1
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Skene KR. Systems theory, thermodynamics and life: Integrated thinking across ecology, organization and biological evolution. Biosystems 2024; 236:105123. [PMID: 38244715 DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2024.105123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
In this paper we explore the relevance and integration of system theory and thermodynamics in terms of the Earth system. It is proposed that together, these fields explain the evolution, organization, functionality and directionality of life on Earth. We begin by summarizing historical and current thinking on the definition of life itself. We then investigate the evidence for a single unit of life. Given that any definition of life and its levels of organization are intertwined, we explore how the Earth system is structured and functions from an energetic perspective, by outlining relevant thermodynamic theory relating to molecular, metabolic, cellular, individual, population, species, ecosystem and biome organization. We next investigate the fundamental relationships between systems theory and thermodynamics in terms of the Earth system, examining the key characteristics of self-assembly, self-organization (including autonomy), emergence, non-linearity, feedback and sub-optimality. Finally, we examine the relevance of systems theory and thermodynamics with reference to two specific aspects: the tempo and directionality of evolution and the directional and predictable process of ecological succession. We discuss the importance of the entropic drive in understanding altruism, multicellularity, mutualistic and antagonistic relationships and how maximum entropy production theory may explain patterns thought to evidence the intermediate disturbance hypothesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith R Skene
- Biosphere Research Institute, Angus, United Kingdom.
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2
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Yang Y, Axelrod CJ, Grant E, Earl SR, Urquhart EM, Talbert K, Johnson LE, Walker Z, Hsiao K, Stone I, Carlson BA, López-Sepulcre A, Gordon SP. Evolutionary divergence of developmental plasticity and learning of mating tactics in Trinidadian guppies. J Anim Ecol 2023. [PMID: 38156548 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.14043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Behavioural plasticity is a major driver in the early stages of adaptation, but its effects in mediating evolution remain elusive because behavioural plasticity itself can evolve. In this study, we investigated how male Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata) adapted to different predation regimes diverged in behavioural plasticity of their mating tactic. We reared F2 juveniles of high- or low-predation population origins with different combinations of social and predator cues and assayed their mating behaviour upon sexual maturity. High-predation males learned their mating tactic from conspecific adults as juveniles, while low-predation males did not. High-predation males increased courtship when exposed to chemical predator cues during development; low-predation males decreased courtship in response to immediate chemical predator cues, but only when they were not exposed to such cues during development. Behavioural changes induced by predator cues were associated with developmental plasticity in brain morphology, but changes acquired through social learning were not. We thus show that guppy populations diverged in their response to social and ecological cues during development, and correlational evidence suggests that different cues can shape the same behaviour via different neural mechanisms. Our study demonstrates that behavioural plasticity, both environmentally induced and socially learnt, evolves rapidly and shapes adaptation when organisms colonize ecologically divergent habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusan Yang
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA
| | - Caleb J Axelrod
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Elly Grant
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Shayna R Earl
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky, USA
| | - Ellen M Urquhart
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Katie Talbert
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Lauren E Johnson
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Zakiya Walker
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Kyle Hsiao
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Isabel Stone
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Bruce A Carlson
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Andrés López-Sepulcre
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Swanne P Gordon
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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3
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Przesmycka K, Herdegen-Radwan M, Phillips KP, Mohammed RS, Radwan J. The quest for good genes: Epigamic traits, fitness, MHC and multilocus heterozygosity in the guppy. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5055-5070. [PMID: 37492990 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17083] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
The 'good genes' hypothesis for the evolution of male secondary sexual traits poses that female preferences for such traits are driven by indirect genetic benefits. However, support for the hypothesis remains ambiguous, and, in particular, the genetic basis for the benefits has rarely been investigated. Here, we use seminatural populations of Trinidadian guppies to investigate whether sexually selected traits (orange, black and iridescent colouration, gonopodium length and body size) predict fitness measured as the number of grandoffspring, a metric that integrates across fitness components and sexes. Furthermore, we tested whether two potential sources of genetic benefits-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genotypes and multilocus heterozygosity (MLH)-are significant predictors of fitness and of the size of sexually selected traits. We found a significant, nonlinear effect of the area of black pigmentation and male body size on the number of grandoffspring, suggesting stabilizing selection on black area, and nonlinear selection favouring small body size. MLH was heritable (h2 = 0.14) and significantly predicted the number of grandoffspring, indicating the potential for genetic benefits based on heterozygosity. We also found support for local heterozygosity effects, which may reflect a noneven distribution of genetic load across the genome. MHC genotype was not significantly associated with any tested fitness component, or with the load of Gyrodactylus parasites. Neither MHC nor MLH was significant predictor of sexually selected traits. Overall, our results highlight the role of heterozygosity in determining fitness, but do not provide support for male sexually selected traits being indicators of genetic quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Przesmycka
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Karl P Phillips
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
- School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
- Canadian Rivers Institute, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Ryan S Mohammed
- Department of Biology, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
| | - Jacek Radwan
- Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland
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4
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Evans JP, Turnbull EJ, Lymbery RA. Testing for age-dependent effects of dietary restriction on the strength of condition dependence in ejaculate traits in the guppy ( Poecilia reticulata). ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2023; 10:230805. [PMID: 37650067 PMCID: PMC10465203 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.230805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Ejaculates can be costly to produce and depend on an individual's condition, defined as the pool of resources allocated to fitness. A method for assessing condition dependence is to manipulate resource availability and test for a reduction in trait expression. Here, we assess the effects of dietary restriction on two determinants of reproductive fitness in the guppy Poecilia reticulata-sperm production and sperm motility. Importantly, we administered dietary restriction at distinct developmental stages to test: (1) whether dietary restriction, when applied exclusively to juveniles, compromised the ejaculates of newly mature males; (2) whether any observed effects of dietary restriction seen in (1) were reversible when fish returned to an unrestricted diet; and (3) whether dietary restriction applied exclusively to adults influenced ejaculates. We found detrimental effects of resource limitation on both traits, and these were consistent across the three developmental stages tested. Furthermore, dietary restriction reduced male body weight, but this was partially reversed when diet-stressed juveniles (i.e. group 2) returned to unrestricted diets. This latter result suggests that diet-stressed males may sacrifice growth in order to maintain their investment in ejaculates. Together these findings underscore the importance of resource acquisition in determining the expression of ejaculate traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P. Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Elizabeth J. Turnbull
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, WA, Australia
| | - Rowan A. Lymbery
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth 6009, WA, Australia
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5
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Chechi TS, Narasimhan A, Biswas B, Prasad NG. Male mating success evolves in response to increased levels of male-male competition. Evolution 2022; 76:1638-1651. [PMID: 35598115 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14501] [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: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Male-biased operational sex ratios can increase male-male competition and can potentially select for both increased pre- and postcopulatory male success. In the present study, using populations of Drosophila melanogaster evolved under male-biased (M) or female-biased (F) sex ratios, we asked whether (a) male mating success can evolve, (b) males are better at mating females that they have coevolved with, (c) males mating success is affected by female mating status, and (d) male mating success is correlated with their courtship effort. We directly competed M and F males for mating with (a) virgin ancestral (common) females, (b) virgin females from the M and F populations, and (c) singly mated females from the M and F populations. We also assessed the courtship frequency of the males when paired with mated M or F females. Our results show that M males, evolving under an increased level of male-male competition, have higher mating success than F males irrespective of the female evolutionary history. However, the difference in mating success is more pronounced if the females had mated before. M males also have a higher courtship frequency than F males, but we did not find any correlation between mating success and courtship frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tejinder Singh Chechi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, 140306, India
| | - Aaditya Narasimhan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, 140306, India
| | - Broti Biswas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, 140306, India
| | - Nagaraj Guru Prasad
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, 140306, India
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6
