Testing hypotheses for male aggregations in lek and the implications for sexual selection in the White-throated manakin, Corapipo gutturalis (Aves: Pipridae)

Abstract

To understand male spatial aggregation in lek systems, questions have focused on whether males aggregate in areas with higher female abundance, around males that attract more females, or because of a female preference for certain male. For this, we investigated how social organization and male–male interactions are associated with female visitation in leks of the white-throated manakin (Corapipo gutturalis). Specifically, we evaluated whether females prefer higher-ranked males (based on the fidelity to court, display, and male age) and high-activity courts, as predicted by the hotshot hypothesis. In addition, but not mutually exclusive, we evaluated whether multi-male visitation at court and/or shorter spatial aggregation of courts attracted more females. We found that the highest-ranked males received significantly more female and male visits. However, the total activity at courts did not predict female visitation to males, but did predict male visitation to males. Furthermore, female visitation at courts was not predicted by the proportion of multi-male visitation at courts but by spatial aggregation of courts. These results suggest that the hotshot hypothesis illustrated by the male rank at court explains female visitation and male aggregation in leks of this species, generating a system in which males tend to compete for the highest rank in the court.