Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Female preference'
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1
Collins, Sarah Amanda. "Some factors affecting female mate preference." Thesis, University of Oxford, 1992. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.305998.
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Tombs, Selina. "An evolutionary assessment of the relationship between female partner preference and pupil size preference." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 1998. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/tape15/PQDD_0031/MQ27383.pdf.
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Cress, Zachary Pierce. "Female preference for complex male displays in hybridizing swordtails." [College Station, Tex. : Texas A&M University, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/1969.1/ETD-TAMU-3266.
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Bargelletti, Olivia. "Mate preference in female weakly electric fish, Apteronotus leptorhynchus." Thesis, McGill University, 2007. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=100762.
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This study explores the morphology and electrical behavior of breeding weakly electric fish. Wave-type electric fish communicate by means of a continuous oscillatory electric signal produced by an electric organ. The electric organ discharges at frequencies which are sexually dimorphic in many species of electric fish. This dimorphism is thought to be attributed to female mate choice, although to date, there is no evidence for mate choice or intrasexual competition to have driven the evolution of this signaling dimorphism in wave-type electric fish. Here, I have tracked changes in body shape and electric organ discharge (EOD) frequency of A. leptorhynchus throughout a breeding conditioning period. I find that only females alter the shape of their bodies, presumably to account for increasing egg mass, during the breeding conditioning period. Throughout this period, both females and males do not alter their EOD frequencies significantly. Gravid females were used in an unforced preference test, where they were presented with two live, male A. leptorhynchus. Female preference was indicated by a passage of the female into one of the two male compartments. I find that females show a preference for higher EOD frequency males, while no preference is shown for longer, heavier or larger-amplitude males. Further investigations are needed to dissociate the role of EOD frequency from potentially correlated male traits, such as rate and type of modulations of EOD frequency. The finding of this study that female A. leptorhynchus prefer males of higher EOD frequency establishes wave-type weakly electric fish as a promising model system for the study of the evolution and the sensory mechanisms of female choice.
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Pick, Polly Anne. "An exploration of brand preference in young female adolescents." Thesis, Nottingham Trent University, 2005. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.424112.
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Jones, Theresa Melanie. "Sexual selection in the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis." Thesis, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London), 1997. http://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/1416606/.
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In this thesis I address several fundamental questions in sexual selection and mate choice theory, using the sandfly Lutzomyia longipalpis. I show that L. iongipalpis satisfies the criteria for a lek-breeding species. Males aggregated at sites near hosts which females visited to mate and feed, but a male's access to a resource did not appear to detennine his mating success. Females were free to reject unwanted males and male mating success was typically skewed. Field data suggest that the mating system may have evolved because of female preferences for larger leks, coupled with a hotspot-type mechanism: male distribution was correlated with resources availability, while females distribution was correlated with lek size. In the laboratory, females preferentially mated with middle-aged males. Within this age class, mating success was correlated with increased amounts of pheromone and increased investment in wing-fluttering. Across age classes, females appeared to gain a direct fitness payoff from their choice of mate through increased probability of fertilisation, but the presence of other mechanisms was not investigated. By testing simultaneously the predictions of current models using similar age males, I was able to assess their relative importance for the maintenance of female choice. I found weak evidence to support direct benefits: females that chose to mate with successful males survived longer post-oviposition than females with less successful mates. This did not translate into increased total longevity or increased fecundity. I found no evidence in favour of good-genes models: offspring of preferred males did not survive longer than offspring of less preferred males, nor were their daughters more fecund. Male attractiveness was, however, heritable: sons sired by preferred males achieved higher mating success than sons of less preferred fathers. These results suggest that a Fisherian mechanism is in part responsible for the maintenance of female mating preferences in L. iongipaipis.
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Penuliar, Michael S. "The Effect of Race and Masculinity on Female Mate Preference." UNF Digital Commons, 2012. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/408.
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The current work extends upon the theories of female mate preference in a novel way by examining how the interaction of race and the masculinity of males affect preference in females. In Study 1, I manipulated the facial masculinity of photographs of White, Black, and Asian males. Female participants rated the faces on attractiveness, masculinity, and age. In Study 2, nine photographs were matched on masculinity and participants made judgments on dimensions relating to dateabiltity, attractiveness, resources, masculinity, and parenting behaviors. Asian males are often neglected as potential romantic partners. A major aim of the current work was to assess if racial bias against Asian males in romantic situations are lessened with increased facial masculinity. Asian males were evaluated highly across several dimensions if they possessed high masculine facial characteristics. Medium masculine White and Black males were evaluated as the most attractive and dateable in their respective racial groups. Additionally, low masculine White and Black males were evaluated as better choices for resource and family-related attributions in their respective racial groups.
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Scott, Darcea. "Female consumers' awareness of and preference for brand name apparel." Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/101147.
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This study investigated female consumers’ awareness of and preference for brand name apparel, sought to determine the relationship between these variables and the purchase of brand name apparel, and attempted to determine the sample’s perceptions of branded apparel. The respondents’ brand name apparel awareness, preference, and perception were also investigated in relation to several demographic variables.
Women professors and secretaries employed at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (VPI&SU) were chosen as the sample for this study. A questionnaire was developed to ascertain the needed information and was distributed to 471 women by the intercampus mail system during the summer of 1985. The sample consisted of 97 secretaries and 73 professors, for a total of 170 participants.
It was found that the brand name of apparel was unimportant to the sampled consumers in the purchase of dresses for the job, sleepwear and casual clothing. Within these classifications, consumers were generally more concerned with intrinsic garment features such as fit, construction, material, care, and style. Magazines were not found to be a major vehicle to provide clothing information, nor was magazine readership found to be related to the respondents’ levels of overall recognition and preference for name brand clothing. Consumers who were exposed to brand name apparel via media or store displays had a greater level of brand recognition and recall, which ultimately lead to greater preference for brand name apparel. Occupation and total household income were not found to be significant determinants of brand name awareness and preference.M.S.
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Cummins, Elizabeth D., Ross L. Roeding, Stephen B. Griffin, and Russell W. Brown. "Methylphenidate Conditioned Place Preference in Adolescent Male and Female Rats." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2012. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/964.
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This study analyzed methylphenidate (5 mg/kg; trade name: Ritalin) conditioned place preference (CPP) in adolescent male and female rats. Results showed MPH-induced CPP in males, but not in females. These results suggest rewarding properties of MPH may be more prominent in males as compared to females in adolescence.