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Binns GE, Hämäläinen L, Kemp DJ, Rowland HM, Umbers KDL, Herberstein ME. Additive genetic variation, but not temperature, influences warning signal expression in Amata nigriceps moths (Lepidoptera: Arctiinae). Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9111. [PMID: 35866015 PMCID: PMC9288930 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9111] [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: 06/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Many aposematic species show variation in their color patterns even though selection by predators is expected to stabilize warning signals toward a common phenotype. Warning signal variability can be explained by trade‐offs with other functions of coloration, such as thermoregulation, that may constrain warning signal expression by favoring darker individuals. Here, we investigated the effect of temperature on warning signal expression in aposematic Amata nigriceps moths that vary in their black and orange wing patterns. We sampled moths from two flight seasons that differed in the environmental temperatures and also reared different families under controlled conditions at three different temperatures. Against our prediction that lower developmental temperatures would reduce the warning signal size of the adult moths, we found no effect of temperature on warning signal expression in either wild or laboratory‐reared moths. Instead, we found sex‐ and population‐level differences in wing patterns. Our rearing experiment indicated that ~70% of the variability in the trait is genetic but understanding what signaling and non‐signaling functions of wing coloration maintain the genetic variation requires further work. Our results emphasize the importance of considering both genetic and plastic components of warning signal expression when studying intraspecific variation in aposematic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina E Binns
- School of Natural Sciences, 14 Eastern Road Macquarie University North Ryde New South Wales Australia
| | - Liisa Hämäläinen
- School of Natural Sciences, 14 Eastern Road Macquarie University North Ryde New South Wales Australia
| | - Darrell J Kemp
- School of Natural Sciences, 14 Eastern Road Macquarie University North Ryde New South Wales Australia
| | - Hannah M Rowland
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology Hans Knöll Straße 8,Jena Germany
| | - Kate D L Umbers
- School of Science Western Sydney University Penrith New South Wales Australia.,Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment Western Sydney University Penrith New South Wales Australia
| | - Marie E Herberstein
- School of Natural Sciences, 14 Eastern Road Macquarie University North Ryde New South Wales Australia
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7
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Male coloration affects female gestation period and timing of fertilization in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata). PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261004. [PMID: 34855912 PMCID: PMC8639057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The trade-up hypothesis is a female behavioral strategy related to mating with multiple males. In this hypothesis, females can produce high-quality offspring while avoiding the risk of losing reproductive opportunities by non-selective mating with males at first mating and then re-mating with more attractive males. As an internal mechanism to realize this behavioral strategy, we predicted that females would immediately fertilize their eggs when they mated with attractive males, whereas females would delay fertilization when they mated with unattractive males to trade-up sires of offspring. The guppy (Poecilia reticulata) is an ovoviviparous fish with internal fertilization, and females show a clear mate preference based on the area of orange coloration on the bodies of males. In addition, it is known that females show a re-mating strategy consistent with the trade-up hypothesis. We tested whether the attractiveness of mated males affected the gestation period and the timing of fertilization. Females were paired with either colorful males or drab males, and the gestation periods (the number of days from mating to parturition) were compared. In addition, we dissected the abdomens of the females at intervals of several days after mating and observed whether the eggs were fertilized. The gestation period in females that were paired with attractive colorful males was significantly shorter than that in females that were paired with drab males. We found that females that mated with colorful males also had their eggs fertilized earlier than those that mated with drab males. Our findings show that differences in the timing of fertilization according to attractiveness of the mate increase the opportunity for cryptic female choice and trading up.
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8
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Herdegen-Radwan M, Cattelan S, Buda J, Raubic J, Radwan J. What do orange spots reveal about male (and female) guppies? A test using correlated responses to selection. Evolution 2021; 75:3037-3055. [PMID: 34658022 PMCID: PMC9299167 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Female preferences for male ornamental traits can arise from indirect benefits, such as increased attractiveness or better viability of progeny, but empirical evidence for such benefits is inconsistent. Artificial selection offers a powerful way to investigate indirect effects of male ornaments. Here, we selected for the area of orange spots on male guppies, a trait subject to female preferences in our population, in replicated up‐ and down‐selected lines. We found a significant direct response to selection, and a correlated response in female preferences, with females from down‐selected lines showing less interest in more orange males. Nevertheless, up‐selected males sired more offspring in direct competition with low‐selected males, irrespective of female origin. We did not find a significantly correlated response to selection among any other fitness correlates we measured. Our results imply that female preferences for orange spots can lead to increased reproductive success of their sons, with no effect on general viability of progeny. Furthermore, although we demonstrate that female preferences may evolve via linkage disequilibrium with the preferred trait, the potential for runaway selection by positive feedback may be constrained by the lack of corresponding linkage with male reproductive competitiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Herdegen-Radwan
- Department of Behavioural Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, 61-614, Poland
| | - Silvia Cattelan
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, 35121, Italy
| | - Jakub Buda
- Department of Animal Taxonomy and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, 61-614, Poland
| | - Jarosław Raubic
- Population Ecology Group, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, 61-614, Poland
| | - Jacek Radwan
- Evolutionary Biology Group, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Poznan, 61-614, Poland
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9
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Fujimoto S, Tsurui‐Sato K, Katsube N, Tatsuta H, Tsuji K. Alternative reproductive tactics in male freshwater fish influence the accuracy of species recognition. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:3884-3900. [PMID: 33976782 PMCID: PMC8093699 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7267] [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: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual conflict can result in coercive mating. Because males bear low costs of heterospecific mating, coercive males may engage in misdirected mating attempts toward heterospecific females. In contrast, sexual selection through consensual mate choice can cause mate recognition cues among species to diverge, leading to more accurate species recognition. Some species show both coercive mating and mate choice-associated courtship behaviors as male alternative reproductive tactics. We hypothesized that if the selection pressures on each tactic differ, then the accuracy of species recognition would also change depending on the mating tactic adopted. We tested this hypothesis in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata) and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) by a series of choice experiments. Poecilia reticulata and G. affinis males both showed imperfect species recognition and directed all components of mating behavior toward heterospecific females. They tended to direct courtship displays more frequently toward conspecific than heterospecific females. With male P. reticulata, however, accurate species recognition disappeared when they attempted coercive copulation: they directed coercions more frequently toward heterospecific females. We also found that heterospecific sexual interaction had little effect on the fecundity of gravid females, which suggests that prepregnancy interactions likely underpin the exclusion of G. affinis by P. reticulata in our region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Fujimoto
- Center for Strategic Research ProjectUniversity of the RyukyusNishiharaJapan
- Present address:
Graduate School of MedicineUniversity of the RyukyusOkinawaJapan
| | - Kaori Tsurui‐Sato
- Center for Strategic Research ProjectUniversity of the RyukyusNishiharaJapan
| | - Naotaka Katsube
- Faculty of AgricultureUniversity of the RyukyusNishiharaJapan
| | - Haruki Tatsuta
- Faculty of AgricultureUniversity of the RyukyusNishiharaJapan
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural SciencesKagoshima UniversityKagoshimaJapan
| | - Kazuki Tsuji
- Faculty of AgricultureUniversity of the RyukyusNishiharaJapan
- The United Graduate School of Agricultural SciencesKagoshima UniversityKagoshimaJapan
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10
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De Nardo AN, Roy J, Sbilordo SH, Lüpold S. Condition-dependent interaction between mating success and competitive fertilization success in Drosophila melanogaster. Evolution 2021; 75:2014-2026. [PMID: 33834478 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dietary restriction during development can affect adult body size and condition. In many species, larger (high-condition) males gain higher mating success through male-male competition and female choice, and female condition can affect the extent of both female mate choice and male investment in courtship or ejaculates. However, few studies have examined the joint effects and interplay of male and female condition during both the pre- and the postcopulatory phases of sexual selection. We therefore manipulated the larval diet of male and female Drosophila melanogaster to study how body size variation in both sexes biases competitive outcomes at different reproductive stages, from mating to paternity. We did not find a difference in mate preference or mating latency between females of different conditions, nor any interaction between male and female conditions. However, large males were more successful in gaining matings, but only when in direct competition, whereas mating latencies were shorter for low-condition males in noncompetitive settings. Small males also transferred more sperm to nonvirgin females, displaced a larger proportion of resident sperm, and achieved higher paternity shares per mating than large males. In agreement with existing theory, we suggest that small males might partially compensate for their low mating success by strategically investing in larger sperm numbers and potentially other, unmeasured ejaculate traits, when they do have a mating opportunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio N De Nardo
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Jeannine Roy
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Sonja H Sbilordo
