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Jiang H, Zhan Y, Wu Q, Zhang H, Kuntner M, Tu L. A spider mating plug functions to protect sperm. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0301290. [PMID: 38551985 PMCID: PMC10980215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0301290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Mating plugs in animals are ubiquitous and are commonly interpreted to be products of mating strategies. In spiders, however, mating plugs may also take on functions beyond female remating prevention. Due to the vagaries of female genital (spermathecal) anatomy, most spiders face the problem of having to secure additional, non-anatomical, protection for transferred sperm. Here, we test the hypothesis that mating plugs, rather than (or in addition to) being adaptations for mating strategies, may serve as sperm protection mechanism. Based on a comparative study on 411 epigyna sampled from 36 families, 187 genera, 330 species of entelegyne spiders, our results confirm the necessity of a sperm protection mechanism. We divided the entelegyne spermathecae into four types: SEG, SED, SCG and SCD. We also studied detailed morphology of epigynal tracts in the spider Diphya wulingensis having the SEG type spermathecae, using 3D-reconstruction based on semi thin histological series section. In this species, we hypothesize that two distinct types of mating plug, the sperm plug and the secretion plug, serve different functions. Morphological details support this: sperm plugs are formed on a modified spermathecal wall by the spilled sperm, and function as a temporary protection mechanism to prevent sperm from leaking and desiccating, while secretion plugs function in postcopulation both as a permanent protection mechanism, and to prevent additional mating. Furthermore, with the modified spermathecal wall of S2 stalk, the problem of shunt of sperm input and output, and the possibility of female multiple mating have been resolved. Variation in spermathecal morphology also suggests that the problem of sperm protection might be resolved in different ways in spiders. Considering mating plugs of varying shapes and origins in the vast morphospace of spiders, we conclude that mating plugs might serve different purposes that relate both to mating strategies, as well as to sperm protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Jiang
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yongjia Zhan
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Qingqing Wu
- Lang Yue Campus of Beijing 12th High School, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Huitao Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Imaging Technology, Capital Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Matjaž Kuntner
- Department of Organisms and Ecosystems Research, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Jovan Hadži Institute of Biology, ZRC SAZU, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering & Centre for Behavioural Ecology & Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, China
- Department of Entomology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States of America
| | - Lihong Tu
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, P. R. China
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Izquierdo MA, Ramírez MJ. Taxonomic Revision of the Jumping Goblin Spiders of the GenusOrchestinaSimon, 1882, in the Americas (Araneae: Oonopidae). BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 2017. [DOI: 10.1206/0003-0090-410.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Lipke E, Michalik P. Evolutionary Morphology of the Primary Male Reproductive System and Spermatozoa of Goblin Spiders (Oonopidae; Araneae). BULLETIN OF THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 2015. [DOI: 10.1206/906.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Alvarez-Padilla F, Ubick D, Griswold CE. Indian Ocean Goblin Spiders (Araneae, Oonopidae): four New Species of Pelicinoids from Madagascar, with a Redescription of the Type SpeciesSilhouettella CurieuseiBenoit, 1979. AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES 2015. [DOI: 10.1206/3835.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Michalik P, Ramírez MJ. Evolutionary morphology of the male reproductive system, spermatozoa and seminal fluid of spiders (Araneae, Arachnida)--current knowledge and future directions. ARTHROPOD STRUCTURE & DEVELOPMENT 2014; 43:291-322. [PMID: 24907603 DOI: 10.1016/j.asd.2014.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2014] [Revised: 05/20/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The male reproductive system and spermatozoa of spiders are known for their high structural diversity. Spider spermatozoa are flagellate and males transfer them to females in a coiled and encapsulated state using their modified pedipalps. Here, we provide a detailed overview of the present state of knowledge of the primary male reproductive system, sperm morphology and the structural diversity of seminal fluids with a focus on functional and evolutionary implications. Secondly, we conceptualized characters for the male genital system, spermiogenesis and spermatozoa for the first time based on published and new data. In total, we scored 40 characters for 129 species from 56 families representing all main spider clades. We obtained synapomorphies for several taxa including Opisthothelae, Araneomorphae, Dysderoidea, Scytodoidea, Telemidae, Linyphioidea, Mimetidae, Synotaxidae and the Divided Cribellum Clade. Furthermore, we recovered synspermia as a synapomorphy for ecribellate Haplogynae and thus propose Synspermiata as new name for this clade. We hope that these data will not only contribute to future phylogenetic studies but will also stimulate much needed evolutionary studies of reproductive systems in spiders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Michalik
