1
|
Ježová Z, Prokop P, Zvaríková M, Zvarík M. Unraveling the Significance of Draglines: Female Sexual Signalization in the Nursery-Web Spider, Pisaura mirabilis. INSECTS 2023; 14:765. [PMID: 37754733 PMCID: PMC10532251 DOI: 10.3390/insects14090765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Chemical signals used by animals to attract the opposite sex are well known in insects, but heavily understudied in spiders. We investigated the role of chemical signals in female draglines in a gift-giving spider, Pisaura mirabilis, using combined data from behavioral tests and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We also investigated whether the quality of sexual signalization is influenced by crucial factors, such as female spider ontogeny, nutritional status, and mating status. We found that draglines of adult (versus subadult) and hungry (versus fed) females stimulated male motivation to produce nuptial gift, and highly sexually excited males invested more silk in gift production than less sexually excited males. Unexpectedly, chemical signals of eggsac-carrying females were similarly sexually attractive to draglines of adult females not carrying eggsac. HPLC identified significant chemical differences in female draglines, but these differences did not always correspond to male behavior. The integration of behavioral and chemical approaches is required to better understand animal behavior in future research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Ježová
- Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.J.)
| | - Pavol Prokop
- Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.J.)
- Institute of Zoology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská Cesta 9, 845 06 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Martina Zvaríková
- Department of Environmental Ecology and Landscape Management, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia; (Z.J.)
| | - Milan Zvarík
- Department of Nuclear Physics and Biophysics, Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Informatics, Comenius University, Mlynská Dolina F1, 842 48 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Matzke M, Toft S, Bechsgaard J, Pold Vilstrup A, Uhl G, Künzel S, Tuni C, Bilde T. Sperm competition intensity affects sperm precedence patterns in a polyandrous gift-giving spider. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2435-2452. [PMID: 35178803 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sperm competition drives traits that enhance fertilization success. The amount of sperm transferred relative to competitors is key for attaining paternity. Female reproductive morphology and male mating order may also influence fertilization, however the outcome for sperm precedence under intense sperm competition remains poorly understood. In the polyandrous spider Pisaura mirabilis, males offer nuptial gifts which prolong copulation and increase sperm transfer, factors proposed to alter sperm precedence patterns under strong sperm competition. First, we assessed the degree of female polyandry by genotyping wild broods. A conservative analysis identified up to 4 sires, with a mean of 2 sires per brood, consistent with an optimal mating female rate. Then we asked whether intense sperm competition shifts sperm precedence patterns from first male priority, as expected from female morphology, to last male advantage. We varied sexual selection intensity experimentally and determined competitive fertilization outcome by genotyping broods. In double matings, one male monopolised paternity regardless of mating order. A mating order effect with first male priority was revealed when females were mated to 4 males, however this effect disappeared when females were mated to 6 males, likely due to increased sperm mixing. The proportion of males that successfully sired offspring drastically decreased with the number of competitors. Longer copulations translated into higher paternity shares independently of mating order, reinforcing the advantage of traits that prolong copulation duration under intense competition, such as the nuptial gift. Sperm competition intensity enhances the impact of competitive sexual traits and imposes multiple effects on paternity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Matzke
- Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Søren Toft
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Jesper Bechsgaard
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Astrid Pold Vilstrup
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Gabriele Uhl
- General and Systematic Zoology, University of Greifswald, Zoological Institute and Museum, Loitzer Straße 26, D-17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Sven Künzel
- Department for Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann Straße 2, D-24306, Plön, Germany
| | - Cristina Tuni
- Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Trine Bilde
- Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, DK-8000, Aarhus C, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pandulli‐Alonso I, Tomasco IH, Albo MJ. The handsome liar: Male spiders offering worthless gifts can benefit increasing mating duration. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Irene Pandulli‐Alonso
- Departamento de Ecología y Biología Evolutiva Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable Montevideo Uruguay
| | - Ivanna H. Tomasco
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución. Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de la República Montevideo Uruguay
| | - Maria J. Albo
- Departamento de Ecología y Biología Evolutiva Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable Montevideo Uruguay
- Departamento de Ecología y Evolución. Facultad de Ciencias Universidad de la República Montevideo Uruguay
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Heimerl D, Dudová P, Wacker K, Schenkel E, Despréaux G, Tuni C. Adult sex ratio and male body condition affect alternative reproductive tactics in a spider. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Biases in adult sex ratios can alter the intensity of sexual selection by enhancing competition for mates. Under intense competition males increase their investment in behaviors to outcompete rivals (e.g., fighting). Yet, given that in male-biased environments mating opportunities are rare males may alternatively reduce costly courtship and/or adopt alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs). Males of the spider Pisaura mirabilis adopt different mating tactics, offering females genuine nuptial gifts (prey), nutritionally worthless gifts (prey leftovers), or no gifts. To test whether behavioral shifts between gift tactics are triggered by changes in the competitive environment, we established replicate spider populations under natural conditions at varying adult sex ratios (male-biased, female-biased and equal) and sampled gift tactics repeatedly over time. We additionally explored how male individual traits, such as body size and condition, affect the expression of ARTs. In male-biased populations males produced more gifts but of low quality, suggesting competition to trigger increased mating effort to ensure mate acquisition and fertilizations, but through a worthless gift tactic. Production of gifts and of genuine gifts was favored by high body condition, pointing to energetic limitations as being central for male reproductive capacity. We hence highlight two co-existing mechanisms at play to explain ARTs in this system, the competitive social environment where expression of gift tactics is based on optimal-decision making to overcome competition, and a conditional strategy linked to the individual’s energetic state.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Heimerl
- Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Pavla Dudová
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Biology Centre, Institute of Entomology, Branišovská 1160/31, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská 1645/31A, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Karoline Wacker
- Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Elisa Schenkel
- Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Garance Despréaux
- Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Cristina Tuni
- Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Großhaderner Str. 2 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Macedo‐Rego RC, Costa‐Schmidt LE, Machado G. Males of a Neotropical spider adjust prey‐gift construction but not mate search in response to sperm competition. Ethology 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Renato C. Macedo‐Rego
- Programa de Pós‐graduação em Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
- LAGE do Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - Luiz Ernesto Costa‐Schmidt
- LAGE do Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
- Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética Instituto de Biologia Universidade Federal de Pelotas Pelotas Brazil
| | - Glauco Machado
- LAGE do Departamento de Ecologia Instituto de Biociências Universidade de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Martínez Villar M, Trillo MC, Albo MJ. Ineffective nuptial gifts suggest female emancipation from sensory exploitation. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-02994-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|