Determinants of mating success in a lek-mating species

Abstract

• Leks are male-biased aggregations formed for mating, where sperm is the only resource acquired by visiting females. • One of the many advantages of leks is the possibility to efficiently assess the quality of potential mates by comparing aggregated individuals of the same sex with one another. • When direct mate choice occurs in a lekking species, it is often exhibited by females, but some studies have also demonstrated the presence of male mate choice. • We investigate mate choice in the lek-forming European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio. • We determine the importance of age and size as predictors of mating success. • We demonstrate that mating is not random and that male and female traits affect mating success. • Age plays an important role in mating success in both males and females, with older males mating more and younger females being more attractive and more receptive to mating. • Relative male size seems to play a role in mating success, with males being more successful when attempting to mate with females that are larger than they are.