1
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Yan JL, Rosenbaum JR, Esteves S, Dobbin ML, Dukas R. Sexual conflict and social networks in bed bugs: effects of social experience. Behav Ecol 2024; 35:arae030. [PMID: 38690087 PMCID: PMC11059254 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arae030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Living in groups can provide essential experience that improves sexual performance and reproductive success. While the effects of social experience have drawn considerable scientific interest, commonly used behavioral assays often do not capture the dynamic nature of interactions within a social group. Here, we conducted 3 experiments using a social network framework to test whether social experience during early adulthood improves the sexual competence of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) when placed in a complex and competitive group environment. In each experiment, we observed replicate groups of bed bugs comprising previously socialized and previously isolated individuals of the same sex, along with an equal number of standardized individuals of the opposite sex. Regardless of whether we controlled for their insemination history, previously isolated males mounted and inseminated females at significantly higher rates than previously socialized males. However, we found no evidence of social experience influencing our other measures of sexual competence: proportion of mounts directed at females, ability to overcome female resistance, and strength of opposite-sex social associations. We similarly did not detect effects of social experience on our female sexual competence metrics: propensity to avoid mounts, rate of successfully avoiding mounts, opposite-sex social association strength, and rate of receiving inseminations. Our findings indicate that early social experience does not improve sexual competence in male and female bed bugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice L Yan
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Jack R Rosenbaum
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Selena Esteves
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Maggie L Dobbin
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
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2
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Liao A, Cavigliasso F, Savary L, Kawecki TJ. Effects of an entomopathogenic fungus on the reproductive potential of Drosophila males. Ecol Evol 2024; 14:e11242. [PMID: 38590549 PMCID: PMC10999951 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.11242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
While mortality is often the primary focus of pathogen virulence, non-lethal consequences, particularly for male reproductive fitness, are less understood; however, they are essential for understanding how sexual selection contributes to promoting resistance. We investigated how the fungal pathogen Metarhizium brunneum affects mating ability, fertility, and seminal fluid protein (SFP) expression of male Drosophila melanogaster paired with highly receptive virgin females in non-competitive settings. Depending on sex and dose, there was a 3-6-day incubation period after infection, followed by an abrupt onset of mortality. Meanwhile, the immune response was strongly induced already 38 h after infection and continued to increase as infection progressed. Latency to mate somewhat increased during the incubation period compared to sham-treated males, but even on Day 5 post infection >90% of infected males mated within 2 h. During the incubation period, M. brunneum infection reduced male reproductive potential (the number of offspring sired without mate limitation) by 11%, with no clear increase over time. Approaching the end of the incubation period, infected males had lower ability to convert number of mating opportunities into number of offspring. After repeated mating, infected males had lower SFP expression than sham controls, more so in males that mated with few mates 24 h earlier. Overall, despite strong activation of the immune response, males' mating ability and fertility remained surprisingly little affected by the fungal infection, even shortly before the onset of mortality. This suggests that the selection for resistance acts mainly through mortality, and the scope for fertility selection to enhance resistance in non-competing settings is rather limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aijuan Liao
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Fanny Cavigliasso
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Loriane Savary
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
| | - Tadeusz J. Kawecki
- Department of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of LausanneLausanneSwitzerland
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3
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Kortsmit Y, Mariën J, Koene JM, Nakadera Y. Dynamics of seminal fluid production after mating. Mol Reprod Dev 2024; 91:e23732. [PMID: 38282311 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) play vital roles for optimizing reproductive success in diverse animals. Underlining their significance, SFP production and transfer are highly plastic, e.g., depending on the presence of rivals or mating status of partners. However, surprisingly little is known about replenishing SFPs after mating. This is especially relevant in species that mate multiple times, as they continuously produce and use SFPs throughout their reproductive life. Here we examined the expression pattern of SFP genes after mating in the great pond snail, Lymnaea stagnalis. Our results show that two out of the six SFP genes investigated here were upregulated 1 week after mating. Surprisingly, most SFP genes did not change their expression immediately after mating. Even after 1 week, when supposedly seminal fluid is fully replenished, the expression of SFP genes is rather high. In addition, the difference with previous studies hints at the possibility that SFP production after mating is plastic and depends on the mating history of female-acting snails. Our results shed light on unexplored aspects of SFP production, thereby expanding the understanding of reproductive strategies in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne Kortsmit
- Ecology and Evolution, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Janine Mariën
- Ecology and Evolution, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joris M Koene