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Cummins, Elizabeth D., Stephen B. Griffin, Ross L. Roeding, J. H. Thomas, and Russell W. Brown. "Methylphenidate Conditioned Place Preference in Adolescent Male and Female Rats." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2012. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/966.
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Methylphenidate (MPH) is a psychostimulant drug that is commonly prescribed for Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), however, this drug is also abused. The primary pharmacological action of MPH is similar to that of cocaine, in that the drug blocks the dopamine transporter and enhances dopamine neurotransmission. The similarity to cocaine has brought to light legitimate concerns at the abuse liability of MPH. The focus of the present study was to analyze MPH conditioned place preference (CPP) in adolescent rats, with the focus on sex differences in this effect. CPP is a commonly used measure of drug reward in rats. Animals were also tested at two different time periods, from postnatal day (P)32-38 or P43-49, representing periods during adolescence both before and after the commencement of the estrous cycle in females, which begins on approximately P41. After an initial preference test on P32 or 43 revealed no significant preference for either context, an unbiased procedure was used. Beginning on P33 or P44, MPH (5 mg/kg) was paired with either context in animals in the drug condition, balanced across males and females. Controls were given saline in both contexts (N=8-9 in all groups). A preference test was given on P38 or P49 with dividers removed. Results revealed no sex or age difference, but MPH induced a robust increased preference for the paired context in both males and females on the post-conditioning preference test, which was significantly greater than male and female controls. Interestingly, males demonstrated significantly higher levels of activity and a higher number of entries made into the paired context when tested at the younger age, but there were no sex differences in these responses in older animals. Brain tissue is currently being analyzed for levels of the dopamine transporter (DAT), and this data will be presented. Past studies have shown that females have a higher number of DAT in the striatum compared to males in adulthood, but this has never been established in adolescence. In conclusion, it appears that a 5 mg/kg dose of MPH is capable of inducing drug reward in adolescent rats, and unlike recent results from our laboratory regarding behavioral sensitization, there are no sex differences in this response.
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Crean, Caroline Sara. "Variation in female mate preference in the seaweed fly, Coelopa frigida." Thesis, University of Nottingham, 1997. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.243493.
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Alexander, Leanne III. "Design Criteria for Female Flight Attendant Uniforms: Wearer Preference Needs Assessment." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 1998. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/36624.
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The purpose of this research was to gather the preferences of flight attendants for garment characteristics of the ideal flight attendant uniform, then translate those garment characteristics to design criteria.
Using uniform silhouette, interior design lines and fabric characteristics as dependent variables, garment characteristics of clothing length and shape, sleeve length and shape, neckline, collar, pocket style, pocket placement, closing type, closing location, waist style, fabric care, color, type, stretch, weight, hand, surface and fabric design were selected as independent variables. The objectives of the study were to determine 1) the flight attendant preferences for an ideal uniform and 2) if a relationship existed between flight attendant age and garment characteristics and between flight attendant years of service and garment characteristics.
A questionnaire was developed and tested as the instrument to be used to gather the wearer preferences and garment characteristics. The development of the questionnaire evolved through a series of pretests. Changes were made based on the reader comprehension of questions, terminology, illustrations and instructions. The data were analyzed using frequency counts, cross-tabulations and independent sample chi-square test.
The data were gathered in the crew lounge of a major southeast airline. The sample consisted of 218 actively employed, Caucasian and non-Caucasian female flight attendants between the ages of 25 to 51 with 1 to 36 years of service. The findings indicated this group of flight attendants preferred three garments; shirt, slacks and cardigan sweater as uniform clothing, and no relationships existed between flight attendant age or flight attendant years of service and preferred garment characteristics.Master of Science
13
Hall, Andrew Michael. "Energetic consequences of sexually selected characters in birds : studies on the swallow (Hirundo rustica) and the great tit (Parus major)." Thesis, University of Stirling, 2000. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.341200.
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Delcourt, Matthieu. "The Quantitative Genetics of Good Genes: Fitness, Male Display, and Female Preference." Thèse, Université d'Ottawa / University of Ottawa, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10393/20311.
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The ultimate goal of my thesis is to develop a better understanding of the contribution of indirect benefits (i.e. good genes) to the evolution of female mate preferences. It is genetic variance in, and genetic correlations (covariances) among, male sexual displays, female preferences for them, and fitness that in part determine the degree to which females preferring certain male displays over others will gain an indirect benefit by having higher fitness offspring. Recent advances in quantitative genetic theory provide the mathematical means for quantifying the strength of indirect selection for female mate preferences (Kirkpatrick and Hall 2004), at least under certain conditions, but there are few empirical systems for which such data exist (Brooks and Endler 2001; Qvarnström et al. 2006). I have undertaken a classic half-sibling breeding design with the ultimate goal of estimating the specific parameters of this model in a population of the Australian fruit fly Drosophila serrata. The breeding design was performed across two environments - one to which the population was well adapted and a novel environment to which it was not - thereby also providing insight into genotype-by-environment interactions for this suite of traits and their effects on good genes indirect benefits in a novel environment. General insight is also gained into the genetic covariance of male and female fitness and the prevalence of intralocus sexual conflict, the quantitative genetic basis of female mate preferences for multiple male traits, the condition-dependence of these traits, and the genetic association between sexual displays and fitness when mutation-selection balance is inferred. My results advocate caution in the application of existing theory to quantify the strength of indirect selection, suggesting that a good genes process may be fundamentally different when the exaggeration of sexual displays is eventually halted and an equilibrium is reached between opposing selection.
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Krebs, Robert A. "The effect of female mate preference on the evolution of Batesian mimicry." Thesis, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1986. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/91102.
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Male and female Papilio glaucus were released in pairs in a flight cage to study courtship behavior and mate choice. The study was designed to test the hypothesis that females select the natural color pattern, an important aspect of the theory of the evolution of mimicry. Males were unpainted or were painted either yellow as a control or black to resemble a newly arisen mimetic pattern. Painted males were permitted three courtships to achieve a mating. Failure to mate was followed by the release of the other color of male to the same female.
The courtship flight was divided into four stages for analysis of sexual selection. Females directed solicitation flights more often to natural color than to black males, and these solicitation flights increased the number of interactions and courtships by males. Naturally colored males were rejected less frequently than the black ones in the early stages of courtship. Once the later stages were attained, there was no difference. The higher mating success and increased female solicitation which favored the yellow painted males over color-altered ones suggest that female-limited mimicry in P. glaucus is the result of selection by females for the non-mimetic pattern.M.S.