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Lüpold
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
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11
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Manat Y, Lund-Hansen KK, Katsianis G, Abbott JK. Female-limited X-chromosome evolution effects on male pre- and post-copulatory success. Biol Lett 2021; 17:20200915. [PMID: 33653095 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2020.0915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intralocus sexual conflict arises when the expression of shared alleles at a single locus generates opposite fitness effects in each sex (i.e. sexually antagonistic alleles), preventing each sex from reaching its sex-specific optimum. Despite its importance to reproductive success, the relative contribution of intralocus sexual conflict to male pre- and post-copulatory success is not well-understood. Here, we used a female-limited X-chromosome (FLX) evolution experiment in Drosophila melanogaster to limit the inheritance of the X-chromosome to the matriline, eliminating possible counter-selection in males and allowing the X-chromosome to accumulate female-benefit alleles. After more than 100 generations of FLX evolution, we studied the effect of the evolved X-chromosome on male attractiveness and sperm competitiveness. We found a non-significant increase in attractiveness and decrease in sperm offence ability in males expressing the evolved X-chromosomes, but a significant increase in their ability to avoid displacement by other males' sperm. This is consistent with a trade-off between these traits, perhaps mediated by differences in body size, causing a small net reduction in overall male fitness in the FLX lines. These results indicate that the X-chromosome in D. melanogaster is subject to selection via intralocus sexual conflict in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesbol Manat
- Department of Biology, Section for Evolutionary Ecology, Lund University, Lund 223 62, Sweden.,The Biomedical Research Center, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
| | - Katrine K Lund-Hansen
- Department of Biology, Section for Evolutionary Ecology, Lund University, Lund 223 62, Sweden
| | - Georgios Katsianis
- Department of Biology, Section for Evolutionary Ecology, Lund University, Lund 223 62, Sweden
| | - Jessica K Abbott
- Department of Biology, Section for Evolutionary Ecology, Lund University, Lund 223 62, Sweden
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12
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Fitzpatrick JL. Sperm competition and fertilization mode in fishes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20200074. [PMID: 33070731 PMCID: PMC7661453 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm competition is a powerful selective force that has shaped sexual traits throughout animal evolution. Yet, how fertilization mode (i.e. external versus internal fertilization) influences the scope and potential for sperm competition to act on ejaculates remains unclear. Here, I examine how fertilization mode shapes ejaculatory responses to sperm competition in fishes, a diverse group that constitute the majority of vertebrate biological diversity. Fishes are an ideal group for this examination because they exhibit a wide range of reproductive behaviours and an unparalleled number of transitions in fertilization mode compared to any other vertebrate group. Drawing on data from cartilaginous and bony fishes, I first show that rates of multiple paternity are higher in internally than externally fertilizing fishes, contrary to the prevailing expectation. I then summarize how sperm competition acts on sperm number and quality in internally and externally fertilizing fishes, highlighting where theoretical predictions differ between these groups. Differences in how ejaculates respond to sperm competition between fertilization modes are most apparent when considering sperm size and swimming performance. Clarifying how fertilization mode influences evolutionary responses in ejaculates will inform our understanding of ejaculate evolution across the animal tree of life. This article is part of the theme issue 'Fifty years of sperm competition'.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L. Fitzpatrick
- Department of Zoology/Ethology, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 18B, Stockholm 10691, Sweden
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13
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Dekker ML, Hagmayer A, Leon-Kloosterziel KM, Furness AI, Pollux BJA. High Degree of Multiple Paternity and Reproductive Skew in the Highly Fecund Live-Bearing Fish Poecilia gillii (Family Poeciliidae). Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.579105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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14
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Trade-offs of strategic sperm adjustments and their consequences under phenotype–environment mismatches in guppies. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2020.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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15
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Reuland C, Culbert BM, Devigili A, Kahrl AF, Fitzpatrick JL. Contrasting female mate preferences for red coloration in a fish. Curr Zool 2020; 66:425-433. [PMID: 32617091 PMCID: PMC7319460 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoz052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how animals select their mates requires knowing the factors that shape mate preferences. Recent theoretical and empirical considerations suggest that female mating status can influence the degree to which a female engages in mate choice, with virgin females predicted to be less choosy than mated females. In this study, we investigated mate choice in both virgin and mated females in the pygmy halfbeak Dermogenys collettei. Halfbeaks are small, live-bearing, internally fertilizing freshwater fish that live in mixed-sex groups where females have ample opportunity to engage in mate choice. Using a dichotomous choice assay, we quantified and contrasted in virgin and mated females mate preferences for differences in male body size, beak size, and area of yellow and red coloration. We also examined how mating status influenced the amount of time a female associated with the first male encountered and the relative amount of time a female associated with each male. We demonstrate that mate preferences of female halfbeaks are driven primarily by the size of red coloration present on males. Females showed contrasting preferences based on mating status, with virgin females preferentially associating with drab males whereas mated females preferentially associate with males possessing large areas of red. Contrary to expectations, female mating status did not influence how females associate with the first males encountered or how females biased their association time among males. Although the precise drivers of these effects need further studying, our finding highlights a possible explanation for how variation in male ornamentation can be maintained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charel Reuland
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SE-10691, Sweden
| | - Brett M Culbert
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | | | - Ariel F Kahrl
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SE-10691, Sweden
| | - John L Fitzpatrick
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SE-10691, Sweden
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16
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Skene KR. In pursuit of the framework behind the biosphere: S-curves, self-assembly and the genetic entropy paradox. Biosystems 2020; 190:104101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biosystems.2020.104101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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17
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Reid JM, Arcese P. Recent immigrants alter the quantitative genetic architecture of paternity in song sparrows. Evol Lett 2020; 4:124-136. [PMID: 32313688 PMCID: PMC7156105 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Quantifying additive genetic variances and cross‐sex covariances in reproductive traits, and identifying processes that shape and maintain such (co)variances, is central to understanding the evolutionary dynamics of reproductive systems. Gene flow resulting from among‐population dispersal could substantially alter additive genetic variances and covariances in key traits in recipient populations, thereby altering forms of sexual conflict, indirect selection, and evolutionary responses. However, the degree to which genes imported by immigrants do in fact affect quantitative genetic architectures of key reproductive traits and outcomes is rarely explicitly quantified. We applied structured quantitative genetic analyses to multiyear pedigree, pairing, and paternity data from free‐living song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) to quantify the differences in mean breeding values for major sex‐specific reproductive traits, specifically female extra‐pair reproduction and male paternity loss, between recent immigrants and the previously existing population. We thereby quantify effects of natural immigration on the means, variances, and cross‐sex covariance in total additive genetic values for extra‐pair paternity arising within the complex socially monogamous but genetically polygynandrous reproductive system. Recent immigrants had lower mean breeding values for male paternity loss, and somewhat lower values for female extra‐pair reproduction, than the local recipient population, and would therefore increase the emerging degree of reproductive fidelity of social pairings. Furthermore, immigration increased the variances in total additive genetic values for these traits, but decreased the magnitudes of the negative cross‐sex genetic covariation and correlation below those evident in the existing population. Immigration thereby increased the total additive genetic variance but could decrease the magnitude of indirect selection acting on sex‐specific contributions to paternity outcomes. These results demonstrate that dispersal and resulting immigration and gene flow can substantially affect quantitative genetic architectures of complex local reproductive systems, implying that comprehensive theoretical and empirical efforts to understand mating system dynamics will need to incorporate spatial population processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane M Reid
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics NTNU Trondheim Norway.,School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen United Kingdom
| | - Peter Arcese
- Forest & Conservation Sciences University of British Columbia Vancouver British Columbia Canada
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18
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Gasparini C, Devigili A, Pilastro A. Sexual selection and ageing: interplay between pre- and post-copulatory traits senescence in the guppy. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 286:20182873. [PMID: 30963845 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Traits associated with mating and fertilization success are expected to senesce with age, but limited information is available on their relative rates of senescence. In polyandrous species, male reproductive fitness depends on both mating and fertilization success. Because successful mating is a prerequisite for post-copulatory sexual selection, ejaculate traits are expected to senesce faster than pre-copulatory traits, as pre-copulatory sexual selection is often deemed to be stronger than post-copulatory sexual selection. This pattern has generally been found in the few empirical studies conducted so far. We tested this prediction in the guppy ( Poecilia reticulata), a livebearing fish characterized by intense sperm competition, by comparing the expression of male sexual traits at two ages (four and nine months). Contrary to prediction, we found that post-copulatory traits senesced at a significantly slower rate than pre-copulatory traits. We also looked at whether early investment in those sexual traits affects longevity, and the interaction between sperm age (duration of sperm storage inside the male) and male age. Our results suggest that the relative senescence rate of pre- and post-copulatory sexual traits may vary among species with different mating systems and ecology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clelia Gasparini
