Mating system, reproductive success and sexual selection in bluntnose klipfishes (Clinus cottoides)

A critical part of the sexual selection process in animals is the genetic mating system. Quantifying mating systems, especially in species with cryptic life-histories can be challenging. One approach is to use genotypic markers and accurate parentage analysis, along with methods to account for bias when sampling natural populations, to calculate sexual selection metrics derived from Bateman’s principles. In this study, three microsatellites were used to genotype 48 adults (23 female and 25 male) and 342 offspring from known mothers of live-bearing bluntnose klipfish. Parentage analysis was performed to interpret mating and reproductive success for both sexes. Metrics quantified were the opportunity for selection (I), the opportunity for sexual selection (Is), absolute (βss) and standardised (β’ss) Bateman gradients and the maximum intensity of precopulatory sexual selection (s’max). Multiple mating by both sexes were revealed by parentage analysis. However, females did not show signific...