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Costello, Aron K. "Female Characteristics that Influence Male Mate Preference in House Mice (Mus Musculus)." Miami University / OhioLINK, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1280754434.
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Freeman, Elizabeth D. "Methylphenidate Conditioned Place Preference in Juvenile and Adolescent Male and Female Rats." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2013. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/2293.
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This investigation was an analysis of the effects of methylphenidate (MPH; trade name: Ritalin) on drug reward using the conditioned place preference (CPP) behavioral paradigm in a rodent model and underlying mechanisms of this effect. Animals were conditioned in adolescence from postnatal day (P)33-39) or P44-49 with saline, 1 or 5 mg/kg MPH. Rats administered 5 mg/kg but not 1 mg/kg MPH, resulted in a significant preference that was more robust in younger male adolescent rats. The 5 mg/kg dose of MPH also resulted in a significant decrease of the dopamine transporter in both the nucleus accumbens and striatum, revealing dopamine clearance is decreased by MPH in brain areas that mediate reward. Finally, MPH-induced CPP was blocked by the dopamine D1 but not D2 antagonist, demonstrating the importance of the D1 receptor in the rewarding effects of MPH. These results demonstrate that dopamine mediates the rewarding effects of MPH in adolescence.
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Andrews, Adam Lee. "The role of female preference in sexual dimorphism of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes)." Connect to resource, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1172768559.
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Patton, Tadd B. "Altered features of female pigeons (Columba livia) elicit preference behavior in male pigeons." [Tampa, Fla] : University of South Florida, 2006. http://purl.fcla.edu/usf/dc/et/SFE0001656.
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Suvanto, L. (Leena). "Mate choice and genetic variation in male courtship song in Drosophila montana." Doctoral thesis, University of Oulu, 1999. http://urn.fi/urn:isbn:9514251911.
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Abstract
This thesis deals with factors affecting mate choice as well
as with genetic variation in male courtship song in Drosophila
montana. Males, which produced song with a high carrier
frequency, were found to court females, and also to succeed in
their courtship more often than the males producing low frequency
song. Male mating success correlated with the carrier frequency
of his song recorded after, but not before, an "artificial
winter", which suggests that a sexually selected male
trait is sensitive to environmental factors. A high carrier frequency
of male courtship song correlated positively with the survival
rate of the male's progeny from egg to adulthood (indirect
benefit for the female), but not with the fecundity of his mating
partner (no direct benefit for the female).
The heritabilities and the amount of additive and residual
variation in male courtship song characters were measured in two
populations using father-son regression and sib analysis. The songs
of the males from one of these populations were analysed for a
second time after the cold treatment. Most heritability values
were insignificant, largely due to high residual variation. During
the cold treatment, the additive variation increased and the residual
variation decreased in almost all song traits. Increased variation
in sexually selected traits may help the females to exercise selection between
the males during the mating season of the flies in the wild in
spring. This, and the fact that male song gives the female information
about the male's condition/genetic quality suggests
that in this species the evolution of female preferences for male
song characters could have evolved through condition-dependent
viability selection as postulated by "good genes" models.
Variation and inbreeding depression/heterosis were
studied in traits associated with fly reproduction using inbred
D. montana strains. Songs, hydrocarbons and some behavioural traits
of the flies varied significantly between strains. The strain of
both sexes affected female egg-laying, and the female strain, also,
the survival rate of the flies' progeny, in different
intra- and interspecific combinations. Heterosis was found in the
mating propensity of the flies and in the carrier frequency of
the male song. Diallel analysis revealed unidirectional dominance
towards higher carrier frequency. This direction is the same as
the direction of sexual selection exercised by the females of this
species suggesting that sexual selection could be a driving force
in evolution of this song trait.
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Bolen, Donella S. "Sexual Selection in the American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis): Context-Dependent Variation in Female Preference." The Ohio State University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1546460364036071.
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Natarajan, Reka. "The involvement of matrix metalloproteinases in nicotine conditioned place preference in adolescent female rats." Pullman, Wash. : Washington State University, 2009. http://www.dissertations.wsu.edu/Dissertations/Fall2009/r_natarajan_082109.pdf.
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Boruta, Martyna. "Early Developmental Impacts on Male traits and Female Preference in Zebra Finches (Taeniopygia guttata)." Scholar Commons, 2014. https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/5189.
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Some male sexually selected traits are sensitive to stressors early in life and provide females with information to discriminate among males with different developmental experiences. Moreover, female early life experiences could also impact which males they choose. Females might either choose honest traits indicative of male quality, no matter their own experiences, or they might choose mates to match or compensate for their own experiences. To determine how developmental stressors alter male sexually-selected traits and female preference thereof, I exposed zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata, ZEFI) to i) lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an immunogenic, Gram-negative bacterial component, ii) corticosterone (CORT), an avian stress steroid, iii) both challenges (CORT/LPS), or iv) none of the above (control vehicles). Finches were exposed during development (12-28 days post-hatch) and male traits (e.g., body size, bill and cheek coloration) and female behaviors (e.g., general activity, male sampling effort, and male preference) were then measured in adulthood. Control males were predicted to express the most elaborate traits followed by LPS, CORT, and then CORT/LPS males. If female preference was generally driven by male quality, control females were predicted to be most selective followed by LPS, CORT, and CORT/LPS females. Alternatively, if female choice was contingent on her own experience, females might choose males with similar (i.e, matching) or distinct (i.e, complementarity) developmental histories. Of the male characteristics measured, only cheek coloration was impacted by treatment early in life; CORT/LPS males had duller, less orange cheeks than controls. For females, overall activity was reduced in CORT/LPS females. More importantly in regards to mate choice, females exhibited a blend of matching and complimentary behavior; females not exposed to LPS or CORT preferred males also not exposed to LPS or CORT. In general, females avoided LPS males no matter their own experience. Altogether, this study suggests that female mate preference is quite sensitive to early-life experiences and driven by a mix of choice of outright male quality and relative complementarity.
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Sun, Chen. "Factors affecting female consumers' acceptability on nail polish." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/18733.
