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Wang Q, Wang B, Li J, Sun C, Yang N, Wen C. Paternity bias and cryptic female choice in chickens. Poult Sci 2024; 103:103744. [PMID: 38652945 PMCID: PMC11063506 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.103744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Sperm competition and cryptic female choice (CFC) are 2 significant mechanisms of postcopulatory sexual selection that greatly impact fertilization success in various species. Despite extensive research has conducted on sperm competition and the evolution of sperm traits in internal fertilization, our understanding of the female preferences in selecting sperm is still limited. Here, we aimed to investigate the characteristics of CFC in chickens by utilizing artificial insemination with mixed semen to control for variations in male fertilization success caused by female perception of male quality and mating order. Our results revealed that the offspring from multiple-mated females exhibited mixed paternity. Although the males had an equal number of viable sperm, 1 male consistently exhibited a 15% higher success rate on average, regardless of whether the insemination was performed with fresh or diluted semen. This result suggested that this male demonstrates superior performance in sperm competition, and exhibited a potential advantage in fertilization success. While the dominant male generally made a greater genetic contribution to most offspring, the degree of this advantage varied greatly, ranging from 11.11 to 75%. Furthermore, our study provided evidence of female preferences influenced the precedence of sperm from certain males over others. Interestingly, this bias is not consistently observed among all individuals, as offspring derived from some females were predominantly sired by an overall disadvantaged male while others were predominantly by a different disadvantaged male. Overall, these results underscored the complex processes involved in sperm selection and emphasized the importance of females in sexual selection theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunpu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding and Frontier Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Bin Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Junying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding and Frontier Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan, 572025, China
| | - Congjiao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding and Frontier Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan, 572025, China
| | - Ning Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding and Frontier Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan, 572025, China
| | - Chaoliang Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding and Frontier Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China; Sanya Institute of China Agricultural University, Hainan, 572025, China.
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2
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Assersohn K, Richards JP, Hemmings N. The surprising complexity and diversity of sperm storage structures across Galliformes. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11585. [PMID: 38911493 PMCID: PMC11190584 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 05/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In internal fertilisers, the precise timing of ovulation with the arrival of sperm at the site of fertilisation is essential for fertilisation success. In birds, mating is often not synchronised with ovulation, but instead females utilise specialised sperm storage tubules (SSTs) in the reproductive tract, which can ensure sperm are always available for fertilisation at the time of ovulation, whilst simultaneously providing a mechanism of post-copulatory sexual selection. Despite the clear importance of SSTs for fertilisation success, we know little about the mechanisms involved in sperm acceptance, storage, and release. Furthermore, most research has been conducted on only a small number of species, based on which SSTs are usually assumed to look and function in the same way across all species. Here, we conduct a comparative exploration of SST morphology across 26 species of Galliformes. We show that SSTs, and the surrounding tissue, can vary significantly in morphology across species. We provide observational evidence that Galliformes exhibit at least 5 distinct categories of tubule types, including distinctive coiled and multi-branched tubules, and describe 2 additional features of the surrounding tissue. We suggest functional explanations for variation in tubule morphology and propose next steps for future research. Our findings indicate that SSTs are likely to be far more variable than has previously been assumed, with potentially important consequences for our understanding of sperm storage in birds and post-copulatory sexual selection in general.