- Ecology and Evolution, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yumi Nakadera
- Ecology and Evolution, Amsterdam Institute for Life and Environment (A-LIFE), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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4
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Faria FS, Areal M, Bitner-Mathé BC. Thermal Stress and Adult Fitness in a Drosophila suzukii Neotropical Propagule. NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2023; 52:993-1004. [PMID: 37702970 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-023-01075-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Abstract
Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura 1931) is a cosmopolitan horticultural pest originally from temperate East Asia; yet, its recent introduction in southeast and central Brazil raises the possibility it might expand into warmer climatic zones. In theoretical terms, the adaptive potential of invasive species can be impaired by the lack of genetic variation, but, on the other hand, phenotypic plasticity might play an important role in the adaptation to the new environment. In this context, we investigated the effects of temperature variation (18°C, 22°C, and 28°C) on fitness traits and size of male reproductive organs (accessory glands and testis) in a natural D. suzukii population recently introduced in the neotropical region. Development time decreased significantly with increasing temperature, but egg-to-adult survival was not affected, attaining rates around 50% for the three temperatures. Development at 28°C affected differentially adult male and female biological performance: males displayed higher mortality and severe and permanent reduction in offspring production, whereas females showed the same mortality as controls and a temporary decrease in offspring production, followed of a clear recovery. Finally, reproductive organs size in immature and mature males was affected by developmental temperature variation in the following ways. Testis length decreased with body size (i.e., at higher temperatures) and increased with maturation time after adult hatching, whereas for accessory glands there was no significant difference between different temperatures, resulting in proportionally larger glands for smaller body sizes. These results show differences in developmental dynamics of reproductive tract structures due to temperature variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Silva Faria
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Areal
- Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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5
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Zeender V, Pfammatter S, Roschitzki B, Dorus S, Lüpold S. Genotype-by-environment interactions influence the composition of the Drosophila seminal proteome. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231313. [PMID: 37700651 PMCID: PMC10498039 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ejaculate proteins are key mediators of post-mating sexual selection and sexual conflict, as they can influence both male fertilization success and female reproductive physiology. However, the extent and sources of genetic variation and condition dependence of the ejaculate proteome are largely unknown. Such knowledge could reveal the targets and mechanisms of post-mating selection and inform about the relative costs and allocation of different ejaculate components, each with its own potential fitness consequences. Here, we used liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry to characterize the whole-ejaculate protein composition across 12 isogenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster that were reared on a high- or low-quality diet. We discovered new proteins in the transferred ejaculate and inferred their origin in the male reproductive system. We further found that the ejaculate composition was mainly determined by genotype identity and genotype-specific responses to larval diet, with no clear overall diet effect. Nutrient restriction increased proteolytic protein activity and shifted the balance between reproductive function and RNA metabolism. Our results open new avenues for exploring the intricate role of genotypes and their environment in shaping ejaculate composition, or for studying the functional dynamics and evolutionary potential of the ejaculate in its multivariate complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérian Zeender
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sibylle Pfammatter
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bernd Roschitzki
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, University of Zurich/ETH Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Steve Dorus
- Center for Reproductive Evolution, Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Stefan Lüpold
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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6
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Lee SG, Sun D, Miao H, Wu Z, Kang C, Saad B, Nguyen KNH, Guerra-Phalen A, Bui D, Abbas AH, Trinh B, Malik A, Zeghal M, Auge AC, Islam ME, Wong K, Stern T, Lebedev E, Sherratt TN, Kim WJ. Taste and pheromonal inputs govern the regulation of time investment for mating by sexual experience in male Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS Genet 2023; 19:e1010753. [PMID: 37216404 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Males have finite resources to spend on reproduction. Thus, males rely on a 'time investment strategy' to maximize their reproductive success. For example, male Drosophila melanogaster extends their mating duration when surrounded by conditions enriched with rivals. Here we report a different form of behavioral plasticity whereby male fruit flies exhibit a shortened duration of mating when they are sexually experienced; we refer to this plasticity as 'shorter-mating-duration (SMD)'. SMD is a plastic behavior and requires sexually dimorphic taste neurons. We identified several neurons in the male foreleg and midleg that express specific sugar and pheromone receptors. Using a cost-benefit model and behavioral experiments, we further show that SMD behavior exhibits adaptive behavioral plasticity in male flies. Thus, our study delineates the molecular and cellular basis of the sensory inputs required for SMD; this represents a plastic interval timing behavior that could serve as a model system to study how multisensory inputs converge to modify interval timing behavior for improved adaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Gee Lee