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Master of ScienceFood Science Institute
Koushik Adhikari
The market of nail polish has been booming in recent years. Research on nail polish is scarce. A sensory lexicon for nail polish has been developed at Kansas State University, but how sensory factors affect female consumers’ acceptability of nail polish has not been examined. Also, other factors, such as price and usage characteristics that could affect consumers’ acceptability, are yet to be determined. A nail polish consumer study was conducted at Kansas State University to explore several sensory and non-sensory factors that could affect female consumers’ acceptability of nail polish. Eight nail polish samples, belonging to four categories, namely, regular (REG), gel (GEL), flake (FLK) and water-based (WAT), were evaluated by each of the 98 female consumers. The questionnaire consisted of three sections – application, observation and general usage questions. Results showed that consumers rated the samples similarly in both the application and observation sections. In general, consumers preferred the REG and the GEL samples more than the FLK and the WAT samples. Among all the sensory attributes, appearance attributes were the major attributes that affected consumers’ overall acceptability, while aroma had negligible impact on acceptability. Some sensory attributes like runny, shininess, opacity, spreadability, smoothness, coverage and wet-appearance were found to drive the consumer’s overall acceptability positively, while others such as pinhole, fatty-edges, blister, brushlines, pearl-like, flake-protrusion, glittery and initial-drag impacted their liking negatively. Four clusters of consumers were identified based on the consumers’ overall liking scores for both the application and observation sections. Considering all the factors that could affect consumers’ acceptability, sensory appeal, price, and conveniences of usage were the top factors picked by consumers. Age was also a factor that affected consumers’ acceptability for some of the samples. Consumers’ overall acceptability for these studied samples could guide a beauty store or a nail salon on building their selection on nail polishes. Consumers’ acceptability on different sensory attributes could help a nail polish company modify or improve their nail polish formula. The consumer cluster information could benefit a nail polish company on marketing a specific category of product and advertising to a specific group of consumers.
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Norton, Sephanie S. "MATING BEHAVIOR AND MATE PREFERENCE IN SCHIZOCOSA OCREATA WOLF SPIDERS: THE FEMALE PERSPECTIVE." University of Cincinnati / OhioLINK, 2001. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin998333694.
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Visser, Cecilia Elaine. "Acceptability, choice and preference of brands and flavours of dairy fruit beverages by black female consumers." Diss., Pretoria ; [s.n.], 2006. http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-07032007-122455.
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Kashyap, Ridhi. "The dynamics of prenatal sex selection and excess female child mortality in contexts with son preference." Thesis, University of Oxford, 2017. https://ora.ox.ac.uk/objects/uuid:4ac4c0eb-1365-4922-be89-6770c3b23dce.
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This thesis examines demographic manifestations of son preference in three parts. Part I develops a simulation model that formalises the decision to practice prenatal sex selection through a "ready, willing and able" framework. The model is calibrated to South Korean and Indian sex ratio at birth (SRB) trajectories. Simulations reveal how SRB distortions in both countries have emerged despite declining son preference due to the rapid diusion of ultrasound combined with growing propensities to abort as a result of weakening norms for large families. Part II examines the potential role of big data to indirectly estimate the SRB at the subnational level in India. States with distorted SRBs tend to display a relatively high Google search activity for ultrasound. SRB "now-casts" generated using search volumes perform better than lagged variable models in high birth registration states. Part III examines the relationship between prenatal sex selection and postnatal excess female child mortality in two studies. The first applies lifetable techniques to decompose population changes in child sex ratios into a fertility component attributable to prenatal sex selection and a mortality component attributable to sex-differentials in postnatal survival. This study finds that although reductions in numbers of excess female deaths have accompanied increases in "missing" female births in all countries experiencing SRB distortions, excess female mortality has persisted in some but not in others. The second study uses birth histories of the Demographic and Health Surveys for six countries that have witnessed SRB distortions - India, Nepal, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Albania - to examine if differential mortality change by sex can be explained by the uptake of prenatal sex selection. This study finds that changes in prenatal sex selection only explain mortality change in India. Across all countries, although patterns of mortality disadvantage are concentrated amongst less educated mothers, prenatal sex selection is strongest among the better educated. Differential sorting into the two behaviours offers an explanation for why the effect for prenatal sex selection is generally weak.
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Medina, García Angela L. "Exploring female preference for male melanic pigmentation patterns in the Malawian cichlid Metriaclima zebra." Bowling Green State University / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1320329862.
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Brown, Russell W., Marla K. Perna, Daniel M. Noel, Jamie D. Whittemore, Julia Lehmann, and Meredith L. Smith. "Amphetamine Locomotor Sensitization and Conditioned Place Preference in Adolescent Male and Female Rats Neonatally Treated with Quinpirole." Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University, 2010. https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/6341.
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Neonatal quinpirole treatment has been shown to produce an increase in dopamine D2-like receptor sensitivity that persists throughout the subject's lifetime. The objective was to analyze the effects of neonatal quinpirole treatment on effects of amphetamine in adolescent rats using locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference procedures. Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with quinpirole (1 mg/kg) or saline from postnatal days (P)1 to P11 and raised to adolescence. For locomotor sensitization, subjects were given amphetamine (1 mg/kg) or saline every second day from P35 to P47 and were placed into a locomotor arena. In female rats, neonatal quinpirole treatment enhanced amphetamine locomotor sensitization compared with quinpirole-free controls sensitized to amphetamine. Male rats demonstrated sensitization to amphetamine, although this was muted compared with female rats, and were unaffected by neonatal quinpirole. For conditioned place preference, subjects were conditioned for 8 consecutive days (P32-39) with amphetamine (1 mg/kg) or saline and a drug-free preference test was conducted at P40. Rats treated with neonatal quinpirole enhanced time spent in the amphetamine-paired context compared with quinpirole-free controls conditioned with amphetamine, but only female controls conditioned with amphetamine spent more time in the drug-paired context compared with saline-treated controls. Increased D₂-like receptor sensitivity appears to have enhanced the behavioral effects of amphetamine, but these effects were more prevalent in adolescent female rats compared with male rats.
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Lyons, Susan M. "The Influence of Condition, Context, and Life History on Variation in Female Mate Preference in Xiphophorus Fishes." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1313156143.
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Verburgt, Luke. "Female response and male signals in the acoustic communication system of the field cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus (De Geer)." Diss., University of Pretoria, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/2263/26230.
