Mate choice copying

Mate choice copying (or just "mate copying") describes a non-independent mate choice event. Mate choice copying is said to occur when the likelihood that one individual (the "observer" or "focal individual") will mate with a particular individual (the "target") increases or decreases based upon observing a sexual interaction between the "target" and another individual. This is typically broken down into three steps:

Mate choice copying is said to occur when the first individual changes its choice after observing the choice of the second individual. Because the individual is basing its choice on what it had observed occurring, mate choice copying will lead to an increase in the likelihood of mating if the observed interaction was successful (because the individual is observing another individual being preferred) and will lead to a decrease in the likelihood of mating if that interaction was unsuccessful (because the individual is observing another individual being not preferred or "dismissed").

Mate choice copying has been found in a wide variety of different species, including (but not limited to): invertebrates, like the common fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) fish, such as guppies (Poecilia reticulata), birds, like the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) and zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), and mammals, such as the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) and humans. Most studies have focused on females, but male mate copying has been found in sailfin mollies (Poecilia latipinna) and humans. Additionally, it does not have to occur in both sexes of a species. For example, male, but not female, mate copying was observed in the Atlantic molly (Poecilia mexicana).

Despite the strong evidence supporting this phenomenon, mate choice copying is not a universal occurrence. No evidence for mate copying was found in the fruit fly Drosophila serrata, for instance, although it is found in Drosophila melanogaster. Mate-copying has also been found to depend on environmental conditions. For instance, no mate-copying was found in Drosophila melanogaster in poor weather conditions.

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