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Dongyu Sun
- The HIT Center for Life Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Hongyu Miao
- The HIT Center for Life Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Zekun Wu
- The HIT Center for Life Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
| | - Changku Kang
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Baraa Saad
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Adrian Guerra-Phalen
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Dorothy Bui
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Al-Hassan Abbas
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Brian Trinh
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Ashvent Malik
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Mahdi Zeghal
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Anne-Christine Auge
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Md Ehteshamul Islam
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Kyle Wong
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Tiffany Stern
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Lebedev
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | | | - Woo Jae Kim
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
- The HIT Center for Life Sciences, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China
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7
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Kappeler PM, Benhaiem S, Fichtel C, Fromhage L, Höner OP, Jennions MD, Kaiser S, Krüger O, Schneider JM, Tuni C, van Schaik J, Goymann W. Sex roles and sex ratios in animals. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2023; 98:462-480. [PMID: 36307924 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In species with separate sexes, females and males often differ in their morphology, physiology and behaviour. Such sex-specific traits are functionally linked to variation in reproductive competition, mate choice and parental care, which have all been linked to sex roles. At the 150th anniversary of Darwin's theory on sexual selection, the question of why patterns of sex roles vary within and across species remains a key topic in behavioural and evolutionary ecology. New theoretical, experimental and comparative evidence suggests that variation in the adult sex ratio (ASR) is a key driver of variation in sex roles. Here, we first define and discuss the historical emergence of the sex role concept, including recent criticisms and rebuttals. Second, we review the various sex ratios with a focus on ASR, and explore its theoretical links to sex roles. Third, we explore the causes, and especially the consequences, of biased ASRs, focusing on the results of correlational and experimental studies of the effect of ASR variation on mate choice, sexual conflict, parental care and mating systems, social behaviour, hormone physiology and fitness. We present evidence that animals in diverse societies are sensitive to variation in local ASR, even on short timescales, and propose explanations for conflicting results. We conclude with an overview of open questions in this field integrating demography, life history and behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M Kappeler
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute of Primatology, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Sociobiology/Anthropology, University of Göttingen, Kellnerweg 6, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sarah Benhaiem
- Department of Ecological Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, D-10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Claudia Fichtel
- Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology Unit, German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute of Primatology, Kellnerweg 4, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lutz Fromhage
- Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Ambiotica, University of Jyväskylä, PO Box 35, 40014, Jyväskylä, Finland
| | - Oliver P Höner
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Alfred-Kowalke-Strasse 17, D-10315, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael D Jennions
- Division of Ecology & Evolution, Research School of Biology, ANU College of Science, The Australian National University, RN Robertson Building, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Canberra, ACT, 2600, Australia
| | - Sylvia Kaiser
- Department of Behavioural Biology, University of Münster, Badestr. 13, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Oliver Krüger
- Department of Animal Behavior, Bielefeld University, Morgenbreede 45, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jutta M Schneider
- Department of Biology, Institute of Zoology, Universität Hamburg, Martin-Luther-King Platz 3, 20146, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cristina Tuni
- Department of Biology II, Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich, Großhaderner Str 2, 82152, Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Jaap van Schaik
- Applied Zoology and Nature Conservation, University of Greifswald, Loitzer Str. 26, 17489, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Goymann
- Department of Behavioural Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Eberhard-Gwinner-Str. 6a, D-82319, Seewiesen, Germany
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8
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Playing to the crowd: Using Drosophila to dissect mechanisms underlying plastic male strategies in sperm competition games. ADVANCES IN THE STUDY OF BEHAVIOR 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2022.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
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9
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Yan JL, Dukas R. The social consequences of sexual conflict in bed bugs: social networks and sexual attraction. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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10
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Evolution of reduced mate harming tendency of males in Drosophila melanogaster populations selected for faster life history. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03187-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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11