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Sexual selection is a frame of reference that attempts to explain exaggerated signaling traits, including acoustic signals between male and female animals. Contemporary studies in the field of sexual selection are focused on the evolution of female mating preferences, with particular emphasis being placed on the good genes models of sexual selection. Here I investigate whether sexual selection is in operation in the acoustic communication system of the field cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus. Through development of new methodology I show that female crickets have a distinct and repeatable preference and selectivity for certain male song traits. For sexual selection to operate in acoustic communication systems, males must advertise some aspect of their phenotype that will influence female choice. I demonstrate that the basis for arguments invoking sexual selection for spectral song traits in a sister species, G. campestris, which is that tegmen harp area predicts song frequency, is an invalid assumption for sound production in G. bimaculatus. As a result of this finding I investigated what aspects of male song were condition- and morphology-dependent. Temporal and spectral male song traits did not convey information regarding body condition, body size or the ability to withstand developmental instability (as indicated by fluctuating asymmetry). I was unable to detect handicap sexual selection for spectral characteristics of male song despite repeatable female preference for male song frequency. Furthermore, female preference for spectral bandwidth of male song, thought to be a sexually selected trait, was shown to be governed by preference for frequency and therefore not a distinct preference. The lack of detectable sexual selection, together with observed patterns of phenotypic variation in signals and the equivalent response system, suggest that some of the male song traits function for mate recognition. However, sexual selection for call traits not considered here (e.g. duration of calling) is probable.Dissertation (MSc (Zoology))--University of Pretoria, 2006.
Zoology and Entomology
unrestricted
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Orrell, Kimberly Sue. "Intersexual Communication, Male Mate Preference, and Reproductive Energetics of the Polygynous Lizard, Anolis Carolinensis." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2002. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/28366.
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Particularly lacking in the current body of sexual selection literature are studies based on reptile species and intrasexually selected mating systems. Because the life history traits and ecology of reptiles are dramatically different from other animal taxa, current models of sexual selection are insufficient for predicting how sexual selection should influence the behavior and mating systems of lizards. Similarly, intersexually selected mating systems (i.e., based on female choice) are inappropriate predictive models for examining species with intrasexually selected mating systems (i.e., based on consexual contests). I investigated three aspects of Anolis carolinensis behavior and mating system (communication signals, male mate preference, and reproductive energetics) to contribute to a theoretical model for sexual selection based on a lizard with an intrasexually selected, polygynous mating system.
In my first study, I quantified the structure and use of signals exchanged by both sexes, compared signal structure and use during heterosexual interactions to that of other social contexts (e.g., male-alone, male-male, female-female), then related signal structure and use to the species mating system. During heterosexual interactions, both sexes performed three kinds of stereotypic headbob displays with equal precision that were essentially identical to those previously documented for other social contexts. Thus, there is no courtship-specific headbob display for A. carolinensis. However, male and female signal use was extremely dimorphic. For the purpose of indicating sexual identity, the sexually dimorphic patterns of signal use were excessively redundant, yet equivocal. Although the male pattern of signal use reliably conveys sexual identity, the female pattern of signal use conveys ambiguous sexual identity. Based on circumstantial evidence from other studies, I propose the hypothesis that the female pattern of signal use may permit female-sized, nonterritorial males to mimic female signals. Small males may be selected to use female mimicry to gain access to the territories of larger males and mating opportunities with resident females, while females may be indirectly selected to use a signaling pattern that provides them with an alternative mating option. From field and laboratory data on A. carolinensis signal behavior during other social contexts and the species' female-defense mating system, I evaluate proposed functions for heterosexual signaling from a perspective of intrasexual selection.
In my second study, I tested the prediction that males should include a preference for mating with novel females (PNF) as part of their mating strategy. This prediction was supported by both laboratory and field manipulations. Compared to their encounters with resident females, males during laboratory encounters with novel females significantly increased their display rate, volley frequency, volley length, and significantly decreased the distance and number of movements traveled away from the female. My laboratory data also suggest that males discriminated novel females from resident females independently of female behavioral or chemical cues. Similarly, compared to their interactions with resident females, free-ranging males responded to introduced novel females by significantly increasing the proportion of time spent in female-directed activities and the proportion of displays directed toward novel females, and significantly decreasing the proportion of time spent in territorial activities and the proportion of displays used in territorial activities. Data from both experiments indicate that males appear to distinguish among individual females, and use this ability to increase reproductive success by identifying and preferentially pursuing novel females over previously inseminated resident females. I suggest that males are able to cognitively identify individual resident females, and use this ability to control mating decisions within their territories.
In my third study, I examined the energy expenditure of males and females during breeding and postbreeding seasons. I used laboratory respirometry to determine resting metabolic rates, and the doubly-labeled water technique to determine field metabolic rates in free-ranging lizards. Resting metabolic rates were significantly influenced by body mass and season, but not sex. Field metabolic rates were significantly influenced by body mass, but not sex or season. I attributed the ~40% seasonal increase in resting metabolic rates to a seasonal increase in feeding rates and the effect of specific dynamic action. Resting and field metabolic rates were used to calculate energy budgets for each sex during breeding and postbreeding seasons, and to calculate the energy expended by each sex for reproduction. Despite having 40% smaller body mass, females expended 46% more energy for reproduction than males, and a similar amount of total maintenance energy as males. The total maintenance energy of males was similar during both seasons, however that of females decreased 44% from breeding to postbreeding season. I found both seasonal and sexual differences in the amount of energy lizards allocated to resting and activity. Anolis carolinensis had field metabolic rates that were similar to tropical and temperate species of lizards, and higher than lizards from arid/semiarid environments. Anolis carolinensis also expended more energy on eggs, and more total energy during the breeding season, than lizards from arid/semiarid habitats.Ph. D.
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Charalambous, Magda. "Genetics of song and female preference in the grasshopper Chorthippus brunneus (Orthoptera: acridae) : sexual selection and the mate recognition system." Thesis, University of East Anglia, 1990. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.254497.
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Kleinas, Nicole L. "Variation in female mate preference for a male trait that provides information about growth rate in the swordtail Xiphophorus multilineatus." Ohio University Honors Tutorial College / OhioLINK, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ouhonors1439637034.
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Turner, Kalari. "Clothing preference and selection criteria of African-American female college students enrolled at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff." Online version, 2009. http://www.uwstout.edu/lib/thesis/2009/2009turnerk.pdf.
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Robinson, Donelle M. "Variation in Female Mating Preferences in Swordtail Fishes: the Importance of Social Experience, Male Aggression and Genetic Variation." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1313612300.
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Haavie, Jon. "Sexual Signals and Speciation : A Study of the Pied and Collared Flycatcher." Doctoral thesis, Uppsala University, Department of Evolutionary Biology, 2004. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-3916.
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Speciation is the process in which reproductive barriers evolve between populations. In this thesis I examine how sexual signals contribute to the maintenance, reinforcement or breakdown of reproductive barriers.
