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Birch G, Nichols HJ, Mwanguhya F, Thompson FJ, Cant MA, Blount JD. Lifetime trajectories of male mating effort under reproductive conflict in a cooperatively breeding mammal. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20241499. [PMID: 39288806 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.1499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 08/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The costs of reproductive conflict can shape the evolution of life-histories in animal societies. These costs may change as individuals age and grow, and with within-group competition. Social costs of reproductive conflict have been invoked to explain why females might gain from delaying maturity or ceasing reproduction midway through life, but not in males. Here, we analyse more than 20 years of data to understand how individual male banded mongooses adjust their reproductive activity in response to the costs of reproductive conflict. In banded mongoose groups, multiple female breeders enter oestrus synchronously that are each guarded by a single male that aggressively wards-off rivals. The heaviest males in the group gained the greatest share of paternity. Those lighter males that are reproductively active paid disproportionate survival costs, and by engaging in reproductive activity early had lower lifetime reproductive success. Our results suggest that reproductive inactivity early in life is adaptive, as males recoup any lost fitness by first growing before engaging in less costly and more profitable reproductive activity later in life. These results suggest that resource holding potential of males and the intensity of reproductive conflict interact to shape lifetime schedules of reproductive behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham Birch
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science & Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus , Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Hazel J Nichols
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Singleton Campus , Swansea SA2 8PP, UK
| | - Francis Mwanguhya
- Banded Mongoose Research Project , Queen Elizabeth National Park, Kasese District Uganda
| | - Faye J Thompson
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science & Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus , Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Michael A Cant
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science & Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus , Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Jonathan D Blount
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science & Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus , Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
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Hurley LL, Ton R, Rowe M, Buchanan KL, Griffith SC, Crino OL. Longitudinal covariation of testosterone and sperm quality across reproductive stages in the zebra finch. Horm Behav 2023; 153:105388. [PMID: 37276837 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Birds that breed opportunistically maintain partial activation of reproductive systems to rapidly exploit environmental conditions when they become suitable for breeding. Maintaining reproductive systems outside of a breeding context is costly. For males, these costs are thought to include continual exposure to testosterone. Males of seasonally breeding birds minimise these costs by downregulating testosterone production outside of a breeding context. Opportunistically breeding birds trade off the need to rapidly initiate reproduction with the costs of elevated testosterone production. One way opportunistically breeding males could minimise these costs is through fine scale changes in testosterone production across discrete reproductive stages which have a greater or lesser requirement for active sperm production. Although spermatogenesis broadly depends on testosterone production, whether changes in testosterone levels across the reproductive stages affect sperm quality and production is unknown. Here, we measured testosterone, sperm quality, and body condition in male zebra finches at discrete stages within reproductive bouts (egg laying, incubation, nestling provisioning, and fledging) and across two consecutive reproductive events in captive male zebra finches (Taeniopygia castanotis). We also examined associations between male testosterone, sperm quality/production, body condition, and nestling body condition. We found that testosterone levels varied across discrete reproductive stages with the lowest levels during incubation and the highest following chick fledging. Testosterone levels were positively associated with sperm velocity and the proportion of motile sperm but were not associated with male body condition. We found no associations between paternal body condition, testosterone levels, or sperm traits with nestling body condition (a proxy for the reproductive quality of a male and his partner). This study is the first to show that opportunistically breeding males vary testosterone synthesis and sperm traits at discrete stages within a reproductive event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura L Hurley
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Riccardo Ton
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Melissah Rowe
- Department of Animal Ecology, Netherlands Institute of Ecology (NIOO-KNAW), 6700 AB Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Katherine L Buchanan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia
| | - Simon C Griffith
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Ondi L Crino
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3216, Australia; Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2600, Australia; College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5042, Australia.
