Data from: A meta-analysis of factors influencing the strength of mate choice copying in animals

Davies et al., (2020) All data and R code Mate-choice copying is a form of
social learning in which an individual’s choice of mate is influenced by
the apparent choices of other individuals of the same sex, and has been
observed in more than 20 species across a broad taxonomic range. Though
fitness benefits of copying have proven difficult to measure, theory
suggests that copying should not be beneficial for all species or
contexts. However, the factors influencing the evolution and expression of
copying have proven difficult to resolve. We systematically searched the
literature for studies of mate-choice copying in non-human animals, and
then performed a phylogenetically-controlled meta-analysis to explore
which factors influence the expression of copying across species. Across
58 published studies in 23 species, we find strong evidence that animals
copy the mate choice of others. The strength of copying was significantly
influenced by taxonomic group, however sample size limitations mean it is
difficult to draw firm conclusions regarding copying in mammals and
arthropods. The strength of copying was also influenced by experimental
design: copying was stronger when choosers were tested before and after
witnessing a conspecific’s mate choice, compared to when choosers with
social information were compared to choosers without. Importantly, we did
not detect any difference in the strength of copying between males and
females, or in relation to the rate of multiple mating. Our search also
highlights that more empirical work is needed to investigate copying in a
broader range of species, especially those with differing mating systems
and levels of reproductive investment.