Male pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) and collared flycatchers (F. albicollis) differ in song and plumage traits. However, where the two species coexist, several pied flycatchers sing a song resembling the collared flycatcher (mixed song). Mixed song is not caused by introgression from the collared flycatcher but is due to heterospecific copying. Mixed song provokes aggressive behaviour in collared flycatcher males and leads to heterospecific pairing and maladaptive hybridization.
The species differences in song were found to be larger in an old than a young hybrid zone. This was due to a reduction in the frequency of mixed song in the pied flycatcher and a divergence in the song of the collared flycatcher. Apparently, mixed song causes maladaptive hybridization, which over time leads to reinforcement of reproductive barriers by a song divergence.
Previous studies have shown that a character displacement in male plumage traits reinforces species barriers. Hence both plumage and song divergence reduce the incidence of hybridization. The evolution of male plumage traits has been so rapid, or selection has been so strong that rapidly evolving molecular markers are unable to trace it.
Hybrid females mate with a male of the same species as their father. Previous studies have shown that females use male plumage traits controlled by genes linked to the sex chromosomes (the Z) in species recognition. An association between preference and a sex-linked trait through the paternal line may render reinforcement of reproductive barriers more likely.
In conclusion, sexual signals are affected by species interactions that cause breakdown or reinforcement of reproductive barriers.
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Nagalingham, Kumaran. "Functional significance of male attractants of Bactrocera tryoni (Diptera: Tephritidae) and underlying mechanisms." Thesis, Queensland University of Technology, 2014. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/67440/1/Kumaran_Nagalingam_Thesis.pdf.
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This project elucidated functional role of phytochemicals used in the management of pest fruit flies. Comparative behavioural, physiological and genomic approaches revealed that phytochemicals are mediating reproductive fitness by changing pheromonal compound males release and by making them physiologically more active. The possible mechanistic functions are that the phytochemicals act as a pheromone booster and as an energy supplement.
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Salvin, Pauline. "Les signaux des femelles dans la communication intersexuelle ; études chez le canari domestique, Serinus canaria." Thesis, Paris 10, 2018. http://www.theses.fr/2018PA100137/document.
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Pendant de nombreuses années, les femelles ont été décrites comme passives dans les interactions mâles-femelles et ont parfois été négligées dans les études sur les comportements reproducteurs et la communication animale. Pourtant, il est de plus en plus évident que les comportements des femelles influencent ceux des mâles et que les mâles peuvent ajuster leurs comportements de parades aux comportements des femelles. L’objectif principal de cette thèse est de mieux comprendre les signaux que les femelles émettent lors d’interactions avec un mâle dans un contexte de reproduction chez le canari domestique. L’ensemble de mes résultats montre tout d’abord que les femelles utilisent des signaux de parades visuels et acoustiques, c’est-à-dire des postures de sollicitation à l’accouplement et des trilles-spécifiques de femelles, comme une invitation à s’accoupler, mais qu’elles peuvent aussi les utiliser pour inciter le mâle à parader et l’aider à échantillonner la qualité de partenaires potentiels. D’autre part, ces deux signaux n’auraient pas la même efficacité selon le contexte d’émission. Ensuite, il semblerait que les signaux véhiculés par la modalité visuelle pourraient jouer un rôle plus important qu’on ne le pensait jusque-là dans les interactions intersexuelles chez cette espèce. Enfin, cette thèse a aussi pu apporter de nouveaux éléments concernant les préférences des femelles pour les chants de mâles et a montré que les méthodes utilisées en laboratoire pour tester les préférences des femelles étaient fiables et congruentes. Cette thèse permet de contribuer aux recherches grandissantes mettant en évidence le rôle important de la femelle dans les interactions intersexuellesMuch studies on reproduction and animal communication have considered the female as the passive sex; the role of the female during male-female interactions have often been overlooked. However, there is growing evidence that female behaviours can affect those of the males and that males can adjust their courtships to female behaviours. The aim of this thesis is to understand the signals produced by females during interactions with a male in a reproductive context in the domestic canary. Overall, my results show that females not only use their visual and acoustic signals, the copulation solicitation display and the female-specific trills, as an invitation to copulate but also to incite male to sing as an aid to sample potential mates. Then, these two signals could not have the same efficacy in different contexts of transmission. Moreover, the visual components of the communication seem to be more important than previously thought during intersexual interactions in this species. Finally, this thesis provides new elements about the female preferences for male songs and shows that methods used to test female preferences in laboratory are reliable and congruent. This thesis contributes to the growing number of researches showing that females play an active role in intersexual interactions
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Zajitschek, Susanne Biological Earth & Environmental Sciences Faculty of Science UNSW. "The interplay between sexual selection, inbreeding and inbreeding avoidance in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata." Publisher:University of New South Wales. Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, 2008. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/41218.
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Inbreeding can have profound negative effects on individuals by reducing fertility and viability. In populations, inbreeding depression can reduce growth rates and increases extinction risk. The aims of this thesis are to investigate inbreeding depression in male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and to study the evolution of mechanisms for inbreeding avoidance in females, using guppies from a feral population in Queensland, Australia. Male guppies are highly polymorphic in their sexual ornamentation, indeed they show one of the most extreme polymorphisms observed in nature. Female guppies exhibit complex mate choice based on preferences for ornamentation, as well as social context. I aim is to examine how these factors of inbreeding avoidance alter sexual selection. In male guppies I found strong inbreeding depression in male sperm numbers, which is amplified under semi-natural compared to laboratory conditions (Chapter 2). Moreover, inbreeding depression results in low fertility under sperm competition: an experiment using artificial insemination techniques reveals that highly inbred males are heavily disadvantaged in gaining paternity (Chapter 3). On population level, inbreeding depression is manifest in reduced growth rates, predominantly in the early stages of inbreeding (Chapter 4). Population growth at inbreeding coefficients f=0.375-0.59 did not seem to lead to inbreeding depression, whereas lower levels of inbreeding reduced population growth. Although the growth rates in inbred populations appear normal, severe inbreeding depression is uncovered after outbred immigrants are added. Specifically, male immigrants are most efficient in short-term genetic rescue, probably due to insemination of large numbers of females whereas females are limited in the number of eggs they can produce (Chapter 4). Male ornamental traits show significant inbreeding depression in semi-natural conditions only (Chapters 2 & 3). Inbreeding avoidance mechanisms seem to have evolved in females: they prefer courtship displays of non-inbred males (Chapter 2), unfamiliar males (Chapter 5) and males with rare patterns (Chapter 6). This preference might increase the mating success of immigrants, and may have evolved to facilitate the avoidance of inbreeding. Together with context-independent preferences for ornament combinations (Chapter 6), it also offers an explanation for the maintenance of polymorphism in this species.