- 1 Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia , Crawley, Western Australia 6009 , Australia.,2 Department of Biology, University of Padova , 35131 Padova , Italy
| | - Alessandro Devigili
- 2 Department of Biology, University of Padova , 35131 Padova , Italy.,3 Department of Zoology, Stockholm University , Stockholm 106 91 , Sweden
| | - Andrea Pilastro
- 2 Department of Biology, University of Padova , 35131 Padova , Italy
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19
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Kimock CM, Dubuc C, Brent LJN, Higham JP. Male morphological traits are heritable but do not predict reproductive success in a sexually-dimorphic primate. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19794. [PMID: 31874959 PMCID: PMC6930303 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52633-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual selection favours traits that increase reproductive success via increased competitive ability, attractiveness, or both. Male rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) morphological traits are likely to reflect the effects of multiple sexual selection pressures. Here, we use a quantitative genetic approach to investigate the production and maintenance of variation in male rhesus macaque morphometric traits which may be subject to sexual selection. We collected measurements of body size, canine length, and fat, from 125 male and 21 female free-ranging rhesus macaques on Cayo Santiago. We also collected testis volumes from males. We used a genetic pedigree to calculate trait heritability, to investigate potential trait trade-offs, and to estimate selection gradients. We found that variation in most male morphometric traits was heritable, but found no evidence of trait trade-offs nor that traits predicted reproductive success. Our results suggest that male rhesus macaque morphometric traits are either not under selection, or are under mechanisms of sexual selection that we could not test (e.g. balancing selection). In species subject to complex interacting mechanisms of selection, measures of body size, weaponry, and testis volume may not increase reproductive success via easily-testable mechanisms such as linear directional selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare M Kimock
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Constance Dubuc
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lauren J N Brent
- Center for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - James P Higham
- Center for the Study of Human Origins, Department of Anthropology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
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20
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Kim SY, Velando A. Attractive male sticklebacks carry more oxidative DNA damage in the soma and germline. J Evol Biol 2019; 33:121-126. [PMID: 31610052 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Trade-offs between the expression of sexual signals and the maintenance of somatic and germline tissues are expected when these depend upon the same resources. Despite the importance of sperm DNA integrity, its trade-off with sexual signalling has rarely been explored. We experimentally tested the trade-off between carotenoid-based sexual coloration and oxidative DNA damage in skeletal muscle, testis and sperm by manipulating reproductive schedule (early vs. late onset of breeding) in male three-spined sticklebacks. Oxidative DNA damage was measured as the amount of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine in genomic DNA. Irrespective of the experimentally manipulated reproductive schedule, individuals investing more in red coloration showed higher levels of oxidative DNA damage in muscle, testis and sperm during the peak breeding season. Our results show that the expression of red coloration traded off against the level of oxidative DNA damage possibly due to the competing functions of carotenoids as colorants and antioxidants. Thus, female sticklebacks may risk fertility and viability of offspring by choosing redder, more deteriorated partners with decreased sperm DNA integrity. The evolution of sexual signal may be constrained by oxidative DNA damage in the soma and germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sin-Yeon Kim
- Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Alberto Velando
- Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
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21
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Speechley EM, Gasparini C, Evans JP. Female guppies increase their propensity for polyandry as an inbreeding avoidance strategy. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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22
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Devigili A, Evans JP, Fitzpatrick JL. Predation shapes sperm performance surfaces in guppies. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190869. [PMID: 31238844 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm velocity is a key determinant of competitive fertilization success in many species. Selection is therefore expected to favour the evolution of faster sperm when the level of sperm competition is high. However, several aspects can determine the direction and strength of selection acting on this key performance trait, including ecological factors that influence both sperm competition and the strength of selection acting on correlated traits that may constrain evolutionary responses in sperm velocity. Here, we determine how a key ecological variable, the level of predation, shapes sperm swimming speed across 18 Trinidadian populations of guppies ( Poecilia reticulata). We use performance analysis, a statistical tool akin to the familiar methods of multivariate selection analyses, to determine how the level of predation influences sperm velocity (modelled as a performance trait) when accounting for correlated pre- and postcopulatory traits that are also impacted by predation. We show that predation affects the combination of pre- and postcopulatory traits that ultimately predict sperm performance. Overall, we report evidence for disruptive relationships between sperm performance and combinations of ornaments and sperm morphology, but the specific combinations of traits that predict sperm velocity depended on the level of predation. These analyses underscore the complex nonlinear interrelationships among pre- and postcopulatory traits and the importance of considering ecological factors that may ultimately change the way in which multiple traits interact to determine a trait's performance value. As such, our results are likely to be broadly applicable across systems where selection is influenced by ecological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Devigili
- 1 Department of Zoology, Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 18B, 10691 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Jonathan P Evans
- 2 Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia , Crawley 6009, Western Australia , Australia
| | - John L Fitzpatrick
- 1 Department of Zoology, Stockholm University , Svante Arrhenius väg 18B, 10691 Stockholm , Sweden
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23
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Magris M, Tuni C. Enough for all: no mating effort adjustment to varying mate availability in a gift-giving spider. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Males of a gift-giving spider do not modify their allocation to reproduction when mating opportunities vary. Due to their costly courtship via provision of food gifts to females, with high female availability males should reduce their reproductive investment per partner to avoid exhausting their energetic budget too early. Our findings suggest instead that males may be able to enlarge their total reproductive budget, possibly drawing resources from their food gifts by partially feeding on them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Magris
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Cristina Tuni
- Department of Biology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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24
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Patlar B, Weber M, Ramm SA. Genetic and environmental variation in transcriptional expression of seminal fluid proteins. Heredity (Edinb) 2019; 122:595-611. [PMID: 30356222 PMCID: PMC6461930 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0160-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are crucial mediators of sexual selection and sexual conflict. Recent studies have chiefly focused on environmentally induced plasticity as one source of variation in SFP expression, particularly in response to differing sperm competition levels. However, understanding the evolution of a trait in heterogenous environments requires estimates of both environmental and genetic sources of variation, as well as their interaction. Therefore, we investigated how environment (specifically mating group size, a good predictor of sperm competition intensity), genotype and genotype-by-environment interactions affect seminal fluid expression. To do so, we reared 12 inbred lines of a simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano in groups of either two or eight worms and measured the expression levels of 58 putative SFP transcripts. We then examined the source of variation in the expression of each transcript individually and for multivariate axes extracted from a principal component analysis. We found that mating group size did not affect expression levels according to the single transcript analyses, nor did it affect the first principal component (presumably representing overall investment in seminal fluid production). However, mating group size did affect the relative expression of different transcripts captured by the second principal component (presumably reflecting variation in seminal fluid composition). Most transcripts were genetically variable in their expression level and several exhibited genotype-by-environment interactions; relative composition also showed high genetic variation. Collectively, our results reveal the tightly integrated nature of the seminal fluid transcriptome and provide new insights into the quantitative genetic basis of seminal fluid investment and composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Patlar
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Michael Weber
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Steven A Ramm
- Evolutionary Biology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
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25
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Órfão I, Barbosa M, Ojanguren AF, Vicente L, Varela SAM, Magurran AE. Me against who? Male guppies adjust mating behaviour according to their rival’s presence and attractiveness. Ethology 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.12864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Inês Órfão
- CFCUL – Centro de Filosofia das Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
- cE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Miguel Barbosa
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