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3
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Prentice PM, Thornton A, Kolm N, Wilson AJ. Genetic and context-specific effects on individual inhibitory control performance in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata). J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1796-1810. [PMID: 37916730 PMCID: PMC10947024 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14241] [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: 01/17/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Among-individual variation in cognitive traits, widely assumed to have evolved under adaptive processes, is increasingly being demonstrated across animal taxa. As variation among individuals is required for natural selection, characterizing individual differences and their heritability is important to understand how cognitive traits evolve. Here, we use a quantitative genetic study of wild-type guppies repeatedly exposed to a 'detour task' to test for genetic variance in the cognitive trait of inhibitory control. We also test for genotype-by-environment interactions (GxE) by testing related fish under alternative experimental treatments (transparent vs. semi-transparent barrier in the detour-task). We find among-individual variation in detour task performance, consistent with differences in inhibitory control. However, analysis of GxE reveals that heritable factors only contribute to performance variation in one treatment. This suggests that the adaptive evolutionary potential of inhibitory control (and/or other latent variables contributing to task performance) may be highly sensitive to environmental conditions. The presence of GxE also implies that the plastic response of detour task performance to treatment environment is genetically variable. Our results are consistent with a scenario where variation in individual inhibitory control stems from complex interactions between heritable and plastic components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela M. Prentice
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
- SRUC, Easter Bush, Roslin Institute BuildingMidlothianUK
| | - Alex Thornton
- Centre for Ecology and ConservationUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | - Niclas Kolm
- Department of ZoologyStockholm UniversityStockholmSweden
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4
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Hadlow JH, Lymbery RA, Evans JP. Paternal environment effects are driven by female reproductive fluid but not sperm age in an external fertilizer. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230368. [PMID: 37991195 PMCID: PMC10664279 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm ageing after ejaculation can generate paternal environment effects that impact offspring fitness. In many species, female reproductive fluids (FRFs), i.e. ancillary fluids released by eggs or within the female reproductive tract, may protect sperm from ageing and can additionally interact with sperm to influence offspring viability. This raises the intriguing prospect that FRFs may alleviate paternal effects associated with sperm ageing. Here, we test this novel hypothesis using the broadcast spawning mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. We show that incubating sperm in FRF prior to fertilization increases offspring viability, and that these effects occur independently of sperm age. Our results provide novel evidence that FRFs allow females to selectively bias fertilization toward higher quality sperm within an ejaculate, which in turn yields more viable offspring. We consider this FRF-mediated paternal effect in the context of female physiological control over fertilization and the transgenerational effects of female-regulated haploid selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica H. Hadlow
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Rowan A. Lymbery
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jonathan P. Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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5
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Razmi K, Tran NK, Patil JG. Gonad Ontogeny and Sex Differentiation in a Poeciliid, Gambusia holbrooki: Transition from a Bi- to a Mono-Lobed Organ. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12050731. [PMID: 37237542 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Despite their uniqueness, the ontogeny and differentiation of the single-lobed gonads in the poeciliids are very poorly understood. To address this, we employed both cellular and molecular approaches to systematically map the development of the testes and ovary in Gambusia holbrooki from pre-parturition to adulthood, encompassing well over 19 developmental stages. The results show that putative gonads form prior to the completion of somitogenesis in this species, a comparatively early occurrence among teleosts. Remarkably, the species recapitulates the typical bi-lobed origin of the gonads during early development that later undergoes steric metamorphosis to form a single-lobed organ. Thereafter, the germ cells undergo mitotic proliferation in a sex-dependent manner before the acquisition of the sexual phenotype. The differentiation of the ovary preceded that of the testes, which occurred before parturition, where the genetic females developed meiotic primary oocytes stage I, indicating ovarian differentiation. However, genetic males showed gonial stem cells in nests with slow mitotic proliferation at the same developmental stage. Indeed, the first signs of male differentiation were obvious only post-parturition. The expression pattern of the gonadosoma markers foxl2, cyp19a1a, amh and dmrt1 in pre- and post-natal developmental stages were consistent with morphological changes in early gonad; they were activated during embryogenesis, followed by the onset of gonad formation, and a sex-dimorphic expression pattern concurrent with sex differentiation of the ovary (foxl2, cyp19a1a) and testes (amh and dmrt1). In conclusion, this study documents for the first time the underlying events of gonad formation in G. holbrooki and shows that this occurs relatively earlier than those previously described for ovi- and viviparous fish species, which may contribute to its reproductive and invasive prowess.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komeil Razmi
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, TAS 7053, Australia
| | - Ngoc Kim Tran
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, TAS 7053, Australia
- Department of Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, An Giang University, a Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, Long Xuyen City 880000, Vietnam
| | - Jawahar G Patil
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Fisheries and Aquaculture Centre, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Taroona, TAS 7053, Australia
