Foraging Behavior of Male and Female Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) in Single- and Mixed-Sex Groups

ABSTRACT

Female mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) experience high levels of sexual harassment from males. We examined feeding rates among groups of solitary male mosquitofish, solitary female mosquitofish, and groups of males and females to examine how such harassment may affect feeding rates of males and females. Females feed more than males in general. Both males and females showed a reduction in strike rate when in mixed-sex groups compared to single-sex groups. Our results suggest that both male and female G. affinis suffer reductions in foraging when in mixed-sex groups, presumably as a consequence of the harassment of females by males.