Mate preference in anadromous and landlocked Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) females in two Alaskan streams

Observations made on spawning anadromous Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) demonstrated that anadromous females were aggressive toward stream-resident mature males but were never aggressive toward subordinate anadromous males. Landlocked females only attacked subordinate males smaller than the α male. The number of times that females spawned in a nest depended on the mating attempts of stream-resident and subordinate males. Such attempts discouraged females from ovipositing. Through this behaviour, female anadromous Dolly Varden possibly increase anadromy and fitness in offspring by choosing anadromous males; female landlocked Dolly Varden possibly increase the size and fitness of offspring by choosing relatively large males.