Determinants of mating success in a lek-mating species

  1. Leks are male-biased aggregations formed for mating, where sperm is the only resource acquired by visiting females.
  2. One of the many advantages of leks is the possibility to efficiently assess the quality of potential mates by comparing aggregated individuals of the same sex with one another.
  3. When direct mate choice occurs in a lekking species it is often exhibited by females, but some studies have also demonstrated the presence of male mate choice.
  4. We investigate mate choice in the lek forming European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio.
  5. We determine the importance of age and size as predictors of mating success.
  6. We demonstrate that mating is not random and that male and female traits affect mating success.
  7. Age plays an important role in mating success in both males and females with older males mating more and younger females being more attractive and more receptive to mating.
  8. Relative male size seems to play a role in mating success with males being more successful when attempting to mate with females that are larger than them.

Data and Resources

Additional Info

Field Value
Last Updated April 17, 2026, 19:22 (UTC)
Created April 17, 2026, 19:22 (UTC)
contact_email josephine.queffelec@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
contact_person {}
criticality_level ["scientists"]
data_dictionary []
geographic_scope []
open_canada_collection primary
open_canada_date_published 2024-03-08 00:00:00
open_canada_keywords {"fr": ["Hymenopteres", "leks", "choix du partenaire par les mâles", "comportemant d'accouplement", "Siricidae"], "en": ["Hymenoptera", "leks", "male mate choice", "mating behaviour", "woodwasp"]}
open_canada_subject ["nature_and_environment"]
sensitivity_level unrestricted
title_fr Déterminants du succès de l'accouplement chez une espèce formant des leks
update_frequency not_planned