Sexual selection often is invoked to explain exaggerated ornamentation used in courtship displays. Such ornamentation requires greater resources and suggests greater fitness levels in males that develop it, perhaps as an indication of "good genes". We examined female choice in Betta splendens. Males are colorful, have elaborate courtship displays, and provide a resource (bubble nest) to a female's offspring. We varied male nest size and color to determine whether females choose males preferentially based on color, display, or next quality.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Buckingham, Jessica Noel
• Cote, Lisa Ann

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 01D285M

Advisor

• Robakiewicz, Philip E.

Year

• 2001

Date created

• 2001-01-01

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biology & Biotechnology

Rights statement

• In Copyright