DOI: 10.5061/dryad.tmpg4f5br
title: Experimentally testing the function of anal fins in the bluefin killifish, <em>Lucania goodei</em>

description: In this study, we investigated the effects of functional anal fins on male
 fitness components in bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei. To manipulate
 anal fin integrity, we placed a small cut in the anal fin perpendicular to
 the base and half the length between the edge and fin base in males. This
 altered the male anal fin from a continuous sheet of tissue to a partially
 torn tissue with two flopping pieces. We performed a sham manipulation on
 males of similar size and compared the two (cut and uncut males) in two
 experiments. In the first experiment, males were paired every other day
 for a month with a female. We measured female preference as the number of
 eggs laid with cut vs. uncut males. We also measured the proportion of
 eggs that survived to 4 days post-spawning and used this as our measure of
 fertilization success. We found that cut males had lower fertilization
 success than males with uncut females. Females also tended to lay more
 eggs with uncut males in comparison to cut males. In the second
 experiment, the fish were combined in a large aquarium, and behavioral
 observations were recorded. We recorded the number of times each male
 courted the female, followed the female, attacked the female, attacked the
 rival male, chased the rival male, and flared his fins. Uncut males were
 more likely to court and follow the female. They also tended to have
 higher numbers of attacks and chases of the competing males and more fin
 flares.
description: # Experimentally testing the function of anal fins in the bluefin
 killifish, *Lucania goodei* Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.tmpg4f5br](10.5061/dryad.tmpg4f5br) ## Description of the
 data and file structure This package contains 3 files, an R script, and
 two data files. 'Smelko_Fuller.R' - R code to reproduce the
 analyses and graphs. 'Exp1.csv' - Data from experiment 1; In
 this experiment, we compared the number of eggs laid and the fertilization
 success of eggs between cut and uncut males. Fish were arranged in triads
 (e.g., blocks), which included two size-matched males (one cut and one
 uncut) and a female. 'Exp2.csv' - Data from experiment 2; In
 this experiment, we let the three fish from experiment 1 freely interact
 in a large tank. We recorded the number of courtship bouts, female
 following bouts, and attacks on females, attacks on males, chases of
 males, and fin flares. ### Files and variables #### File: Exp2.csv
 **Description:** In this experiment, we let the three fish from experiment
 1 freely interact in a large tank. We recorded the number of courtship
 bouts, female following bouts, and attacks on females, attacks on males,
 chases of males, and fin flares. ##### Variables * Block: Each block
 represents the ID for the fish triad. A triad contains a female and two
 size-matched males (one with a cut anal fin and another with an uncut anal
 fin) * trt: Denotes whether the male had a cut or an uncut anal fin. *
 ChaseMale_Total: Total number of chases recorded at the competition for
 males. * FollowFemale_Total: Total number of times the male followed and
 defended the female. * FinFlares_Total: Total number of times the male
 flared his fins. * AttackingMale_Total: Total number of attacks on the
 competing male. * AttackingFemale_Total: Total number of attacks on the
 female. * CourtshipBout_Total: Total number of courtship bouts *
 CircleFight_Total: Total number of circle fights (not analyzed in the
 paper). #### File: Exp1.csv **Description:** In this experiment, we
 compared the number of eggs laid and the fertilization success of eggs
 between cut and uncut males. Fish were arranged in triads (e.g., blocks),
 which included two size-matched males (one cut and one uncut) and a
 female. ##### Variables * Date: Date when eggs were obtained. * Block:
 Each block represents the ID for the fish triad. A triad contains a female
 and two size-matched males (one with a cut anal fin and another with an
 uncut anal fin) * trt: Denotes whether the male had a cut or an uncut anal
 fin. * Tot_Eggs: Total number of eggs laid by the male * Eggs_Alive: Total
 number of eggs that were alive 4 days post-spawning. * Eggs_Dead: Total
 number of eggs that were dead 4 days post-spawning. #### File:
 Smelko_Fuller.R **Description:**  R-file that replicates the statistical
 analyses and graphs presented in the paper. The script loads experimental
 data from two studies, summarizes egg production, and fits mixed-effects
 models (GLMMs and LMMs) to test treatment effects on fertilization
 success, female preferences, and male behaviors. It then generates
 diagnostic checks and uses ggplot2 to create graphs for each response
 variable. ## Code/software RStudio - Version 2025.05.0+496 (2025.05.0+496)
 R version 4.5.0 (2025-04-11) ## Access information Other publicly
 accessible locations of the data: * NA Data was derived from the following
 sources: * NA