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Sepil I, Perry JC, Dore A, Chapman T, Wigby S. Experimental evolution under varying sex ratio and nutrient availability modulates male mating success in Drosophila melanogaster. Biol Lett 2022; 18:20210652. [PMID: 35642384 PMCID: PMC9156920 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2021.0652] [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] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Biased population sex ratios can alter optimal male mating strategies, and allocation to reproductive traits depends on nutrient availability. However, there is little information on how nutrition interacts with sex ratio to influence the evolution of pre-copulatory and post-copulatory traits separately. To address this omission, we test how male mating success and reproductive investment evolve under varying sex ratios and adult diet in Drosophila melanogaster, using experimental evolution. We found that sex ratio and nutrient availability interacted to determine male pre-copulatory performance. Males from female-biased populations were slow to mate when they evolved under protein restriction. By contrast, we found direct and non-interacting effects of sex ratio and nutrient availability on post-copulatory success. Males that evolved under protein restriction were relatively poor at suppressing female remating. Males that evolved under equal sex ratios fathered more offspring and were better at supressing female remating, relative to males from male-biased or female-biased populations. These results support the idea that sex ratios and nutrition interact to determine the evolution of pre-copulatory mating traits, but independently influence the evolution of post-copulatory traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Jennifer C Perry
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Alice Dore
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Stuart Wigby
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK.,Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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12
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Maggu K, Kapse S, Ahlawat N, Geeta Arun M, Prasad NG. Finding love: fruit fly males evolving under higher sexual selection are inherently better at finding receptive females. Anim Behav 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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13
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Garlovsky MD, Holman L, Brooks AL, Novicic ZK, Snook RR. Experimental sexual selection affects the evolution of physiological and life-history traits. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:742-751. [PMID: 35384100 PMCID: PMC9322299 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Sexual selection and sexual conflict are expected to affect all aspects of the phenotype, not only traits that are directly involved in reproduction. Here, we show coordinated evolution of multiple physiological and life-history traits in response to long-term experimental manipulation of the mating system in populations of Drosophila pseudoobscura. Development time was extended under polyandry relative to monogamy in both sexes, potentially due to higher investment in traits linked to sexual selection and sexual conflict. Individuals (especially males) evolving under polyandry had higher metabolic rates and locomotor activity than those evolving under monogamy. Polyandry individuals also invested more in metabolites associated with increased endurance capacity and efficient energy metabolism and regulation, namely lipids and glycogen. Finally, polyandry males were less desiccation- and starvation resistant than monogamy males, suggesting trade-offs between resistance and sexually selected traits. Our results provide experimental evidence that mating systems can impose selection that influences the evolution of non-sexual phenotypes such as development, activity, metabolism and nutrient homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin D Garlovsky
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Luke Holman
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrew L Brooks
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Zorana K Novicic
- Animal Ecology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Center, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rhonda R Snook
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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14
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Mital A, Sarangi M, Nandy B, Pandey N, Joshi A. Shorter effective lifespan in laboratory populations of D. melanogaster might reduce sexual selection. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-022-03158-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The role of sexual selection in mediating levels of sexual conflict has been demonstrated in many experimental evolution studies on Drosophila spp. where competition among males for mating was the target of selection. Sexual selection has also been shown to affect the evolution of life-histories. However, the influence of divergent life-histories on reproductive strategies and, therefore, sexual selection and possibly sexual conflict has been less well studied. We examined D. melanogaster populations selected for a short development time and early age at reproduction for changes in reproductive behavior and traits that are proxies of sexual selection. We report a large reduction in reproductive competition experienced by the males of these populations, compared to ancestral populations that are not consciously selected for rapid development or early reproduction, potentially leading to reduced sexual selection. We show that rapidly developing and early reproducing populations have very low levels of mating in their lifetime (females are more or less monandrous), low courtship levels, shorter copulation duration, and longer time from eclosion to first mating, compared to the controls. These results are discussed in the context of the previously demonstrated reduction of inter-locus sexual conflict in these populations. We show that life-history strategies might have a large and significant impact on sexual selection, with each influencing the other and contributing to the complexities of adaptation.
