Data from: Incompatible phenotypic plasticity in guppy (Poecilia reticulata) males and females developed in a turbid-water environment

In aquatic ecosystems, anthropogenic environmental impact may be evident in increased water turbidity. One of the ways for animals to cope with such environmental alterations is by adjusting through phenotypic plasticity. We used the guppy fish (Poecilia reticulata) as a model species which presents high plasticity in multiple traits. A key element in the mating behavior and reproductive success of guppies is female mate choice, which is predominantly based on visuals cues. Females choose attractive males based on body coloration and males court females by displaying their coloration. Here, we demonstrate that guppies exhibit morphological and behavioral plasticity in response to changes in the visual environment. Males reared in turbid water had more conspicuous coloration than males reared in clear water, with higher intensity of carotenoid-based and ultraviolet colors, but not a larger area of red spots on the body. However, they performed less courtship displays in turbid water than males reared in clear water performed in clear water. Thus, increased coloration in turbid-water males was not accompanied by increased effort to display it. Regardless of the assay environment (clear or turbid water), females reared in turbid water exhibited no preference for conspicuous or inconspicuous males overall, whereas females reared in clear water exhibited a weak preference for conspicuous males. Although our findings demonstrated developmental plasticity in mating-related traits, turbidity-induced alteration in coloration did not match behavior change as could be predicted by favoring male attractiveness. Similarly, the lack of preference in turbid water females did not match alteration in male coloration. Our findings suggest that rapid human-induced changes to the visual environment may lead to incompatible plasticity in various mate choice-related traits within and between guppy genders.