The mate choice of female johnny darters (Etheostoma nigrum) was investigated with respect to quality of male parental behaviour. Females apparently preferred males that moved farther out from their nests to respond to intruders. Maximum distance of response to females (MDR to females) was the best predictor of a male's success in acquiring eggs. By choosing a more aggressive male (one with high MDR to females), females increased their fitness because males with a high MDR to females were better able to defend their eggs.
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Grant et al. (1983) studied this question.
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