EVOLUTION OF MATING SYSTEMS

One research goal is to understand the ecology and evolution of mating systems in coral reef fishes, using molecular tools as well as long-term field studies and behavioural experiments. This work already provided new insights into the mating systems of coral reef fishes, using cardinalfishes as models. Cardinalfish are paternal mouthbrooders, where fathers carry the brood in their mouth until they hatch. This costly investment leads to many interesting questions to explore, especially when it comes to sexual selection and mate choice. I am also interested in how fishes use social information in choosing a mate.