- CESAM – Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar Universidade de Aveiro Aveiro Portugal
| | - Alfredo F. Ojanguren
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
| | - Luís Vicente
- CFCUL – Centro de Filosofia das Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | - Susana A. M. Varela
- cE3c – Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Faculdade de Ciências Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
- IGC – Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência Oeiras Portugal
| | - Anne E. Magurran
- Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology University of St Andrews St Andrews UK
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26
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Polverino G, Palmas BM, Evans JP, Gasparini C. Individual plasticity in alternative reproductive tactics declines with social experience in male guppies. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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27
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Johnson SL, Zellhuber-McMillan S, Gillum J, Dunleavy J, Evans JP, Nakagawa S, Gemmell NJ. Evidence that fertility trades off with early offspring fitness as males age. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.2174. [PMID: 29367392 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Models of ageing predict that sperm function and fertility should decline with age as sperm are exposed to free radical damage and mutation accumulation. However, theory also suggests that mating with older males should be beneficial for females because survival to old age is a demonstration of a male's high genetic and/or phenotypic quality. Consequently, declines in sperm fitness may be offset by indirect fitness benefits exhibited in offspring. While numerous studies have investigated age-based declines in male fertility, none has taken the integrated approach of studying age-based effects on both male fertility and offspring fitness. Here, using a cohort-based longitudinal study of zebrafish (Danio rerio), we report a decline in male mating success and fertility with male age but also compensating indirect benefits. Using in vitro fertilization, we show that offspring from older males exhibit superior early survival compared to those from their youngest counterparts. These findings suggest that the high offspring fitness observed for the subset of males that survive to an old age (approx. 51% in this study) may represent compensating benefits for declining fertility with age, thus challenging widely held views about the fitness costs of mating with older males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheri L Johnson
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand .,Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.,Allan Wilson Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | | | - Joanne Gillum
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Jessica Dunleavy
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Jonathan P Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.,Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.,Allan Wilson Centre, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
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28
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Filice DCS, Long TAF. Genetic trade-offs between male reproductive traits in Drosophila melanogaster. Biol Lett 2018; 14:rsbl.2018.0474. [PMID: 30333262 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 09/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In Drosophila melanogaster, males engage in both extensive pre- and post-copulatory competition for the opportunity to mate with females and subsequently sire offspring. The selection pressure for increased male reproductive success has resulted in the evolution of a wide diversity of sexual traits. However, despite strong selection, individuals often exhibit considerable phenotypic variation in the expression of these traits, and it is unclear if any of this variation is owing to underlying genetic trade-offs. Here, using hemiclonal flies, we examine how male reproductive success covaries with their ability to induce long-term stimulation of oogenesis and oviposition in their mates, and how this relationship may change over time. We found that males from hemiclone lines with phenotypes that were more successful in a short-term reproductive 'scramble' environment were less effective at stimulating long-term fecundity in females. Furthermore, we observed that males from hemiclone lines which showed the most improvement over a longer reproductive interaction period also tended to stimulate higher long-term fecundity in females. Together, these results indicate the presence of genetic trade-offs between different male reproductive traits and offer insights into the maintenance of their variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C S Filice
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3C5 .,Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Tristan A F Long
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3C5
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29
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Burke NW, Bonduriansky R. The geography of sex: sexual conflict, environmental gradients and local loss of sex in facultatively parthenogenetic animals. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:20170422. [PMID: 30150220 PMCID: PMC6125730 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2017.0422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Obligately asexual organisms tend to occur at higher altitudes or latitudes and occupy larger ranges than their obligately sexual relatives-a phenomenon called geographical parthenogenesis. Some facultatively parthenogenetic organisms that reproduce both sexually and asexually also exhibit spatial variation in reproductive mode. Theory suggests that sexual conflict and mate limitation can determine the relative frequency of sex in facultative parthenogens, but the effect of these dynamics on spatial distributions is unknown. Here, we use individual-based models to investigate whether these dynamics can generate local differences in the reproductive mode in a facultatively parthenogenetic metapopulation occupying an environmental gradient. We find that selection for resistance and high fecundity creates positive epistasis in virgin females between a mutant allele for parthenogenesis and alleles for resistance, resulting in female-biased sex ratios and higher resistance and coercion towards the productive 'core' of the metapopulation. However, steeper environmental gradients, which lead to lower density and less mating at the 'edge', generate female bias without promoting coercion or resistance. Our analysis shows that local adaptation of facultatively parthenogenetic populations subject to sexual conflict and productivity gradients can generate striking spatial variation suggesting new patterns for empirical investigation. These findings could also help to explain the rarity of facultative parthenogenesis in animals.This article is part of the theme issue 'Linking local adaptation with the evolution of sex differences'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan W Burke
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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30
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Rojas Mora A, Meniri M, Ciprietti S, Helfenstein F. Is sperm morphology functionally related to sperm swimming ability? A case study in a wild passerine bird with male hierarchies. BMC Evol Biol 2018; 18:142. [PMID: 30231935 PMCID: PMC6146611 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-018-1260-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sexual selection continues after copulation via either sperm competition or cryptic female choice, and favors sperm traits that maximize sperm competitiveness. Both sperm swimming velocity and longevity are important determinants of the outcome of sperm competition. Theoretically, sperm morphology can influence sperm velocity at least in three different non-exclusive ways: (i) longer sperm may generate more propelling thrust, (ii) bigger midpieces may produce more energy, and/or (iii) larger flagella or mid-pieces relative to the head size may compensate for the drag forces around the head. A growing number of studies have investigated the relationship of sperm morphology with sperm performance, which remains equivocal at both the inter- and intra-specific levels. Here, we used House Sparrows to test the functional relationship between sperm morphology with sperm velocity and longevity. Based on a previous study showing that sperm swimming ability covaries with social rank, we predicted that —if a functional relationship exists—1) sperm morphology should differ across social ranks, and 2) correlations between sperm morphology and sperm velocity and/or sperm longevity should be constant across social ranks. Results We found no differences in sperm morphology across social ranks. Moreover, we found that sperm morphology may be correlated with sperm velocity, but such relationship varied across social ranks. This result contradicts the hypothesis of a functional relationship between sperm morphology and sperm performance. Finally, after experimentally manipulating social ranks, we observed that relationships between sperm morphology and sperm velocity and/or sperm longevity disappeared or changed direction. Conclusions We suggest that in species with internal fertilization, while sperm morphology is likely constrained by the morphology of the female sperm storage organs, selection may act upon physiological traits that enhance sperm performance. Hence, these two selection forces could decouple sperm performance from sperm morphology. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12862-018-1260-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Rojas Mora
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland. .,Present Address: Laboratory of Ecology and Epidemiology of Parasites, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchatel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, 2000, Neuchatel, Switzerland.
| | - Magali Meniri
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Ciprietti
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Fabrice Helfenstein
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
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31
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Tuni C, Han CS, Dingemanse NJ. Multiple biological mechanisms result in correlations between pre- and post-mating traits that differ among versus within individuals and genotypes. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.0951. [PMID: 30135156 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive traits involved in mate acquisition (pre-mating traits) are predicted to covary with those involved in fertilization success (post-mating traits). Variation in male quality may give rise to positive, and resource allocation trade-offs to negative, covariances between pre- and post-mating traits. Empirical studies have yielded mixed results. Progress is hampered as researchers often fail to appreciate that mentioned biological mechanisms can act simultaneously but at different hierarchical levels of biological variation: genetic correlations may, for example, be negative due to genetic trade-offs but environmental correlations may instead be positive due to individual variation in resource acquisition. We measured pre-mating (aggression, body weight) and post-mating (ejaculate size) reproductive traits in a pedigreed population of southern field crickets (Gryllus bimaculatus). To create environmental variation, crickets were raised on either a low or a high nymphal density treatment. We estimated genetic and environmental sources of correlations between pre- and post-mating traits. We found positive genetic correlations between pre- and post-mating traits, implying the existence of genetic variation in male quality. Over repeated trials of the same individual (testing order), positive changes in one trait were matched with negative changes in other traits, suggesting energy allocating trade-offs within individuals among days. These findings demonstrate the need for research on pre- and post-mating traits to consider the hierarchical structure of trait correlations. Only by doing so was our study able to conclude that multiple mechanisms jointly shape phenotypic associations between pre- and post-mating traits in crickets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Tuni
