1. Gabrielle Solomon Dept. of Biodiversity & Conservation Biology University of the Western Cape P. Bag X17, Bellville 7535, RSA solomon.gabrielle@gmail.com

2. BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Introduction Sexual selectivity based on male colour patterns is common in many species of fish

3. (m BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Introduction Extensive research has been conducted on different male colour patterns in the common guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

4. BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Introduction The common guppy is a good example of the balance between sexual selection (conspicuousness) and natural selection (crypsis) (Millar et al. 2006)

5. BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Introduction The general pattern of colour and contrast in males are positively related to female guppy preference Brooks and Endler (2001)

6. o BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Introduction Male colouring and pattern quantified in terms of area and number show that females respond to males with more complex patterns, and with more orange carotenoids Nicoletto (1993)

7. l BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Introduction Female guppies prefer males with more orange and more black colouring Brooks and Couldridge (1999)

8. BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei)

9. wi BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Introduction Endler’s livebearers are a wild strain of guppy only recently described (Poeser et al 2005) Little research has been done No research on sexual selectivity and male colour patterning

10. ll BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Approach Compare female response to two forms of male Endler’s: one from Rio de Oro and one from Puerta la Cruz

11. E one f BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Hypothesis More complex male colour patterns and higher colour intensities attract more females

12. BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Key question Which male attracts more females, the one from Rio de Oro or the one from Puerta la Cruz?

13. o BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Methods The most colourful and complexly patterned individual from each form will be chosen and placed in a plastic jar and placed next to the tank of females

14. iv BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Tank with female Endler’s Male Endler – Rio de Oro Male Endler – Puerta la Cruz

15. BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei) Methods The tank will be videotaped Pattern of female clustering on either side of the tank noted and recorded

16. sterin BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei)

17. BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei)

18. Terns in att BCB Honours, Science Method 703 - Research proposal outline, BCB UWC, 23 February 2011, Gabrielle Solomon Role of male colour patterns in attracting females in Endler’s livebearers (Poecilia wingei)