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6
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Hankison S, Gangloff EJ, Fry B, Arnold A, Lashway AJ, Betts JM, Otap SD, Walter K, Juergens MY, Crawford A. Effects of reliance on stored sperm on reproduction in the sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 101:1628-1633. [PMID: 36134581 PMCID: PMC10091790 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of relying on stored sperm were evaluated in the sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna. Females reliant on stored sperm had fewer offspring compared to remated females, but offspring size and short-term growth rate did not differ. Thus, females may use stored sperm in cases such as previous mating with a preferred male, lack of access to mating opportunities during a reproductive cycle, or to maximize egg fertilization. Females do not compensate for producing fewer offspring however, by allocating more resources to offspring relative to their size or initial growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shala Hankison
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Eric J. Gangloff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Breanna Fry
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Alena Arnold
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - A. J. Lashway
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Jenell M. Betts
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Sandra D. Otap
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Katherine Walter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | | | - Alax Crawford
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
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7
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Aceves-Fonseca E, Santiago-Arellano A, Camacho-Cervantes M. Sex, size and habitat complexity effects on emergence latency and latency to locate food of the invasive porthole livebearer (Poeciliopsis gracilis). PLoS One 2022; 17:e0269384. [PMID: 35679286 PMCID: PMC9182249 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological invasions are considered the second major cause of plant, amphibian, reptile, and mammal loss worldwide. Like islands, freshwater ecosystems are especially susceptible to the negative impacts of invasions. The porthole livebearer (Poeciliopsis gracilis), recently identified as invasive in the Mexican Central Plateau, is increasing its populations and could impact freshwater ecosystems like its cousin species the guppy (Poecilia reticulata). Risk-taking behaviours, such as emergence latency, are recognised as key characteristics to invasion success and Poeciliid females can establish a viable population by themselves (due to their multiple paternity broods). We investigated the emergence latency and latency to locate food in simple and complex environments of porthole livebearers, including the effect of their size and sex. For both sexes, bigger fish emerge less times and take longer to do so, but females are faster to exit the refuge than males. We found no differences in porthole livebearer’s behaviour in complex or simple habitats, and no significant differences between sex, size or treatment in the time to locate food after exiting the refuge. Our results suggest that the benefit of faster emergence from the refuge in porthole livebearers in novel environments could be higher for females. We consider that porthole livebearer females being bolder could contribute to the invasion success of the species. Our study points at females and smaller fish as being the more likely to explore novel environments, which could contribute to understanding how the invasions by the porthole livebearer are driven.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Aceves-Fonseca
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Especies Invasoras, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Abigail Santiago-Arellano
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Especies Invasoras, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Morelia Camacho-Cervantes
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Especies Invasoras, Instituto de Ciencias del Mar y Limnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, Ciudad de México, México
- * E-mail:
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8
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Dekker ML, van Son LM, Leon-Kloosterziel KM, Hagmayer A, Furness AI, van Leeuwen JL, Pollux BJA. Multiple paternity in superfetatious live-bearing fishes. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:948-961. [PMID: 35612319 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Superfetation, the ability to carry several overlapping broods at different developmental stages, has evolved independently multiple times within the live-bearing fish family Poeciliidae. Even though superfetation is widespread among poeciliids, its evolutionary advantages remain unclear. Theory predicts that superfetation should increase polyandry by increasing the probability that temporally overlapping broods are fertilized by different fathers. Here, we test this key prediction in two poeciliid species that each carry two temporally overlapping broods: Poeciliopsis retropinna and P. turrubarensis. We collected 25 females per species from freshwater streams in South-Eastern Costa Rica and assessed multiple paternity by genotyping all their embryos (420 embryos for P. retropinna; 788 embryos for P. turrubarensis) using existing and newly developed microsatellite markers. We observed a high frequency of unique sires in the simultaneous, temporally overlapping broods in P. retropinna (in 56% of the pregnant females) and P. turrubarensis (79%). We found that the mean number of sires within females was higher than the number of sires within the separate broods (2.92 sires within mothers vs. 2.36 within separate broods in P. retropinna; and 3.40 vs 2.56 in P. turrubarensis). We further observed that there were significant differences in the proportion of offspring sired by each male in 42% of pregnant female P. retropinna and 65% of female P. turrubarensis; however, this significance applied to only 9% and 46% of the individual broods in P. retropinna and P. turrubarensis, respectively, suggesting that the unequal reproductive success of sires (i.e. reproductive skew) mostly originated from differences in paternal contribution between, rather than within broods. Together, these findings tentatively suggest that superfetation may promote polyandry and reproductive skew in live-bearing fishes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myrthe L Dekker
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa M van Son
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Andres Hagmayer
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew I Furness