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Denbok, Patricia. "Female Tourists, Magazine Advertisements and Travel Preferences." Thesis, University of Waterloo, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10012/2911.
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I set out to determine how the contemporary Western female traveler is constructed in popular travel media, and how resonant such images were with female travel consumers themselves. Two periods of ads were compared - 2003-2004, with 1989-1990 - from three widely circulated travel magazines, to gauge any differences discernible over the course of fifteen years with respect to how female tourists are being depicted. Methods included quantitative tabulated comparisons of the gender of travel ad subjects, content analyses of ads featuring female tourists, and participant input from questionnaires and focus groups. The female travel consumers who participated in this study were demographically compatible with the readership of the magazines in which these ads are shown. An intensive interview with one executive at a creative agency responsible for several of the ads was also conducted. Results indicated that, while representations of female travelers have significantly increased both numerically and relatively to those depicting other sorts of tourists in recent years, this trend does not broadly include more progressive representations of women's increased socio-economic independence and status.
Female travelers are predominantly portrayed in ads as:
- Young and attractive
- Sexualized
- Passive
- Sleeping or reclining, seemingly more interested in lying around (decoratively) in a trance-like state and being "pampered" than in actively engaging with their environment.
However, there were indications that the ways female travelers are portrayed in ads are slowly evolving to better reflect wider spread female economic independence and autonomy. In particular, a new phenomenon shown in more contemporary ads was the emergence of a "female gaze". This finding coincides with the simultaneous sexualization of female travel ad subjects ? perhaps in reflection of a current post-feminist emphasis on sexual freedom for females. Also noted was an increasing de-emphasis on specific destinations in ads, in favour of a more idealized generic "placelessness. " Female participants in this study did not generally like this trend. There appeared to be some lag in the industry in recognizing that "regular" (i. e. older, average-looking) women are an important source of revenue, in terms of making a larger proportion of travel decisions. Several possible explanations were offered to address this apparent gap between how females in travel ads are being depicted, and the stated likes and preferences of actual female travel consumers who participated in this study.
Female traveler-participants in this study indicated they would very much prefer to see actively engaged, older and realistic-looking female subjects in travel ads, in specific destinations. They noted that travel is a particularly personal form of consumerism, often closely interwoven with one's own sense of personal identity. That result may in part explain the strong negative reactions of many participants to some portrayals in these ads. Tourism-related marketing industries could also do far better in terms of better cultivating the goodwill of female travel consumers, and more successfully attracting their favorable attention.
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Hernandez, Alexandra Marcela. "Female house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) song preferences." Thesis, National Library of Canada = Bibliothèque nationale du Canada, 2001. http://www.collectionscanada.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/ftp04/MQ58873.pdf.
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Limousin, Denis. "Sélection sexuelle chez un papillon acoustique : étude évolutive du signal mâle et de la préférence femelle." Thesis, Tours, 2011. http://www.theses.fr/2011TOUR4018/document.
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Le processus de sélection intersexuelle peut impliquer plusieurs mécanismes différents dans le choix du partenaire. Chez la pyrale Achroia grisella, les femelles choisissent les mâles en se basant sur des caractères de leur chant d'avertissement ultrasonique, et de précédentes études ont montré que ce choix peut procurer, à une femelle discriminante, certains bénéfices génétiques indirects. Dans cette thèse, j'ai continué à explorer le mécanisme de bénéfices indirects chez cette espèce en 1) déterminant avec plus de précision un paramètre acoustique, l‟amplitude du chant, qui influence le choix des femelles et en 2) examinant la covariance génétique entre les traits du chant mâle et ceux de la préférence femelle. J'ai constaté qu'en plus de préférer des chants mâles émis avec une plus grande amplitude et une plus grande puissance acoustique, les femelles font également une discrimination en faveur des chants comprenant des forts « pics d'amplitude ». Cependant, mes analyses génétiques moléculaires de la relation entre les traits du signal mâle et ceux de la préférence femelle, n'ont révélé aucune covariance significative, comme prédit par la théorie de la sélection sexuelle. Ces derniers résultats fournissent un aperçu important concernant l‟existence d‟un tempo réduit de la sélection sexuelle, dans les populations naturellesThe process of inter-sexual selection may involve several different mechanisms of mate choice. In the pyralid moth Achroia grisella, females choose males based on characters of their ultrasonic advertisement song, and previous work has indicated that such choice may afford a discriminating female certain indirect genetic benefits. In this thesis I continued to probe the indirect benefits mechanism in this species by 1) determining with more precision one acoustic character, song amplitude, that influences female choice and by 2) examining the genetic covariance between the male song trait and the female preference trait. I found that in addition to preferring male songs delivered at greater amplitude and with greater acoustic power, females also discriminate in favor of songs including higher 'amplitude peaks'. However, my molecular genetic analyses of the relationships between the male signal and female preference traits did not reveal any significant covariance, as predicted by sexual selection theory. These latter findings provide important insight on the reduced tempo of sexual selection that may exist in natural populations
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Griebling, Hannah J. "Intraspecific Variation in Cognitive Traits in a Swordtail Fish (Xiphophorus multilineatus)." Ohio University / OhioLINK, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1562614167305022.
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Moore, Fhionna R. "The effects of female status on sex differentiated mate preferences." Thesis, St Andrews, 2007. http://hdl.handle.net/10023/332.
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LeBlanc, Marisa. "Effect of sibutramine on macronutrient selection in male and female rats." Thesis, McGill University, 2003. http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=79027.
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Sibutramine is a serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor (SNRI) which has been shown to be a safe and effective weight-loss drug. The purpose of this study was to examine whether sibutramine has an effect on macronutrient selection in both female and male rats in addition to total food intake. Wistar rats of both sexes were divided into three groups and each group was offered a different set of three diets, each set included a carbohydrate-rich diet, a protein-rich diet and a fat-rich diet. Sibutramine (10mg/kg) was shown to consistently decrease carbohydrate and fat intake at all data points regardless of gender and diets. The effect of sibutramine on protein intake was diet and gender-specific. All doses of sibutramine decreased total food intake regardless of gender and diet group beginning at 6-h post-administration. In conclusion, sibutramine affected macronutrient selection and emphasis on dietary recommendations should be considered during therapy.