Significance statement
Sexual conflict, often manifested as an arms-race between males and females trying to enhance their own reproductive success at some cost to the other, is of great evolutionary interest because it can maintain genetic variation in populations, prevent the independent optimization of male and female traits, and also promote speciation. Sexual selection, or variation in mating success, is well known to affect levels of sexual conflict. However, it is not so clear whether, and how, the regular evolution of life-histories also affects sexual selection. Here, we show that life-history evolution in fruit fly populations selected for traits not directly related to sexual conflict might, nevertheless, mediate the possible evolution of altered sexual conflict levels through effects on sexual selection. Populations that evolved to develop to adulthood fast, and reproduce relatively early in life, are shown to potentially experience less sexual selection, which can explain the low sexual conflict levels earlier observed in them.
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15
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Kapila R, Poddar S, Meena N, Prasad NG. Investment in adult reproductive tissues is affected by larval growth conditions but not by evolution under poor larval growth conditions in Drosophila melanogaster. CURRENT RESEARCH IN INSECT SCIENCE 2022; 2:100027. [PMID: 36003263 PMCID: PMC9387493 DOI: 10.1016/j.cris.2021.100027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Growing at different larval densities affect the investment in reproductive tissues Increased larval density negatively affects the testis and accessory gland size Relative investment in testis is not affected by larval densities Increased larval densities affect relative accessory gland size negatively Adaptation to high larval crowding does not affect investment in reproductive tissues
In many insects, the larval environment is confined to the egg-laying site, which often leads to crowded larval conditions, exposing the developing larvae to poor resource availability and toxic metabolic wastes. Larval crowding imposes two opposing selection pressures. On one hand, due to poor nutritional resources during developmental stages, adults from the crowded larval environment have reduced investment in reproductive tissues. On the other hand, a crowded larval environment acts as a cue for future reproductive competition inducing increased investment in reproductive tissues. Both these selection pressures are likely affected by the level of crowding. The evolutionary consequence of adaptation to larval crowding environment on adult reproductive investment is bound to be a result of the interaction of these two opposing forces. In this study, we used experimentally evolved populations of Drosophila melanogaster adapted to larval crowding to investigate the effect of adaptation to larval crowding on investment in reproductive organs (testes and accessory glands) of males. Our results show that there is a strong effect of larval developmental environment on absolute sizes of testes and accessory glands. However, there was no effect of the developmental environment when testis size was scaled by body size. We also found that flies from crowded cultures had smaller accessory gland sizes relative to body size. Moreover, the sizes of the reproductive organs were not affected by the selection histories of the populations. This study highlights that adaptation to two extremely different developmental environments does not affect the patterns of reproductive investment. We discuss the possibility that differential investment in reproductive tissues could be influenced by the mating dynamics and/or investment in larval survival traits, rather than just the developmental environment of the populations.