- Department of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Hull, Hull, UK
| | - Johan L van Leeuwen
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bart J A Pollux
- Experimental Zoology Group, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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9
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Turnell BR, Reinhardt K. Sperm metabolic rate predicts female mating frequency across Drosophila species. Evolution 2022; 76:573-584. [PMID: 35064568 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Female mating rates vary widely, even among closely related species, but the reasons for this variation are not fully understood. Across Drosophila species, female mating frequencies are positively associated with sperm length. This association may be due in part to sperm limitation, with longer-spermed species transferring fewer sperm, or to cryptic female choice. However, a previously overlooked factor is sperm metabolic rate, which may correlate with sperm length. If faster-metabolizing sperm accumulate age-related cellular damage more quickly, then females should remate sooner to obtain fresh sperm. Alternatively, frequent female mating may select for increased sperm competitiveness via increased metabolism. Here, we measure sperm metabolism across 13 Drosophila species and compare these measures to published data on female mating rate and on sperm length. Using fluorescent lifetime imaging microscopy, we quantify NAD(P)H metabolism ex vivo, in intact organs. Phylogenetically controlled regression reveals that sperm metabolic rate is positively associated with sperm length and with female mating frequency. Path analysis shows sperm length driving sperm metabolism and sperm metabolism either driving or being driven by female mating rate. While the causal directionality of these relationships remains to be fully resolved, and the effect of sperm metabolism on sperm aging and/or sperm competitiveness remains to be established, our results demonstrate the importance of sperm metabolism in sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biz R Turnell
- Applied Zoology, Faculty Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Klaus Reinhardt
- Applied Zoology, Faculty Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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10
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Matsuzaki M, Hirohashi N, Tsudzuki M, Haqani MI, Maeda T, Mizushima S, Sasanami T. Longer and faster sperm exhibit better fertilization success in Japanese quail. Poult Sci 2021; 100:100980. [PMID: 33610899 PMCID: PMC7905478 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In birds, sperm storage tubules (SST) located in the utero-vaginal junction are thought to be a site of sperm selection; however, the exact mechanism of sperm selection is poorly understood. Here, we investigated sperm entry into the SST and subsequent fertilization success under a competitive situation created by artificial insemination of a sperm mixture obtained from 2 males. We employed 2 quail strains, a wild-type and a dominant black (DB) type, as this allows easy assessment of paternity by feather coloration. We found paternity of embryos was biased toward DB males when a sperm mix with similar sperm numbers from the 2 males strains was artificially inseminated into females. Our novel sperm staining method with 2 different fluorescent dyes showed that the DB-biased fertilization was because of the better ability of DB sperm to enter the SST. Moreover, we found that DB sperm had a longer flagellum and midpiece. These characteristics probably allow sperm to swim faster in a high viscosity medium, which may be a similar environment to the lumen of the female reproductive tract. Our results indicated that sperm competition occurs to win a place in the SST and that filling the SST with their own spermatozoa is a critical step to achieve better fertilization success for the male Japanese quail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Matsuzaki
- Program of Food and AgriLife Science, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan
| | - Noritaka Hirohashi
- Oki Marine Biological Station, Education and Research Center for Biological Resources, Faculty of Life and Environmental Science, Shimane University, Oki, Shimane 685-0024, Japan
| | - Masaoki Tsudzuki
- Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan; Japanese Avian Bioresource Project Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan
| | - Mohammad Ibrahim Haqani
- Laboratory of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan
| | - Teruo Maeda
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan; Japanese Avian Bioresource Project Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan
| | - Shusei Mizushima
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0810, Japan; Japanese Avian Bioresource Project Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Sasanami
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Japanese Avian Bioresource Project Research Center, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan.
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11
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Cardozo G, Devigili A, Antonelli P, Pilastro A. Female sperm storage mediates post-copulatory costs and benefits of ejaculate anticipatory plasticity in the guppy. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:1294-1305. [PMID: 32614995 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Males of many species evolved the capability of adjusting their ejaculate phenotype in response to social cues to match the expected mating conditions. When females store sperm for a prolonged time, the expected fitness return of plastic adjustments of ejaculate phenotype may depend on the interval between mating and fertilization. Although prolonged female sperm storage (FSS) increases the opportunity for sperm competition, as a consequence of the longer temporal overlap of ejaculates from several males, it may also create variable selective forces on ejaculate phenotype, for example by exposing trade-offs between sperm velocity and sperm survival. We evaluated the relationship between the plasticity of ejaculate quality and FSS in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata, a polyandrous live-bearing fish in which females store sperm for several months and where stored sperm contribute significantly to a male's lifelong reproductive success. In this species, males respond to the perception of future mating opportunities by increasing the quantity (number) and quality (swimming velocity) of ready-to-use sperm (an anticipatory response called 'sperm priming'). Here we investigated (a) the effect of sperm priming on in vitro sperm viability at stripping and its temporal decline (as an estimate of sperm survival), and (b) the in vivo competitive fertilization success in relation to female sperm storage using artificial insemination. As expected, sperm-primed males produced more numerous and faster sperm, but with a reduced in vitro sperm viability at stripping and after 4 hr, compared with their counterparts. Artificial insemination revealed that the small (nonsignificant) advantage of primed sperm when fertilization immediately follows insemination is reversed when eggs are fertilized by female-stored sperm, weeks after insemination. By suggesting a plastic trade-off between sperm velocity and viability, these results demonstrate that prolonged female sperm storage generates divergent selection pressures on ejaculate phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Cardozo