- Allgemeine und Systematische Zoologie, Zoologisches Institut und Museum, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, J.-S.-Bach-Straße 11/12, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Martín J Ramírez
- Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales "Bernardino Rivadavia" - CONICET, Av. Angel Gallardo 470, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Lipke E, Ramírez MJ, Michalik P. Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of orsolobidae (Haplogynae, Araneae) with implications on the evolution of sperm transfer forms in Dysderoidea. J Morphol 2014; 275:1238-57. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Revised: 05/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Lipke
- Zoological Institute and Museum, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University of Greifswald, J.-S.-Bach-Straße 11/12, Greifswald, D-17489, Germany
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Cabra-García J, Hormiga G, Brescovit AD. Female genital morphology in the secondarily haplogyne spider genus Glenognatha Simon, 1887 (Araneae, Tetragnathidae), with comments on its phylogenetic significance. J Morphol 2014; 275:1027-40. [PMID: 24788235 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Female genital morphology of secondarily haplogyne spiders has been poorly studied, hampering the analysis of its possible phylogenetic significance. We conduct a comparative morphological study of 12 species of the secondarily haplogyne spider genus Glenognatha Simon, 1887 using scanning electron microscopy. Representatives of the closely related genera Pachygnatha Sundevall, 1823 and Dyschiriognatha Simon, 1893 were also examined. The female genitalia of Glenognatha, Dyschiriognatha, and Pachygnatha species examined are composed of a spiracle-shape gonopore, a membranous chamber, a pair of copulatory ducts (CD) leading to spermathecae and a large uterus externus (UE). The most significant variation among Glenognatha species, previously unregistered within Araneoidea, is related with the absence or presence of CD and spermathecae. In addition, several characters as the form and distribution of long stem gland ductules and compartmentalization of the UE may be important for phylogenetic inference at species and generic level. Our results corroborate the close relationship between Dyshiriognatha and Glenognatha. A table with potentially informative female genitalic characters for phylogenetic inference within Glenognatha is provided. Understanding the general structure of the female genitalia in secondarily haplogyne taxa is a crucial step in order to propose characters for phylogenetic inference and to understand its possible functional significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimmy Cabra-García
- Departamento de Zoologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-090, Brazil; Laboratório Especial de Coleções Zoológicas, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, 05503-900, Brazil
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Álvarez-Padilla F, Ubick D, Griswold CE. NoideattellaandTolegnaro, Two New Genera of Goblin Spiders from Madagascar, with Comments on the Gamasomorphoid and Silhouettelloid Oonopids (Araneae, Oonopidae). AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES 2012. [DOI: 10.1206/3745.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Burger M. Genital morphology of female goblin spiders (Arachnida: Araneae: Oonopidae) with functional implications. ACTA ZOOL-STOCKHOLM 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-6395.2011.00553.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Ubick D, Griswold CE. The Malagasy Goblin Spiders of the New GenusMolotra(Araneae: Oonopidae). AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES 2011. [DOI: 10.1206/3729.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Margraf A, Costa-Ayub CLS, Okada MA, Gomes JR, Ortolani-Machado CF, Soares MAM. Development of Loxosceles intermedia Mello-Leitão (1934) (Araneae, Sicariidae) genital tract. BRAZ J BIOL 2011; 71:747-54. [PMID: 21881800 DOI: 10.1590/s1519-69842011000400021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2010] [Accepted: 08/19/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined the post-embryonic development of the male and female genital apparatus of the brown spider, Loxosceles intermedia. The development of the genital apparatus for both sexes begins with the appearance of inner structures. In the male genital apparatus, formation of the testes occurs first, followed by differentiation of the duct, ampulla and vas deferens, and finally the formation of the genital opening and differentiation of the copulatory organ (secondary sexual characteristic). Similarly, the development of the female genital apparatus begins with the formation of the ovaries, followed by the appearance of oocytes in vitellogenesis, then the development of oviducts and uterus internus and, finally, the spermatheca. These data may be very important in further comparative studies on the development of the reproductive system of spiders.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Margraf