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16
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Macartney EL, Zeender V, Meena A, De Nardo AN, Bonduriansky R, Lüpold S. Sperm depletion in relation to developmental nutrition and genotype in Drosophila melanogaster. Evolution 2021; 75:2830-2841. [PMID: 34617270 PMCID: PMC9297908 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14373] [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: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Nutrient limitation during development can restrict the ability of adults to invest in costly fitness traits, and genotypes can vary in their sensitivity to developmental nutrition. However, little is known about how genotype and nutrition affect male ability to maintain ejaculate allocation and achieve fertilization across successive matings. Using 17 isogenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster, we investigated how variation in developmental nutrition affects males' abilities to mate, transfer sperm, and sire offspring when presented with successive virgin females. We found that, with each successive mating, males required longer to initiate copulation, transferred fewer sperm, and sired fewer offspring. Males reared on a low-nutrient diet transferred fewer sperm than those reared on nutritionally superior diets, but the rate at which males depleted their sperm, as well as their reproductive performance, was largely independent of diet. Genotype and the genotype × diet interaction explained little of the variation in these male reproductive traits. Our results show that sperm depletion can occur rapidly and impose substantial fitness costs for D. melanogaster males across multiple genotypes and developmental environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Valérian Zeender
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Abhishek Meena
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland.,Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, 140306, India
| | - Alessio N De Nardo
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Stefan Lüpold
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
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17
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Can Sexual Selection Drive the Evolution of Sperm Cell Structure? Cells 2021; 10:cells10051227. [PMID: 34067752 PMCID: PMC8156441 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051227] [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: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm cells have undergone an extraordinarily divergent evolution among metazoan animals. Parker recognized that because female animals frequently mate with more than one male, sexual selection would continue after mating and impose strong selection on sperm cells to maximize fertilization success. Comparative analyses among species have revealed a general relationship between the strength of selection from sperm competition and the length of sperm cells and their constituent parts. However, comparative analyses cannot address causation. Here, we use experimental evolution to ask whether sexual selection can drive the divergence of sperm cell phenotype, using the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus as a model. We either relaxed sexual selection by enforcing monogamy or allowed sexual selection to continue for 20 generations before sampling males and measuring the total length of sperm cells and their constituent parts, the acrosome, nucleus, and flagella. We found differences in the length of the sperm cell nucleus but no differences in the length of the acrosome, flagella, or total sperm length. Our data suggest that different sperm cell components may respond independently to sexual selection and contribute to the divergent evolution of these extraordinary cells.
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18
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Strategic adjustment of ejaculate quality in response to variation of the socio-sexual environment. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-021-03032-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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19
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Bath E, Buzzoni D, Ralph T, Wigby S, Sepil I. Male condition influences female post mating aggression and feeding in
Drosophila. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Bath
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Daisy Buzzoni
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- University of Victoria Victoria BC Canada
| | - Toby Ralph
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
| | - Stuart Wigby
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
- Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behaviour Institute of Infection, Veterinary & Ecological Sciences University of Liverpool Liverpool UK
| | - Irem Sepil
- Department of Zoology University of Oxford Oxford UK
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20
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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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21
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Bath E, Edmunds D, Norman J, Atkins C, Harper L, Rostant WG, Chapman T, Wigby S, Perry JC. Sex ratio and the evolution of aggression in fruit flies. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20203053. [PMID: 33726599 PMCID: PMC8059548 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.3053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggressive behaviours are among the most striking displayed by animals, and aggression strongly impacts fitness in many species. Aggression varies plastically in response to the social environment, but we lack direct tests of how aggression evolves in response to intra-sexual competition. We investigated how aggression in both sexes evolves in response to the competitive environment, using populations of Drosophila melanogaster that we experimentally evolved under female-biased, equal, and male-biased sex ratios. We found that after evolution in a female-biased environment—with less male competition for mates—males fought less often on food patches, although the total frequency and duration of aggressive behaviour did not change. In females, evolution in a female-biased environment—where female competition for resources is higher—resulted in more frequent aggressive interactions among mated females, along with a greater increase in post-mating aggression. These changes in female aggression could not be attributed solely to evolution either in females or in male stimulation of female aggression, suggesting that coevolved interactions between the sexes determine female post-mating aggression. We found evidence consistent with a positive genetic correlation for aggression between males and females, suggesting a shared genetic basis. This study demonstrates the experimental evolution of a behaviour strongly linked to fitness, and the potential for the social environment to shape the evolution of contest behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Bath