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Chang S Han
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany .,The School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Niels J Dingemanse
- Behavioural Ecology, Department of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
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32
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Kemp DJ, Batistic FK, Reznick DN. Predictable adaptive trajectories of sexual coloration in the wild: Evidence from replicate experimental guppy populations. Evolution 2018; 72:2462-2477. [PMID: 30055021 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2018] [Revised: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The question of whether populations evolve predictably and consistently under similar selective regimes is fundamental to understanding how adaptation proceeds in the wild. We address this question with a replicated evolution experiment focused upon male sexual coloration in guppies (Poecilia reticulata). Fish were transplanted from a single high predation population in the Guanapo River to four replicate, guppy-free low predation headwater streams. Two streams had their canopies thinned to adjust the setting under which male coloration is displayed and perceived. We assessed evolutionary divergence using second-generation lab-bred offspring of fish sampled four to six years following translocation. A prior experiment of the same design, performed in an adjacent drainage, resulted in the evolution of more extensive orange, black, and iridescent markings. We however found evidence for expansion only in structural coloration (iridescent blue/green), no change in orange, and a reduction in black. This response amplifies earlier findings for Guanapo fish, revealing that trajectories of color elaboration differ among drainages. We also found that color phenotypes evolved more greatly at the thinned-canopy sites. Our findings support the predictability of sexual trait evolution in the wild, and underscore the importance of signaling conditions and ornamental starting points in shaping adaptive trajectories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrell J Kemp
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia
| | | | - David N Reznick
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California, 92521
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33
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Ålund M, Persson Schmiterlöw S, McFarlane SE, Qvarnström A. Optimal sperm length for high siring success depends on forehead patch size in collared flycatchers. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Murielle Ålund
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Siri Persson Schmiterlöw
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - S Eryn McFarlane
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Qvarnström
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen, Uppsala, Sweden
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34
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Reid JM, Wolak ME. Is there indirect selection on female extra-pair reproduction through cross-sex genetic correlations with male reproductive fitness? Evol Lett 2018; 2:159-168. [PMID: 30283673 PMCID: PMC6121835 DOI: 10.1002/evl3.56] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
One key hypothesis explaining the evolution and persistence of polyandry, and resulting female extra‐pair reproduction in socially monogamous systems, is that female propensity for extra‐pair reproduction is positively genetically correlated with male reproductive fitness and consequently experiences positive cross‐sex indirect selection. However, key genetic correlations have rarely been estimated, especially in free‐living populations experiencing natural (co)variation in reproductive strategies and fitness. We used long‐term life‐history and pedigree data from song sparrows (Melospiza melodia) to estimate the cross‐sex genetic correlation between female propensity for extra‐pair reproduction and adult male lifetime reproductive success, and thereby test a key hypothesis regarding mating system evolution. There was substantial additive genetic variance in both traits, providing substantial potential for indirect selection on female reproductive strategy. However, the cross‐sex genetic correlation was estimated to be close to zero. Such small correlations might arise because male reproductive success achieved through extra‐pair paternity was strongly positively genetically correlated with success achieved through within‐pair paternity, implying that the same successful males commonly sire offspring produced by polyandrous and monogamous females. Cross‐sex indirect selection may consequently have limited capacity to drive evolution of female extra‐pair reproduction, or hence underlying polyandry, in systems where multiple routes to paternity success exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane M Reid
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen United Kingdom
| | - Matthew E Wolak
- School of Biological Sciences University of Aberdeen Aberdeen United Kingdom.,Department of Biological Sciences Auburn University Auburn Alabama 36849
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35
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Cattelan S, Di Nisio A, Pilastro A. Stabilizing selection on sperm number revealed by artificial selection and experimental evolution. Evolution 2018; 72:698-706. [PMID: 29337356 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Sperm competition is taxonomically widespread in animals and is usually associated with large sperm production, being the number of sperm in the competing pool the prime predictor of fertilization success. Despite the strong postcopulatory selection acting directionally on sperm production, its genetic variance is often very high. This can be explained by trade-offs between sperm production and traits associated with mate acquisition or survival, that may contribute to generate an overall stabilizing selection. To investigate this hypothesis, we first artificially selected male guppies (Poecilia reticulata) for high and low sperm production for three generations, while simultaneously removing sexual selection. Then, we interrupted artificial selection and restored sexual selection. Sperm production responded to divergent selection in one generation, and when we restored sexual selection, both high and low lines converged back to the mean sperm production of the original population within two generations, indicating that sperm number is subject to strong stabilizing total sexual selection (i.e., selection acting simultaneously on all traits associated with reproductive success). We discuss the possible mechanisms responsible for the maintenance of high genetic variability in sperm production despite strong selection acting on it.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Di Nisio
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Current Address: Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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36
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Tomášek O, Albrechtová J, Němcová M, Opatová P, Albrecht T. Trade-off between carotenoid-based sexual ornamentation and sperm resistance to oxidative challenge. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 284:rspb.2016.2444. [PMID: 28123091 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been hypothesized that carotenoid-based sexual ornamentation signals male fertility and sperm competitive ability as both ornamentation and sperm traits may be co-affected by oxidative stress, resulting in positive covariation (the 'redox-based phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis'; redox-based PLFH). On the other hand, the 'sperm competition theory' (SCT) predicts a trade-off between precopulatory and postcopulatory traits. Here, we manipulate oxidative status (using diquat dibromide) and carotenoid availability in adult zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) males in order to test whether carotenoid-based beak ornamentation signals, or is traded off against, sperm resistance to oxidative challenge. Initial beak colouration, but not its change during the experiment, was associated with effect of oxidative challenge on sperm velocity, such that more intense colouration predicted an increase in sperm velocity under control conditions but a decline under oxidative challenge. This suggests a long-term trade-off between ornament expression and sperm resistance to oxidative challenge. Shortening of the sperm midpiece following oxidative challenge further suggests that redox homeostasis may constrain sperm morphometry. Carotenoid supplementation resulted in fewer sperm abnormalities but had no effect on other sperm traits. Overall, our data challenge the redox-based PLFH, partially support the SCT and highlight the importance of carotenoids for normal sperm morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oldřich Tomášek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Květná 8, Brno 60365, Czech Republic .,Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2 12844, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Albrechtová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Květná 8, Brno 60365, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Němcová
- Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2 12844, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Opatová
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Květná 8, Brno 60365, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, Department of Botany and Zoology, Masaryk University, Kotlářská 2, Brno 61137, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Květná 8, Brno 60365, Czech Republic .,Faculty of Science, Department of Zoology, Charles University, Viničná 7, Prague 2 12844, Czech Republic
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37
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Simmons LW, Lüpold S, Fitzpatrick JL. Evolutionary Trade-Off between Secondary Sexual Traits and Ejaculates. Trends Ecol Evol 2017; 32:964-976. [PMID: 29050795 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2017.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Recent theoretical models predict that the evolutionary diversification of the weapons and ornaments of pre-mating sexual selection should be influenced by trade-offs with male expenditure on ejaculates. However, the patterns of association between secondary sexual traits and ejaculate expenditure are frequently inconsistent in their support of this prediction. We show why consideration of additional life-history, ecological, and mating-system variables is crucial for the interpretation of associations between secondary sexual traits and ejaculate production. Incorporation of these 'missing variables' provides evidence that interactions between pre- and post-mating sexual selection can underlie broad patterns of diversification in male weapons and ornaments. We call for more experimental and genetic approaches to uncover trade-offs, as well as for studies that consider the costs of mate-searching.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh W Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley 6009, Australia.