- Departamento de Biologia Estrutural, Molecular e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa – UEPG, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil
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Burger M. Functional morphology of female goblin spider genitalia (Arachnida: Araneae: Oonopidae) with notes on fertilization in spiders. ZOOL ANZ 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcz.2010.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Izquierdo MA, Rubio GD. Male genital mutilation in the high-mountain goblin spider, Unicorn catleyi. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2011; 11:118. [PMID: 22225476 PMCID: PMC3391919 DOI: 10.1673/031.011.11801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2010] [Accepted: 12/28/2010] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Male genital mutilation is a common mechanism by which males reduce sperm competition by plugging female insemination ducts with different parts of its own genital system. This behavior is frequent in many spider families but is uncommon in Haplogynae. The reproductive biology of Dysderoidea is not well studied and the data is fragmentary; male genital mutilation has been reported only for one species of Oonopidae. This study provides evidence of male genital mutilation in Unicorn catleyi Platnick and Brescovit (Araneae: Oonopidae). Pieces of the embolus were found in the female posterior receptaculum. This behavior is a strategy used by the males in order to guarantee their paternity and not for escape from female attacks as has been reported for other species of Araneae, since cannibalism is unlikely in this species. The presence of embolus in the posterior receptaculum suggests this is the first place where sperm is received. The similarity of the female genitalia of U. catleyi to those of Orsolobidae, along with sclerotization of the seminal duct in the male copulatory bulb that is also present in Orchestina, Xiombarg, and Orsolobidae, provide strong evidence of the basal position of this genus in the family Oonopidae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías A. Izquierdo
- CONICET. División de Aracnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gonzalo D. Rubio
- CONICET. División de Aracnología, Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, Av. Ángel Gallardo 470, C1405DJR Buenos Aires, Argentina
- CONICET. Diversidad Animal I, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Av. Vélez Sarsfield 299, X5000JJC Córdoba, Argentina
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Pérez-Staples D, Weldon CW, Radhakrishnan P, Prenter J, Taylor PW. Control of copula duration and sperm storage by female Queensland fruit flies. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2010; 56:1755-1762. [PMID: 20650280 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2010.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2010] [Revised: 07/12/2010] [Accepted: 07/14/2010] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Copula duration and sperm storage patterns can directly or indirectly affect fitness of male and female insects. Although both sexes have an interest in the outcome, research has tended to focus on males. To investigate female influences, we compared copula duration and sperm storage of Queensland fruit fly females that were intact, or had been incapacitated through decapitation or abdomen isolation. We found that copulations were far longer when females had been incapacitated, indicating that constraints imposed on copula duration by intact females had been relaxed. Repeatability of copula duration for males was very low regardless of female treatment, and this is also consistent with strong female influence. Number of sperm in the spermathecae was not influenced by female treatment, suggesting that female abdominal ganglia control the transport of sperm to these long-term storage organs. However, more sperm were found in the ventral receptacles of incapacitated females compared to intact females. Overall, results implicate cephalic ganglia in regulation of copula duration and short-term sperm storage in the ventral receptacle and abdominal ganglia in regulation of long-term sperm storage in the spermathecae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Pérez-Staples
- Department of Brain, Behaviour & Evolution, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
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Burger M. Goblin spiders without distinct receptacula seminis (Arachnida: Araneae: Oonopidae). J Morphol 2010; 271:1110-8. [PMID: 20730923 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.10857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Burger
- American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY 10024, USA.
