Phenotypic plasticity in orange and black color-patches in wild guppy (Poecilia reticulata Peters) linked to habitat characteristics

Abstract

The colors of male guppies vary in hue, chroma, reflectivity, and the number, size, and position of color spots. Although conspicuous visual cues play a major role in sexual selection, they may also pose a risk of predation for the guppies. Whether the fish is conspicuous to predators or not may depend on ambient habitat conditions, and hence, it is hypothesized that the color of guppies may show phenotypic color plasticity linked to their habitat features. The objective of the present study was to demonstrate whether male wild guppies show phenotypic plasticity in orange and black color patches. Guppies were sampled from three locations (two urban water-logged ditches L1, L2 and one natural stream L3, approx. 150 km apart) (n= 60 each) with apparently different physical habitat characteristics.