Costs and benefits of polygyny in the cichlid Neolamprologus pulcher

Polygyny is regarded as a beneficial strategy for males, whereas females mated with polygynous males (males simultaneously paired to more than one female) often suffer a reduction in pair male contributions. This study examined the costs and benefits associated with polygyny in the cooperatively breeding cichlid Neolamprologus pulcher. In this species, males are facultatively polygynous; some males hold only one territory with one breeding …