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), CONICET-UNC and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Devigili
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.,Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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12
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Monaghan P, Metcalfe NB. The deteriorating soma and the indispensable germline: gamete senescence and offspring fitness. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20192187. [PMID: 31847776 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.2187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The idea that there is an impenetrable barrier that separates the germline and soma has shaped much thinking in evolutionary biology and in many other disciplines. However, recent research has revealed that the so-called 'Weismann Barrier' is leaky, and that information is transferred from soma to germline. Moreover, the germline itself is now known to age, and to be influenced by an age-related deterioration of the soma that houses and protects it. This could reduce the likelihood of successful reproduction by old individuals, but also lead to long-term deleterious consequences for any offspring that they do produce (including a shortened lifespan). Here, we review the evidence from a diverse and multidisciplinary literature for senescence in the germline and its consequences; we also examine the underlying mechanisms responsible, emphasizing changes in mutation rate, telomere loss, and impaired mitochondrial function in gametes. We consider the effect on life-history evolution, particularly reproductive scheduling and mate choice. Throughout, we draw attention to unresolved issues, new questions to consider, and areas where more research is needed. We also highlight the need for a more comparative approach that would reveal the diversity of processes that organisms have evolved to slow or halt age-related germline deterioration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pat Monaghan
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
| | - Neil B Metcalfe
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, University of Glasgow, Graham Kerr Building, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Reinhardt
- Applied Zoology Faculty Biology Technische Universität Dresden Dresden Germany
| | - Biz Turnell
- Applied Zoology Faculty Biology Technische Universität Dresden Dresden Germany
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14
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Pineaux M, Blanchard P, Danchin É, Hatch SA, Helfenstein F, Mulard H, White J, Leclaire S, Wagner RH. Behavioural avoidance of sperm ageing depends on genetic similarity of mates in a monogamous seabird. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blz079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Inbreeding, i.e. the mating of genetically related individuals, can lead to reduced fitness and is considered to be a major selective force of mate choice. Although inbreeding avoidance has been found in numerous taxa, individuals may face constraints when pairing, leading to mating with suboptimal partners. In such circumstances, individuals that are able to avoid factors exacerbating detrimental effects of inbreeding should be favoured. Using the socially and genetically monogamous black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), we explored whether the detrimental effects of inbreeding are exacerbated by sperm ageing (i.e. the post-meiotic senescence of sperm cells, mainly occurring within the female tracts after copulation), and whether they can be mitigated by behavioural tactics. First, by experimentally manipulating the age of the fertilizing sperm, we found that hatching failure due to sperm ageing increased with higher genetic similarity between mates. We then investigated whether more genetically similar pairs exhibited mating behaviours that prevent fertilization by old sperm. The more genetically similar mates were, the less likely they were to copulate early in the reproductive season and the more females performed post-copulatory sperm ejections. By flexibly adapting their behaviour in response to within-pair genetic similarity, kittiwakes may avoid exacerbation of inbreeding costs due to sperm ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxime Pineaux
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, route de Narbonne, Bat, Toulouse cedex, France
| | - Pierrick Blanchard
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, route de Narbonne, Bat, Toulouse cedex, France
| | - Étienne Danchin
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, route de Narbonne, Bat, Toulouse cedex, France
| | - Scott A Hatch
- Institute for Seabird Research and Conservation, Mountain Place, Anchorage, AK, USA
| | - Fabrice Helfenstein
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Hervé Mulard
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, route de Narbonne, Bat, Toulouse cedex, France
| | - Joël White
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, route de Narbonne, Bat, Toulouse cedex, France
| | - Sarah Leclaire
- Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPS, route de Narbonne, Bat, Toulouse cedex, France
| | - Richard H Wagner
- Konrad-Lorenz-Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinarian Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstr., Vienna, Austria
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15
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Vega‐Trejo R, Fox RJ, Iglesias‐Carrasco M, Head ML, Jennions MD. The effects of male age, sperm age and mating history on ejaculate senescence. Funct Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Regina Vega‐Trejo
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
- Department of Zoology Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
| | - Rebecca J. Fox
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Maider Iglesias‐Carrasco
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Megan L. Head
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Michael D. Jennions
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
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