| | - Stefan Lüpold
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - John L Fitzpatrick
- Department of Zoology and Ethology, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 18B, SE-10691 Stockholm, Sweden
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38
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Grueber CE, Fitzpatrick JL, Devigili A, Gasparini C, Ramnarine IW, Evans JP. Population demography and heterozygosity-fitness correlations in natural guppy populations: An examination using sexually selected fitness traits. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:4631-4643. [PMID: 28734054 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Heterozygosity-fitness correlations (HFCs) have been examined in a wide diversity of contexts, and the results are often used to infer the role of inbreeding in natural populations. Although population demography, reflected in population-level genetic parameters such as allelic diversity or identity disequilibrium, is expected to play a role in the emergence and detectability of HFCs, direct comparisons of variation in HFCs across many populations of the same species, with different genetic histories, are rare. Here, we examined the relationship between individual microsatellite heterozygosity and a range of sexually selected traits in 660 male guppies from 22 natural populations in Trinidad. Similar to previous studies, observed HFCs were weak overall. However, variation in HFCs among populations was high for some traits (although these variances were not statistically different from zero). Population-level genetic parameters, specifically genetic diversity levels (number of alleles, observed/expected heterozygosity) and measures of identity disequilibrium (g2 and heterozygosity-heterozygosity correlations), were not associated with variation in population-level HFCs. This latter result indicates that these metrics do not necessarily provide a reliable predictor of HFC effect sizes across populations. Importantly, diversity and identity disequilibrium statistics were not correlated, providing empirical evidence that these metrics capture different essential characteristics of populations. A complex genetic architecture likely underpins multiple fitness traits, including those associated with male fitness, which may have reduced our ability to detect HFCs in guppy populations. Further advances in this field would benefit from additional research to determine the demographic contexts in which HFCs are most likely to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine E Grueber
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,San Diego Zoo Global, San Diego, CA, USA.,Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - John L Fitzpatrick
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Alessandro Devigili
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Clelia Gasparini
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Indar W Ramnarine
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Jonathan P Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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39
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Rojas Mora A, Meniri M, Gning O, Glauser G, Vallat A, Helfenstein F. Antioxidant allocation modulates sperm quality across changing social environments. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0176385. [PMID: 28472052 PMCID: PMC5417513 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In promiscuous species, male reproductive success depends on their ability to mate with fertile females and on the fertilizing ability of their sperm. In such species, theory predicts that, owing to a trade-off between pre- and post-copulatory reproductive traits, males with lesser access to females should increase resource investment into those sperm traits that enhance fertilization success–usually referred to as ejaculate quality. This prediction has been validated in several taxa, yet studies on the physiological mechanisms modulating ejaculate quality are lacking. Sperm cells are highly vulnerable to oxidative stress, which impairs male fertility. Therefore, males that better protect their sperm from oxidative stress are expected to achieve higher ejaculate quality. Based on theoretical expectations, and since social dominance is a major determinant of mating opportunity, we predicted that subordinate males should invest more into the antioxidant protection of their sperm in order to achieve higher ejaculate quality. We maintained 60 male and 60 female wild-caught house sparrows Passer domesticus in outdoor aviaries, where we experimentally manipulated male social status to test our predictions. We measured cellular oxidative stress and enzymatic antioxidant activity in blood and sperm both before and after manipulating social ranks. Before manipulating the social status, we found that ejaculate viability correlated with oxidative stress level in sperm, with dominant males producing more oxidized and less viable ejaculates. Further, males at the lower end of the hierarchy produced ejaculates of similar quality to those of dominant males, suggesting that restricted access to resources might limit male reproductive strategies. After experimentally manipulating the social status, males matched their ejaculate quality to their new rank, while increases in antioxidant investment into ejaculates paralleled increases in ejaculate viability. Oxidative stress has been proposed as a general constraint to the evolution of life histories. Our results highlight oxidative stress and strategic antioxidant allocation as important proximate physiological mechanisms underlying male reproductive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Rojas Mora
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Magali Meniri
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Ophélie Gning
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Gaëtan Glauser
- Neuchatel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Armelle Vallat
- Neuchatel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Fabrice Helfenstein
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Neuchâtel, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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40
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Forstmeier W, Ihle M, Opatová P, Martin K, Knief U, Albrechtová J, Albrecht T, Kempenaers B. Testing the phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis in the presence and absence of inbreeding. J Evol Biol 2017; 30:968-976. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- W. Forstmeier
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics; Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Seewiesen Germany
| | - M. Ihle
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics; Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Seewiesen Germany
| | - P. Opatová
- Department of Botany and Zoology; Faculty of Science; Masaryk University; Brno Czech Republic
- External Research Facility Studenec; Institute of Vertebrate Biology; Czech Academy of Sciences; Brno Czech Republic
| | - K. Martin
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics; Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Seewiesen Germany
| | - U. Knief
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics; Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Seewiesen Germany
| | - J. Albrechtová
- External Research Facility Studenec; Institute of Vertebrate Biology; Czech Academy of Sciences; Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - T. Albrecht
- External Research Facility Studenec; Institute of Vertebrate Biology; Czech Academy of Sciences; Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Zoology; Faculty of Science; Charles University; Prague Czech Republic
| | - B. Kempenaers
- Department of Behavioural Ecology and Evolutionary Genetics; Max Planck Institute for Ornithology; Seewiesen Germany
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41
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Rojas Mora A, Meniri M, Ciprietti S, Helfenstein F. Social dominance explains within-ejaculate variation in sperm design in a passerine bird. BMC Evol Biol 2017; 17:66. [PMID: 28259157 PMCID: PMC5336654 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-017-0914-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 02/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Comparative studies suggest that sperm competition exerts stabilizing selection towards an optimal sperm design – e.g., the relative size and covariation of different sperm sections or a quantitative measure of sperm shape - that maximizes male fertility, which results in reduced levels of within-male variation in sperm morphology. Yet, these studies also reveal substantial amounts of unexplained within-ejaculate variance, and the factors presiding to the maintenance of such within-male variation in sperm design at the population level still remain to be identified. Sperm competition models predict that males should progressively invest more resources in their germline as their mating costs increase, i.e., the soma/germline allocation trade-off hypothesis. When access to fertile females is determined by social dominance, the soma/germline allocation trade-off hypothesis predicts that dominant males should invest less in the control of spermatogenesis. Hence, dominance should positively correlate with within-male variance in sperm design. Results In support of this hypothesis, we found that dominant house sparrow males produce ejaculates with higher levels of within-ejaculate variation in sperm design compared to subordinate males. However, after experimentally manipulating male social status, this pattern was not maintained. Conclusions Our results suggest that males might control variation in sperm design according to their social status to some extent. Yet, it seems that such within-ejaculate variation in sperm design cannot be rapidly adjusted to a new status. While variation in sperm design could result from various non-exclusive sources, we discuss how strategic allocation of resources to the somatic vs. the germline functions could be an important process shaping the relationship between within-male variation in sperm design and social status. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-017-0914-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Rojas Mora
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Magali Meniri
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Sabrina Ciprietti
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Fabrice Helfenstein
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Rue Emile-Argand 11, Neuchatel, Switzerland.
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42
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Rojas Mora A, Firth A, Blareau S, Vallat A, Helfenstein F. Oxidative stress affects sperm performance and ejaculate redox status in subordinate House Sparrows. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:2577-2588. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.154799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress (OS) is the result of random cellular damage caused by reactive oxygen species that leads to cell death, ageing, or illness. Most physiological processes can result in OS, which in turn has been identified as a major cause of infertility. In promiscuous species, the fertilizing ability of the ejaculate partly determines the male reproductive success. When dominance determines access to fertile females, theory predicts that lower ranking males should increase resource investment into enhancing ejaculate quality. We hypothesized that subordinate males should thus prioritize antioxidant protection of their ejaculates to protect them from OS. We put this hypothesis to the test, by chronically dosing wild House Sparrows with diquat (∼1mg/kg), an herbicide that increases pro-oxidant generation. We found that, although they increased their antioxidant levels in the ejaculate, diquat-treated males produced sperm with reduced velocity. Importantly, and contrary to our hypothesis, males at the bottom of the hierarchy suffered the largest reduction in sperm velocity. We suggest that resource access hinders individuals' ability to cope with environmental hazards. Our results point at OS as a likely physiological mechanism mediating ejaculate quality, while individual ability to access resources may play a role in constraining the extent to which such resources can be allocated into the ejaculate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso Rojas Mora
- Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Alexandra Firth
- Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Sophie Blareau
- Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Armelle Vallat
- Neuchatel Platform of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
| | - Fabrice Helfenstein
- Evolutionary Ecophysiology, Institute of Biology, University of Neuchatel, Neuchatel, Switzerland
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43
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Auld HL, Ramnarine IW, Godin JGJ. Male mate choice in the Trinidadian guppy is influenced by the phenotype of audience sexual rivals. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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44
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Lindstedt C, Schroderus E, Lindström L, Mappes T, Mappes J. Evolutionary constraints of warning signals: A genetic trade-off between the efficacy of larval and adult warning coloration can maintain variation in signal expression. Evolution 2016; 70:2562-2572. [PMID: 27624666 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2015] [Revised: 08/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
To predict evolutionary responses of warning signals under selection, we need to determine the inheritance pattern of the signals, and how they are genetically correlated with other traits contributing to fitness. Furthermore, protective coloration often undergoes remarkable changes within an individual's lifecycle, requiring us to quantify the genetic constraints of adaptive coloration across all the relevant life stages. Based on a 12 generation pedigree with > 11,000 individuals of the wood tiger moth (Arctia plantaginis), we show that high primary defense as a larva (large warning signal) results in weaker defenses as adult (less efficient warning color), due to the negative genetic correlation between the efficacy of larval and adult warning coloration. However, production of effective warning coloration as a larva did not incur any life-history costs and was positively genetically correlated with reproductive output. These results provide novel insights into the evolutionary constraints on protective coloration in animals, and explain the maintenance of variation in the signal expression despite the strong directional selection by predators. By analyzing the genetic and environmental effects on warning signal and life-history traits in all relevant life stages, we can accurately determine the mechanisms shaping the evolutionary responses of phenotypic traits under different selection environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lindstedt
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions Research, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland. .,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland.