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3
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McDiarmid CS, Hurley LL, Le Mesurier M, Blunsden AC, Griffith SC. The impact of diet quality on sperm velocity, morphology and normality in the zebra finch Taeniopygia guttata. J Exp Biol 2022; 225:275326. [PMID: 35403680 PMCID: PMC9163447 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.243715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sperm traits can influence fertilisation success, but there is still much we do not understand about sperm condition dependence, that is, how much sperm traits depend on the male's energy acquisition and allocation. This is especially pronounced in avian taxa, despite extensive observational studies and sampling in wild populations. In this study we collected sperm samples before and after experimentally reducing diet quality of wild-derived captive zebra finches in small mixed-sex groups, which we compared to individuals on a control diet. We measured the length of sperm components (head, midpiece, flagellum and total sperm length), the proportion of sperm with normal morphology, the proportion of sperm that were progressively motile, and swimming velocity (curvilinear velocity; VCL). The only sperm trait we found to be impacted by reduced diet quality was a significant decrease in sperm midpiece length. This is consistent with emerging evidence in other non-model systems, as well the fact that diet can alter mitochondrial density and structure in other tissue types. There was also a significant decrease in sperm velocity and the proportion of motile sperm over the course of the experiment for both experimental groups (i.e. unrelated to diet). That in the control group experienced this decrease in sperm velocity was marked by no change in any sperm morphological measure highlights the existence of other important determinants of sperm velocity in passerine birds, likely including variation in other components of the seminal fluid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Callum S. McDiarmid
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Laura L. Hurley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Madiline Le Mesurier
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Andrew C. Blunsden
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Simon C. Griffith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Ritchie DJ, Friesen CR. Invited review: Thermal effects on oxidative stress in vertebrate ectotherms. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2021; 263:111082. [PMID: 34571153 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2021.111082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Human-induced climate change is occurring rapidly. Ectothermic organisms are particularly vulnerable to these temperature changes due to their reliance on environmental temperature. The extent of ectothermic thermal adaptation and plasticity in the literature is well documented; however, the role of oxidative stress in these processes needs more attention. Oxidative stress occurs when reactive oxygen species, generated mainly through aerobic respiration, overwhelm antioxidant defences and damage crucial biomolecules. The effects of oxidative damage include the alteration of life-history traits and reductions in whole-organism fitness. Here we review the literature addressing experimental temperature effects on oxidative stress in vertebrate ectotherms. Acute and acclimation temperature treatments produce distinctly different results and highlight the role of phylogeny and thermal adaptation in shaping oxidative stress responses. Acute treatments on organisms adapted to stable environments generally produced significant oxidative stress responses, whilst organisms adapted to variable conditions exhibited capacity to cope with temperature changes and mitigate oxidative stress. In acclimation treatments, the temperature treatments higher than optimal temperatures tended to produce significantly less oxidative stress than lower temperatures in reptiles, whilst in some eurythermal fish species, no oxidative stress response was observed. These results highlight the importance of phylogeny and adaptation to past environmental conditions for temperature-dependent oxidative stress responses. We conclude with recommendations on experimental procedures to investigate these phenomena with reference to thermal plasticity, adaptation and biogeographic variation that provide the most significant benefits to adaptable populations. These results have potential conservation ramifications as they may shed light on the physiological effects of temperature alterations in some vertebrate ectotherms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Ritchie
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, The University of Wollongong, 2522 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher R Friesen
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, The University of Wollongong, 2522 Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia; School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Bldg A08, Science Road, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
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Friesen CR, Wilson M, Rollings N, Sudyka J, Giraudeau M, Whittington CM, Olsson M. Exercise training has morph-specific effects on telomere, body condition and growth dynamics in a color-polymorphic lizard. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:jeb.242164. [PMID: 33785504 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are correlated suites of sexually selected traits that are likely to impose differential physiological costs on different individuals. While moderate activity might be beneficial, animals living in the wild often work at the margins of their resources and performance limits. Individuals using ARTs may have divergent capacities for activity. When pushed beyond their respective capacities, they may experience condition loss, oxidative stress, and molecular damage that must be repaired with limited resources. We used the Australian painted dragon lizard that exhibits color polymorphism as a model to experimentally test the effect of exercise on body condition, growth, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and telomere dynamics - a potential marker of stress and aging and a correlate of longevity. For most males, ROS levels tended to be lower with greater exercise; however, males with yellow throat patches - or bibs - had higher ROS levels than non-bibbed males. At the highest level of exercise, bibbed males exhibited telomere loss, while non-bibbed males gained telomere length; the opposite pattern was observed in the no-exercise controls. Growth was positively related to food intake but negatively correlated with telomere length at the end of the experiment. Body condition was not related to food intake but was positively correlated with increases in telomere length. These results, along with our previous work, suggest that aggressive - territory holding - bibbed males suffer physiological costs that may reduce longevity compared with non-bibbed males with superior postcopulatory traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Friesen