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Danielle Edmunds
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Jessica Norman
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Charlotte Atkins
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Lucy Harper
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Wayne G Rostant
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Stuart Wigby
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK.,Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jennifer C Perry
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
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22
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Maggu K, Ahlawat N, Geeta Arun M, Meena A, Prasad NG. Divergence of responses to variable socio-sexual environments in laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster evolving under altered operational sex ratios. Evolution 2020; 75:414-426. [PMID: 33319380 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Post-copulatory sexual selection (PSS) is an important selective force that determines fitness in polyandrous species. PSS can be intense in some cases and can drive the evolution of remarkable ejaculate properties. In males, investment in ejaculate plays an important role in the outcome of PSS. Thus, males are expected to adaptively tailor their ejaculate according to the perceived competition in their vicinity. Plastic responses in ejaculate investment to variation in intrasexual competition are disparate and widespread in males. We investigated the evolution of plasticity in reproductive traits using Drosophila melanogaster populations evolving for more than 150 generations under male- or female-biased sex ratios. When exposed to different numbers of competitors early in their life, males from these two regimes responded differently in terms of their copulation duration and sperm competitive ability. In addition, the effect of this early life experience wore off at different rates in males of male-biased and female-biased regimes with increasing time from the removal of competitive cues. Furthermore, our study finds that males change their reproductive strategies depending upon the identity of rival males. Together, our results provide evidence of the evolution of male reproductive investment that depends on socio-sexual cues experienced early in life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Maggu
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, India
| | - Neetika Ahlawat
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, India
| | - Manas Geeta Arun
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, India
| | - Abhishek Meena
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, India
| | - Nagaraj Guru Prasad
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, India
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23
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Shandilya A, Singh P, Mishra G, Omkar O. Cost of mating in male
Menochilus sexmaculatus
(Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Ethology 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/eth.13099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Apoorva Shandilya
- Ladybird Research Laboratory Department of Zoology University of Lucknow Lucknow India
| | - Priya Singh
- Ladybird Research Laboratory Department of Zoology University of Lucknow Lucknow India
| | - Geetanjali Mishra
- Ladybird Research Laboratory Department of Zoology University of Lucknow Lucknow India
| | - Omkar Omkar
- Ladybird Research Laboratory Department of Zoology University of Lucknow Lucknow India
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24
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Stångberg J, Immonen E, Moreno PP, Bolund E. Experimentally induced intrasexual mating competition and sex-specific evolution in female and male nematodes. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:1677-1688. [PMID: 32945028 PMCID: PMC7756511 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in life history traits and their trade-offs is widespread among sexually reproducing animals and is strongly influenced by the differences in reproductive strategies between the sexes. We investigated how intrasexual competition influenced specific life history traits, important to fitness and their trade-offs in the outcrossing nematode Caenorhabditis remanei. Here, we altered the strength of sex-specific selection through experimental evolution with increased potential for intrasexual competition by skewing the adult sex ratio towards either females or males (1:10 or 10:1) over 30 generations and subsequently measured the phenotypic response to selection in three traits related to fitness: body size, fecundity and tolerance to heat stress. We observed a greater evolutionary change in females than males for body size and peak fitness, suggesting that females may experience stronger net selection and potentially harbour higher amounts of standing genetic variance compared to males. Our study highlights the importance of investigating direct and indirect effects of intrasexual competition in both sexes in order to capture sex-specific responses and understand the evolution of sexual dimorphism in traits expressed by both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Stångberg
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elina Immonen
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Pilar Puimedon Moreno
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Elisabeth Bolund
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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25
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Frequent mating reduces male mating rate but not offspring quality or quantity in a neriid fly. Evol Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-020-10076-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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26