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Spath, Antonia. "Stability of fertility preferences and intentions : A new angle on studying fertility behavior in Germany." Thesis, Stockholms universitet, Sociologiska institutionen, 2018. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-162189.
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Prevailing low fertility rates in several European states, such as Germany, have been studied widely in recent years. Findings include discrepancies between fertility preference and actual family size as well as between fertility intentions and fertility behavior; an ‘unmet need’ for children found on the individual and the societal level. Fertility preference is specified as the individual ideal number of children, and fertility intentions as the long- or short-term plans to have a child. Apart from investigating the rates of realization, these measures have been understudied. The objective of this study is to illuminate a new angle of low fertility rates in Germany by reviewing fertility measures previously considered to be stable predictors of fertility behavior. The aim is to investigate the stability of fertility preferences and of positive short-term fertility intentions of Germans in their reproductive age. According to the Theory of Planned Behavior and the life-course perspective, attitudes and experiences can influence fertility preferences and short-term fertility intentions. In this study, the suspected connection between unstable preferences and intentions and certain attitudes towards and experiences with the career, working life, and childcare situation is examined. These processes are expected to differ between men and women, and between childless individuals, parents with one child and parents with more than one child. Using data from seven survey waves of the German family panel pairfam, fixed-effects and random-effects regression models are run separately for women and men and for those of different parities. The results suggest that those with high career importance and those who expect or perceive a negative effect of children on the career are more likely to have unstable positive intentions. Although fertility preferences are shown to be somewhat unstable, no relevant relationships can be found. The differences between the findings on men and women regarding relevant determinants and direction of the relationships are unexpectedly small. Childless individuals are as likely to hold unstable preferences and intentions as parents.
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Charlery, de la Masselière Maud. "Spécialisation d'hôte au sein d'une communauté d'insectes phytophages : le cas des Tephritidae à La Réunion." Thesis, La Réunion, 2017. http://www.theses.fr/2017LARE0020/document.
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Les insectes phytophages forment un groupe d’organismes très diversifié et la plupart sont considérés comme spécialistes. Les patrons de spécialisation des insectes vis à vis de leurs plantes hôtes dépendent en partie de leur capacité à interagir avec les plantes (niche fondamentale) et aux facteurs environnementaux modulant ces interactions et aboutissant aux observations en milieu naturel (niche réalisée). La spécialisation fondamentale est déterminée par l'évolution conjointe de deux traits : la performance des larves et la préférence des femelles. Pour comprendre cette spécialisation, nous avons étudié une communauté de huit espèces de mouches des fruits (Diptera : Tephritidae) présentes à La Réunion. Dans un premier temps, nous avons déterminé la niche réalisée de chaque espèce et montré que ces niches étaient structurées par la phylogénie des plantes avec D. demmerezi, D. ciliatus et Z. cucurbitae spécialistes des Cucurbitaceae, N. cyanescensspécialiste des Solanaceae et C. catoirii, C. capitata et C. quilicii généralistes attaquant des plantes de différentes familles. Après l'invasion de B. zonata en 2000, C. capitata et C. quilicii ont subi une réduction de leur gamme d'hôtes. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons déterminé la niche fondamentale de ces espèces (sauf D. ciliatus). Nous avons évalué les préférences des femelles en mesurant la fécondité de chacune d’entre elles sur une gamme de 29 fruits, puis nous avons testé l'existence d'une corrélation entre la préférence des femelles et la performance des larves (mother knows best hypothesis). Nous avons montré une corrélation positive chez spécialistes des Cucurbitaceae qui pondent sur les plantes pour lesquelles les larves survivent le mieux contrairement aux généralistes pondant et survivant sur une large gamme d'hôtes mais sans corrélation entre ces deux traits.Enfin, la sélection de l'hôte par les femelles se faisant principalement grâce aux composés organiques volatils (COVs) émis par les fruits, nous avons montré que les fruits infestés par les généralistes ont pour point commun l'émission de COVs responsables de la maturation des fruits. Au contraire, les fruits de plusieurs Solanaceae émettent des COVs spécifiques suggérant la détection de ceux-ci par les femelles de N. cyanescens. Les Cucurbitaceae émettent des COVs abondants peu présents dans les autres familles suggérant une détection d'un mélange spécifique de ces COVs par les Tephritidae spécialistes des CucurbitaceaePhytophagous insects are a very diverse group of organisms and most of them are considered as specialized. Patterns of specialization regarding their host plants depend on their ability to interact with their hosts (fundamental niche) and on environmental factors which modulate these interactions leading to observed patterns in the field (realized niche). Fundamental specialization is determined by the joint evolution of two traits: larval performance and female preference. To understand this specialization, we studied a community of eight fruit fly species (Diptera: Tephritidae) present in La Réunion.First, we determined the realized niche of each species and showed that they were structured by plant phylogeny with D. demmerezi, D. ciliatus and Z. cucurbitae as Cucurbitaceae specialists, N. cyanescens as Solanaceae specialist and C. catoirii, C. capitata et C. quilicii as generalists feeding on plants belonging to different families. After the invasion of B. zonata in 2000, C. capitata et C. quilicii were subjected to a decrease of their host range.Then, we determined the fundamental niche of these species (except D. ciliatus). We assessed female preferences by measuring their fecundity on 29 fruits, then we tested the presence of a correlation between female preference and larval performance (mother knows best hypothesis). We showed a positive correlation for Cucurbitaceae specialists laying eggs on plants where larvae survive the best, at the opposite of generalist species laying eggs and surviving on many hosts without any correlation between these two traits.Finally, host selection by females being mostly done thanks to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by fruits, we showed that fruits infested by generalist species have common VOCs responsible for fruit maturation. On the contrary, the fruits of several Solanaceae emit specific VOCs suggesting their detection by N. cyanescens females. Cucurbitaceae species emit abundant VOCs rarely present in other families suggesting a detection of a specific blend of these VOCS by Cucurbitaceae specialists
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Tudor, M. Scarlett. "Mechanisms that drive variation in female mating preferences in Xiphophorus malinche." Ohio : Ohio University, 2007. http://www.ohiolink.edu/etd/view.cgi?ohiou1187025167.
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Billard, Jennifer Christine. "Relationships between identity and music preferences in female Anangu Pitjantjatjara teenagers /." Title page, abstract and contents only, 1997. http://web4.library.adelaide.edu.au/theses/09mub/09mubb596.pdf.
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