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mark Wilson
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Molecular Horizons and School of Chemistry and Molecular Bioscience, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
| | - Nicky Rollings
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Joanna Sudyka
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, 30-060 Krakow, Poland
| | - Mathieu Giraudeau
- CREEC, UMR IRD 224-CNRS 5290-Université de Montpellier, F34394 Montpellier, France.,CREES Centre for Research on the Ecology and Evolution of Disease, 34394 Montpellier, France
| | - Camilla M Whittington
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Mats Olsson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.,Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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Friesen CR, Noble DWA, Olsson M. The role of oxidative stress in postcopulatory selection. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20200065. [PMID: 33070735 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Two decades ago, von Schantz et al. (von Schantz T, Bensch S, Grahn M, Hasselquist D, Wittzell H. 1999 Good genes, oxidative stress and condition-dependent sexual signals. Proc. R. Soc. B 266, 1-12. (doi:10.1098/rspb.1999.0597)) united oxidative stress (OS) biology with sexual selection and life-history theory. This set the scene for analysis of how evolutionary trade-offs may be mediated by the increase in reactive molecules resulting from metabolic processes at reproduction. Despite 30 years of research on OS effects on infertility in humans, one research area that has been left behind in this integration of evolution and OS biology is postcopulatory sexual selection-this integration is long overdue. We review the basic mechanisms in OS biology, why mitochondria are the primary source of ROS and ATP production during oxidative metabolism, and why sperm, and its performance, is uniquely susceptible to OS. We also review how postcopulatory processes select for antioxidation in seminal fluids to counter OS and the implications of the net outcome of these processes on sperm damage, sperm storage, and female and oocyte manipulation of sperm metabolism and repair of DNA to enhance offspring fitness. This article is part of the theme issue 'Fifty years of sperm competition'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Friesen
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Daniel W A Noble
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, ACT 2600, Australia
| | - Mats Olsson
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, Box 463, SE 405 30, Gothenburg, Sweden
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Friesen CR, Rollings N, Wilson M, Whittington CM, Shine R, Olsson M. Covariation in superoxide, sperm telomere length and sperm velocity in a polymorphic reptile. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02855-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Rollings N, Waye HL, Krohmer RW, Uhrig EJ, Mason RT, Olsson M, Whittington CM, Friesen CR. Sperm telomere length correlates with blood telomeres and body size in red‐sided garter snakes,
Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis. J Zool (1987) 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N. Rollings
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - H. L. Waye
- Division of Science and Mathematics University of Minnesota Morris Morris MN USA
| | - R. W Krohmer
- Department of Biological Sciences Saint Xavier University Chicago IL USA
| | - E. J. Uhrig
- Department of Integrative Biology Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
| | - R. T. Mason
- Department of Integrative Biology Oregon State University Corvallis OR USA
| | - M. Olsson
- Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong NSW Australia
| | - C. M. Whittington
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - C. R. Friesen
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences University of Wollongong Wollongong NSW Australia
- Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI)University of Wollongong Wollongong NSW Australia
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Van Dyke JU, Thompson MB, Burridge CP, Castelli MA, Clulow S, Dissanayake DSB, Dong CM, Doody JS, Edwards DL, Ezaz T, Friesen CR, Gardner MG, Georges A, Higgie M, Hill PL, Holleley CE, Hoops D, Hoskin CJ, Merry DL, Riley JL, Wapstra E, While GM, Whiteley SL, Whiting MJ, Zozaya SM, Whittington CM. Australian lizards are outstanding models for reproductive biology research. AUST J ZOOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/zo21017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Australian lizards are a diverse group distributed across the continent and inhabiting a wide range of environments. Together, they exhibit a remarkable diversity of reproductive morphologies, physiologies, and behaviours that is broadly representative of vertebrates in general. Many reproductive traits exhibited by Australian lizards have evolved independently in multiple lizard lineages, including sociality, complex signalling and mating systems, viviparity, and temperature-dependent sex determination. Australian lizards are thus outstanding model organisms for testing hypotheses about how reproductive traits function and evolve, and they provide an important basis of comparison with other animals that exhibit similar traits. We review how research on Australian lizard reproduction has contributed to answering broader evolutionary and ecological questions that apply to animals in general. We focus on reproductive traits, processes, and strategies that are important areas of current research, including behaviours and signalling involved in courtship; mechanisms involved in mating, egg production, and sperm competition; nesting and gestation; sex determination; and finally, birth in viviparous species. We use our review to identify important questions that emerge from an understanding of this body of research when considered holistically. Finally, we identify additional research questions within each topic that Australian lizards are well suited for reproductive biologists to address.
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