Navigation Links
Female guppies risk their lives to avoid too much male attention

Sexual harassment is a burden that females of many species face, and some may go to extreme lengths to avoid it.

In a new paper from the June issue of the American Naturalist, Darren Croft (University of Wales) and a research team from the University of Leeds suggest that female guppies, a popular aquarium fish, may risk their lives to avoid too much attention from males. Observing wild population of guppies in the rainforest of Trinidad, the researchers found that female guppies swim in habitats that contain few males ?but many predators.

"Male guppies spend most of their time displaying to females. But if their courtship displays don't impress the females, males will attempt to sneak mating with them when they aren't looking," says Croft.

Male guppies are brightly colored to attract female attention, while female guppies are a dull brown color. The researchers show that female guppies might use this color difference to their advantage, venturing into the deep water where predators lurk. The males' bright coloring also attracts predators, making it too dangerous for them to follow.

"Understanding why and how [sexual segregation] occurs is essential if we are going to conserve and protect species and habitats," explains Croft, who points out that fish are not the only species who display this social characteristic. "In many ecosystems, predators are the first to go extinct, and our work shows that this may have many, perhaps unexpected, effects. In this case, females may suffer more sexual harassment."


'"/>

Source:University of Chicago Press Journals


Page: 1

Related biology news :

1. Female sex hormones play a vital role in defense against sexually transmitted diseases
2. Female volunteers prepare for a second bedrest
3. Female butterflies go for sparkle -- not size -- when choosing to mate
4. Female birds boost up their eggs when hearing sexy song
5. Female pronghorns choose mate based on substance as well as show
6. Update on census of worlds most endangered cat -- Female Amur leopard found dead
7. Female Antarctic seals give cold shoulder to local males
8. Female chimps keep the bullies at bay
9. Female-led infanticide in wild chimpanzees
10. Priming embryonic stem cells to fulfill their promise
11. Protein offers way to stop microscopic parasites in their tracks
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Female guppies risk their lives avoid too much male attention

(Date:5/20/2013)... to the antibiotic colistin are also commonly resistant ... according to a study in mBio , ... for Microbiology. Cross-resistance to colistin and host antimicrobials ... against bacterial attack, could mean that patients with ... a crippled immune response. Colistin is a last-line ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... the effect of physical education (PE) on child weight, ... increasing the amount of time that elementary schoolchildren spent ... The study represents some of the first evidence of ... is forthcoming in the Journal of Health Economics ... can be viewed at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167629613000556 , The ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... a compound abundant in the Mediterranean diet takes away ... altering a very specific step in gene regulation, this ... die as scheduled. , One way that cancer cells ... them to die on a regular cycle that is ... by Ohio State University researchers, found that a compound ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Resistance to last-line antibiotic makes bacteria resistant to immune system 2Resistance to last-line antibiotic makes bacteria resistant to immune system 3Gym class reduces probability of obesity, study finds for first time 2The compound in the Mediterranean diet that makes cancer cells 'mortal' 2The compound in the Mediterranean diet that makes cancer cells 'mortal' 3
... The development of a new cell-culture system that ... become coated with protective myelin opens up new avenues ... myelin regulates a key protein involved in sending long-distance ... characterized by damage to the myelin sheath surrounding nerve ...
... 2011 -- Surface water quality is important for the ... needs and recreation. Pasturelands have been found to be ... surface water resources. While poor grazing management may lead ... specific amount of pollution in pasture streams that can ...
... Exonhit (Alternext: ALEHT), a biotech company focused on ... are pleased to announce the successful completion of a ... to an additional strategic preclinical animal model species. ... gene deregulation and the expanding interest in developing biomarkers ...
Cached Biology News:MS research: Myelin influences how brain cells send signals 2MS research: Myelin influences how brain cells send signals 3MS research: Myelin influences how brain cells send signals 4Grazing management effects on stream pollutants 2
(Date:5/20/2013)... With bed bugs' presence come problems in ... bugs need to be eliminated, one must make sure that ... health. And so to help bed bug sufferers get that ... of bed bugs without using harmful pesticides. In it, ... called Bed Bug Bully. , According to My Cleaning Products, ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... , May 20, 2013 Cempra, ... on developing differentiated antibiotics to meet critical medical ... announced that it presented data at the American ... Philadelphia demonstrating the antibacterial and ... Cempra,s prior Phase 2 clinical trial in outpatients ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... 2013 Rhythm announced today the results of ... company,s novel ghrelin agonist for the treatment of diabetic ... that RM-131 significantly accelerates early gastric emptying and reduces ... with diabetic gastroparesis. The findings were presented at the ... and recently published in Clinical Gastroenterology ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Researchers from the Southern University of ... back pain, and the acne causing P.acnes bacteria. Researchers believe ... bacteria seek out oxygen deprived location to seek shelter and ... P.acnes has the ability to live in the open joint ... spokesman for “ The best acne treatment ” explains why ...
Breaking Biology Technology:New Non Pesticide Discovery on How to Get Rid of Bed Bugs Tipped by My Cleaning Products 2Cempra Presents Post-Phase 2 Analysis of Solithromycin's Efficacy and Safety Results from Patients with Community Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia (CABP) 2Rhythm Announces Phase 1b Results for Ghrelin Prokinetic RM-131 for Gastroparesis in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes 2Rhythm Announces Phase 1b Results for Ghrelin Prokinetic RM-131 for Gastroparesis in Patients with Type 1 Diabetes 3Adult Acne Treatment, Probiotic Action Shares New Insight How Treating Acne May Help Reduce Body Pain 2
... ... best available tool for the analysis of metabolites in plants , ... Amsterdam, The Netherlands (PRWEB) June 28, 2010 -- Genedata, ... demo the new Refiner MS at the 6th Metabolomics Conference 2010. Part of ...
... India , June 28, 2010 Shivsu Canadian Clear,International Ltd, a ... from the private organizations and,Government of Africa to set up ... Ethiopia . The company will be involved in design,manufacture, supply and installation of ... ...
... ... Leads the Way as First in Arizona ,with State of the Art 3D Dedicated ... ... Center is the first institution in the state of Arizona to adopt TrueVision® 3D ...
Cached Biology Technology:Genedata's Refiner MS Used by Max Planck Institute will Demo at Metabolomics Conference 2010 2Genedata's Refiner MS Used by Max Planck Institute will Demo at Metabolomics Conference 2010 3Genedata's Refiner MS Used by Max Planck Institute will Demo at Metabolomics Conference 2010 4Indian Multinational Company Confirms USD 6 Million Order to Set up Industrial Waste Water Treatment Plants in Africa 2Indian Multinational Company Confirms USD 6 Million Order to Set up Industrial Waste Water Treatment Plants in Africa 3Cardon Children's Medical Center Adopts TrueVision 3D Surgical Visualization Platform for Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery 2
... G|2 Doublestain System is a high-sensitivity ... kit. The kit is intended for ... detection of two different antigens within ... with suitably diluted rabbit and mouse ...
AVOID FREEZE/THAW CYCLES. Recognizes the UCP-2 protein....
Rabbit Anti-Human Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2 Polyclonal Antibody Family: Protein Kinase Sub-Family: TYK2/JAK Applications: ELISA, Western Blot...
MAb to HSV-2, gG-2 HSV-2 Glycoprotein G-2...
Biology Products: