Females sample more males at high nesting densities, but ultimately obtain less attractive mates

Table 3 Results of REML mixed models investigating factors affecting the female mate search and mating decisions

Behaviour	Fixed effect	F	df	P
Number of males sampled	Male Density	12.89	1, 21.1	<0.01
Number of males sampled	Day of Season	1.04	1, 22.62	0.32
Number of males with whom female initiated courtship	Male Density	0.94	1, 18.83	0.35
Number of males with whom female initiated courtship	Day of Season	0.29	1, 21.06	0.59
Number of female courtship initiation behaviours^a	Male Density	0.98	1, 17.33	0.34
Number of female courtship initiation behaviours^a	Day of Season	0.72	1, 18.97	0.41
Number of male courtship behaviours^a	Male Density	0.02	1, 14.54	0.90
Number of male courtship behaviours^a	Day of Season	<0.01	1, 16.14	0.94
Acceptance score	Male Density	0.01	1, 18.19	0.92
Acceptance score	Day of Season	0.05	1, 22.93	0.82
Responsiveness (follows/lead)	Male Density	<0.01	1, 4.79	0.95
Responsiveness (follows/lead)	Day of Season	0.29	1, 9.785	0.60
Chosen male red index	Male Density	4.95	1, 10.60	0.02
Chosen male red index	Day of Season	7.13	1, 10.35	0.01
Chosen male red index rank	Male Density	<0.01	1, 15.08	0.96
Chosen male red index rank	Day of Season	0.07	1, 17.12	0.81
Chosen male courtship vigour^a	Male Density	0.45	1, 10.48	0.52
	Day of Season	0.03	1, 12.49	0.87
Chosen male courtship vigour rank	Male Density	7.78	1, 15.92	0.01
Chosen male courtship vigour rank	Day of Season	0.02	1, 18.06	0.89

Significant results are indicated in bold
^aindicates models in which behaviours were assessed per minute to account for trials ending upon nest entry

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