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Grismado CJ. Description ofBirabenella, a New Genus of Goblin Spiders from Argentina and Chile (Araneae: Oonopidae). AMERICAN MUSEUM NOVITATES 2010. [DOI: 10.1206/3693.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Female genital morphology and mating behavior of Orchestina (Arachnida: Araneae: Oonopidae). ZOOLOGY 2010; 113:100-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2009.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2009] [Revised: 08/05/2009] [Accepted: 08/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Complex female genitalia indicate sperm dumping in armored goblin spiders (Arachnida, Araneae, Oonopidae). ZOOLOGY 2009; 113:19-32. [PMID: 19939658 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2009.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2009] [Revised: 04/08/2009] [Accepted: 04/27/2009] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In promiscuous females, sperm ejection from the sperm storage site can be a strong mechanism to influence sperm priority patterns. Sperm dumping is reported from different animals including birds, insects, and humans. In spiders, it has been documented for four species including the oonopid Silhouettella loricatula. Oonopidae are a diverse spider family comprising many species with peculiar female genitalia. Especially in species where studies of mating behavior are difficult, morphological investigations of the genitalia help to understand their function and evolution. In the present study, the genitalia of the oonopids Myrmopopaea sp., Grymeus sp., and Lionneta sp. are investigated by means of histological serial sections and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results are compared with previous findings on S. loricatula. In Myrmopopaea sp. and Grymeus sp., the same morphological components are present that are involved in sperm dumping in S. loricatula. Inside the receptaculum, sperm are enclosed in a secretory sac which can be moved to the genital opening and dumped during copulation by muscle contractions. The female genitalia of Lionneta sp. are asymmetric. They show the same characteristics as S. loricatula but all the investigated females were unmated. The results strongly suggest that sperm dumping occurs in Myrmopopaea sp., Grymeus sp., and Lionneta sp. and happens by the same mechanism as in S. loricatula. Sperm dumping might even be common within a clade of oonopids. As in S. loricatula, the sperm transfer forms in the investigated species consist of several spermatozoa. Papillae with unknown function occur on the receptacula of all females.
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Burger M. Functional genital morphology of armored spiders (Arachnida: Araneae: Tetrablemmidae). J Morphol 2008; 269:1073-94. [PMID: 18563703 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.10640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
This study describes the female genitalia of the tetrablemmid spiders Brignoliella acuminata, Monoblemma muchmorei, Caraimatta sbordonii, Tetrablemma magister, and Ablemma unicornis by means of serial semi-thin sections and scanning electron microscopy and compares the results with previous findings on Indicoblemma lannaianum. Furthermore, the male palps and chelicerae are briefly described. The general vulval organization of females is complex and shows similarities in all of the investigated species. The copulatory orifice is situated near the posterior margin of the pulmonary plate. The opening of the uterus externus lies between the pulmonary and the postgenital plate. Paired copulatory ducts lead to sac-like receptacula. Except for A. unicornis, the male emboli of all investigated species are elongated and thread-like. However, they are too short to reach the receptacula. Hence, the spermatozoa have to be deposited inside the copulatory ducts. The same situation was also found in I. lannaianum. Females of this species store sperm encapsulated in secretory balls in their receptacula. The secretion is produced by glands adjoining the receptacula. The presence of paired fertilization ducts and spermatozoa in the uterus internus suggested that fertilization takes place internally in I. lannaianum. Secretory balls in the receptacula are found in all of the investigated species in this study, showing that sperm are stored in the same way. The place of fertilization may also be identical since dark particles, presumably spermatozoa, are located in the uterus internus of all investigated species except for T. magister. However, fertilization ducts are only found in B. acuminata and M. muchmorei. A sclerotized central process with attached muscles is present in A. unicornis, M. muchmorei, C. sbordonii and T. magister. Only in A. unicornis does the central process show an internal lumen and hold spermatozoa. In the other species, it could be used to lock the uterus during copulation in order to prevent sperm from getting into it as suggested for certain oonopid species. The uterus externus of all investigated species shows a sclerotized dorsal fold with attached muscles, previously described as "inner vulval plate." Contractions of the muscles lead to a widening of the dorsal fold, thus creating enough space for the large oocytes to pass the narrow uterus externus. The males of all investigated species have apophyses on their chelicerae. At least in B. acuminata and A. unicornis, where females have paired grooves on the preanal plate, these apophyses allow males to grasp the female during copulation as described for I. lannaianum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Burger
- American Museum of Natural History, Division of Invertebrate Zoology, Central Park West, New York 10024, USA.
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Genital morphology of the haplogyne spider Harpactea lepida (Arachnida, Araneae, Dysderidae). ZOOMORPHOLOGY 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s00435-007-0029-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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