| | - E Schroderus
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland
| | - L Lindström
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions Research, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland.,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland
| | - T Mappes
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland
| | - J Mappes
- Centre of Excellence in Biological Interactions Research, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland.,Department of Biological and Environmental Science, University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, 40014, Finland
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45
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Koffler S, Meneses HM, Kleinert ADMP, Jaffé R. Competitive males have higher quality sperm in a monogamous social bee. BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:195. [PMID: 27677838 PMCID: PMC5039913 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0765-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproductive success is determined by the interplay between mating and fertilization success. In social insect species with male-biased sex ratios and queen monogamy, males face particularly strong pre-copulatory sexual selection since they must compete with thousands of other males for a unique mating opportunity. Ejaculate quality is also expected to be under selection, because queens are long-lived and store sperm for life, so males with higher quality ejaculates are expected to provide queens with larger and longer-lived colonies, which in turn may produce more daughter queens (the only direct fitness gains of haplodiploid males). Considering the action of pre and post-copulatory sexual selection on male traits, three scenarios might thus be expected: positive, negative or no association between male mating ability and fertilization success. Here we explored these scenarios in the stingless bee Scaptotrigona aff. depilis, where males gather in large aggregations and queens mate with a single male. Male mating ability was assessed through the capacity of a male to reach an aggregation and persist on it; while sperm viability, sperm number, and sperm morphology were used as proxies for sperm quality. RESULTS Sperm viability was associated with persistence time in the aggregation, and males that persisted longer presented shorter spermatozoa and higher variation in sperm length than recently arrived males. However, sperm traits of males that reached aggregations did not differ from those of males collected inside their colonies. In addition, males that persisted longer in aggregations were smaller than other males. Male size and sperm viability were not correlated, suggesting that the observed patterns were not due to trade-offs in male resource allocation. CONCLUSIONS Persistence in male aggregations thus seems to select more competitive males with higher quality sperm. Our work is the first one to reveal an association between male competitive ability and fertilization success in a monogamous social insect. This finding sheds important light on the evolution of male traits in social insects and the general mechanisms of sexual selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheina Koffler
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biosciences, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, 321 (05508-090), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Hiara Marques Meneses
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Ceará, Center of Agrary Sciences, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Astrid de Matos Peixoto Kleinert
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biosciences, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, 321 (05508-090), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Rodolfo Jaffé
- Department of Ecology, University of São Paulo, Institute of Biosciences, Rua do Matão, travessa 14, 321 (05508-090), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.,Vale Institute of Technology, Sustainable Development, Belém, PA, Brazil
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46
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Evans JP, Garcia-Gonzalez F. The total opportunity for sexual selection and the integration of pre- and post-mating episodes of sexual selection in a complex world. J Evol Biol 2016; 29:2338-2361. [PMID: 27520979 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2016] [Revised: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
It is well known that sexual selection can target reproductive traits during successive pre- and post-mating episodes of selection. A key focus of recent studies has been to understand and quantify how these episodes of sexual selection interact to determine overall variance in reproductive success. In this article, we review empirical developments in this field but also highlight the considerable variability in patterns of pre- and post-mating sexual selection, attributable to variation in patterns of resource acquisition and allocation, ecological and social factors, genotype-by-environment interaction and possible methodological factors that might obscure such patterns. Our aim is to highlight how (co)variances in pre- and post-mating sexually selected traits can be sensitive to changes in a range of ecological and environmental variables. We argue that failure to capture this variation when quantifying the opportunity for sexual selection may lead to erroneous conclusions about the strength, direction or form of sexual selection operating on pre- and post-mating traits. Overall, we advocate for approaches that combine measures of pre- and post-mating selection across contrasting environmental or ecological gradients to better understand the dynamics of sexual selection in polyandrous species. We also discuss some directions for future research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology (M092), University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - F Garcia-Gonzalez
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology (M092), University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.,Doñana Biological Station, Spanish Research Council CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
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47
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Blengini CS, Naretto S, Cardozo G, Giojalas LC, Chiaraviglio M. Relationship between pre- and post-copulatory traits inSalvator rufescens(Squamata: Teiidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia S. Blengini
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales; Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal IDEA (CONICET-UNC); Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Av. Vélez Sársfield 299 CP: X5000JJC Córdoba Argentina
| | - Sergio Naretto
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales; Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal IDEA (CONICET-UNC); Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Av. Vélez Sársfield 299 CP: X5000JJC Córdoba Argentina
| | - Gabriela Cardozo
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales; Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal IDEA (CONICET-UNC); Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Av. Vélez Sársfield 299 CP: X5000JJC Córdoba Argentina
| | - Laura C. Giojalas
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales; Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (UNC-CONICET) and Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular (UNC); Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Argentina. Av. Velez Sarsfield 1611; CP: X5016GCA Córdoba Argentina
| | - Margarita Chiaraviglio
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales; Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal IDEA (CONICET-UNC); Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Av. Vélez Sársfield 299 CP: X5000JJC Córdoba Argentina
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48
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Travers LM, Garcia-Gonzalez F, Simmons LW. Genetic variation but weak genetic covariation between pre- and post-copulatory episodes of sexual selection in Drosophila melanogaster. J Evol Biol 2016; 29:1535-52. [PMID: 27159063 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 04/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
When females mate polyandrously, male reproductive success depends both on the male's ability to attain matings and on his ability to outcompete rival males in the fertilization of ova post-copulation. Increased investment in ejaculate components may trade off with investment in precopulatory traits due to resource allocation. Alternatively, pre- and post-copulatory traits could be positively related if individuals can afford to invest heavily in traits advantageous at both episodes of selection. There is empirical evidence for both positive and negative associations between pre- and post-copulatory episodes, but little is known about the genetic basis of these correlations. In this study, we measured morphological, chemical and behavioural precopulatory male traits and investigated their relationship with measures of male fitness (male mating success, remating inhibition and offensive sperm competitiveness) across 40 isofemale lines of Drosophila melanogaster. We found significant variation among isofemale lines, indicating a genetic basis for most of the traits investigated. However, we found weak evidence for genetic correlations between precopulatory traits and our indices of male fitness. Moreover, pre- and post-copulatory episodes of selection were uncorrelated, suggesting selection may act independently at the different episodes to maximize male reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Travers
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - F Garcia-Gonzalez
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia.,Doñana Biological Station, Spanish Research Council CSIC, Isla de la Cartuja, Seville, Spain
| | - L W Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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49
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Umbers KDL, Silla AJ, Bailey JA, Shaw AK, Byrne PG. Dietary carotenoids change the colour of Southern corroboree frogs. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/bij.12818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kate D. L. Umbers
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions; School of Biological Sciences; University of Wollongong; Wollongong NSW 2522 Australia
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology; University of Western Australia; Crawley WA 6008 Australia
- School of Science and Health; Western Sydney University; Hawkesbury Richmond NSW 2751 Australia
| | - Aimee J. Silla
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions; School of Biological Sciences; University of Wollongong; Wollongong NSW 2522 Australia
| | - Joseph A. Bailey
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions; School of Biological Sciences; University of Wollongong; Wollongong NSW 2522 Australia
| | - Allison K. Shaw
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior; University of Minnesota; Saint Paul MN 55108 USA
| | - Phillip G. Byrne
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions; School of Biological Sciences; University of Wollongong; Wollongong NSW 2522 Australia
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50
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Sasson DA, Munoz PR, Gezan SA, Miller CW. Resource quality affects weapon and testis size and the ability of these traits to respond to selection in the leaf-footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:2098-108. [PMID: 27066225 PMCID: PMC4768751 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Revised: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The size of weapons and testes can be central to male reproductive success. Yet, the expression of these traits is often extremely variable. Studies are needed that take a more complete organism perspective, investigating the sources of variation in both traits simultaneously and using developmental conditions that mimic those in nature. In this study, we investigated the components of variation in weapon and testis sizes using the leaf-footed cactus bug, Narnia femorata (Hemiptera: Coreidae) on three natural developmental diets. We show that the developmental diet has profound effects on both weapon and testis expression and scaling. Intriguingly, males in the medium-quality diet express large weapons but have relatively tiny testes, suggesting complex allocation decisions. We also find that heritability, evolvability, and additive genetic variation are highest in the high-quality diet for testis and body mass. This result suggests that these traits may have an enhanced ability to respond to selection during a small window of time each year when this diet is available. Taken together, these results illustrate that normal, seasonal fluctuations in the nutritional environment may play a large role in the expression of sexually selected traits and the ability of these traits to respond to selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel A Sasson
- Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience University of Florida 9505 Ocean Shore Blvd St. Augustine Florida 32080
| | - Patricio R Munoz
- Department of Agronomy University of Florida 2005 SW 23 St. Bldg 350 Gainesville Florida 32611
| | - Salvador A Gezan
- School of Forest Resources & Conservation University of Florida PO Box 110410 Gainesville Florida 32611
| | - Christine W Miller
- Entomology and Nematology Department University of Florida PO Box 110620 Gainesville Florida 32611
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