OSR’s Effect on Pair Formation & Mating Behavior in the Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata)
Christopher Wicker, Jennifer Gagliardi-Seely. Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver, Colorado, United States

Operational sex ratio (OSR) can affect mating success & fitness. This study uses convict cichlids to investigate if OSR affects pair-bond formation in a monogamous fish. If OSR affects pair-bond formation, then the mutual mate choice group (2 males: 2 females) will form the most pair-bonds the fastest and that the control group (1 male: 1 female) will form the fewest pair-bonds the slowest. This study consists of 1 control and 3 experimental groups with varying OSRs. The duration until pair-bond formation and the total number of pair-bonds formed were recorded. Between the four treatment groups, there was no significant difference in number of pair-bonds formed nor duration until pair-bond formation. However, the control, male mate choice (1 male: 2 females), and mutual mate choice each had significantly more replicates exhibiting pair-bond formation than the replicates that did not pair, but the female mate choice (2 males: 1 female) did not. Our prediction on mutual mate choice and pair-bond formation was rejected.  However, the high number of unsuccessful pairs in the female mate choice suggest that the 1 female:2male OSR may hinder pair-bond formation.