. and Wedell, N. (2000) Genetic compatability, mate choice and patterns of parentage. Mol. Ecol. 9, 1013-1027. 

Current evolutionary theorists mostly agree upon the role of pathogens as a significant driving force in evolution. In social animals it is of particular relevance to monitor health status of potential social or sexual partners. Closer contact with infected conspecifics may promote pathogen transmission and, in the case of sexual partners, susceptibility to infection or an inherited deficiency that can deteriorate offspring viability. It is well documented in many animal species that olfaction is used to monitor health status in mate choice. For instance mice can discriminate between parasitized and non-infected individuals (Kavaliers and Colwell 1995). 

LeMaster, M.P and Mason, R.T. (2002) Variation in a female sexual attractiveness pheromone controls male mate choice in garter snakes. J. Chem. Ecol. 28, 1269-1285. 

D Udine, B. a. A., E. (1983) Early experience and sexual preferences in rodents. In P. Bateson (Ed.), Mate Choice. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp. 311-327. 

While mate choice for unfamiliar partners might be explained by the fitness benefits of multiple mating, inbreeding avoidance, and favouring rare genotypes, preference for familiar males is also sometimes observed. Why would females choose relatively familiar males as mates, given the benefits outlined above of avoiding such males ... 

Shapiro, L.E., Austin, D., Ward, S.E. and Dewsbury, D.A. (1986) Familiarity and female mate choic ein two species of voles (Microtus ochrogaster and Microtus montanus). Anim. Behav. 34, 90-97. 

Thom, M.D., Stockley, P., Beynon, R.J. and Hurst, J.L. (2007) Scent, mate choice and genetic heterozygosity. In J. Hurst, R. Beynon, C. Roberts, T. Wyatt (Eds.), Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 11. Springer Press, New York, pp. 269-279. 

Wong, B.B.M. and Candolin, U. (2005) How is female mate choice affected by male competition Biol. Rev. 80, 1-13. 

Wolff, J. O., Watson, M.H., and Thomas, S.A. (2002) Is self-grooming by male prairie voles a predictor of mate choice Ethology 108, 169-179. 

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