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Dore AA, Rostant WG, Bretman A, Chapman T. Plastic male mating behavior evolves in response to the competitive environment. Evolution 2020; 75:101-115. [PMID: 32844404 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Male reproductive phenotypes can evolve in response to the social and sexual environment. The expression of many such phenotypes may also be plastic within an individual's lifetime. For example, male Drosophila melanogaster show significantly extended mating duration following a period of exposure to conspecific male rivals. The costs and benefits of reproductive investment, and plasticity itself, can be shaped by the prevailing sociosexual environment and by resource availability. We investigated these ideas using experimental evolution lines of D. melanogaster evolving under three fixed sex ratios (high, medium, and low male-male competition) on either rich or poor adult diets. We found that males evolving in high-competition environments evolved longer mating durations overall. In addition, these males expressed a novel type of plastic behavioral response following exposure to rival males: they both significantly reduced and showed altered courtship delivery, and exhibited significantly longer mating latencies. Plasticity in male mating duration in response to rivals was maintained in all of the lines, suggesting that the costs of plasticity were minimal. None of the evolutionary responses tested were consistently affected by dietary resource regimes. Collectively, the results show that fixed behavioral changes and new augmentations to the repertoire of reproductive behaviors can evolve rapidly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice A Dore
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Wayne G Rostant
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda Bretman
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
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27
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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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28
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Abraham S, Moyano A, Murillo Dasso S, Van Nieuwenhove G, Ovruski S, Pérez-Staples D. Male accessory gland depletion in a tephritid fly affects female fecundity independently of sperm depletion. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-020-02835-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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29
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Douglas T, Anderson R, Saltz JB. Limits to male reproductive potential across mating bouts in Drosophila melanogaster. Anim Behav 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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30
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Filice DCS, Bhargava R, Dukas R. Plasticity in male mating behavior modulates female life history in fruit flies. Evolution 2020; 74:365-376. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David C. S. Filice
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and BehaviourMcMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Rajat Bhargava
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and BehaviourMcMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and BehaviourMcMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4K1 Canada
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31
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Weber M, Giannakara A, Ramm SA. Seminal fluid-mediated fitness effects in the simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:13889-13901. [PMID: 31938489 PMCID: PMC6953679 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
As a class, seminal fluid proteins are expected to exert strong effects on mating partners due to the selection pressures of sperm competition and sexual conflict. But because of the complexity of this secretion, linking specific proteins to downstream effects on own fitness-via manipulating the reproductive behavior, physiology, and ultimately the sperm utilization of mating partners-is not straightforward. Here, we adopted a systematic gene knockdown approach to screen for seminal fluid-mediated fitness effects in the simultaneously hermaphroditic flatworm Macrostomum lignano. We focused on 18 transcripts in M. lignano seminal fluid, testing how their RNA interference-induced knockdown impacted on three aspects of donor (male) reproductive success: (a) fertility (offspring production of the partner); (b) defensive sperm competitive ability, P 1; and (c) offensive sperm competitive ability, P 2. In general, the knockdown of most individual transcripts appeared to have only a minor impact on male reproductive success, though we found evidence that the knockdown of up to five different transcripts impacted on fertility; the knockdown of two other transcripts resulted in reduced P 2; and knockdown of a further transcript actually increased P 2. We thus identify a number of candidate seminal fluid transcripts that appear to modulate offspring production and sperm competitiveness in M. lignano. That only a minority of transcripts exhibit such a pattern likely reflects both the difficulty of accurately estimating sperm competitiveness and the functional redundancy of seminal fluid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Weber
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | - Athina Giannakara
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
| | - Steven A. Ramm
- Department of Evolutionary BiologyBielefeld UniversityBielefeldGermany
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32
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BMP signaling inhibition in Drosophila secondary cells remodels the seminal proteome and self and rival ejaculate functions. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:24719-24728. [PMID: 31740617 PMCID: PMC6900634 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1914491116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) exert potent effects on male and female fitness. Rapidly evolving and molecularly diverse, they derive from multiple male secretory cells and tissues. In Drosophila melanogaster, most SFPs are produced in the accessory glands, which are composed of ∼1,000 fertility-enhancing "main cells" and ∼40 more functionally cryptic "secondary cells." Inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling in secondary cells suppresses secretion, leading to a unique uncoupling of normal female postmating responses to the ejaculate: refractoriness stimulation is impaired, but offspring production is not. Secondary-cell secretions might therefore make highly specific contributions to the seminal proteome and ejaculate function; alternatively, they might regulate more global-but hitherto undiscovered-SFP functions and proteome composition. Here, we present data that support the latter model. We show that in addition to previously reported phenotypes, secondary-cell-specific BMP signaling inhibition compromises sperm storage and increases female sperm use efficiency. It also impacts second male sperm, tending to slow entry into storage and delay ejection. First male paternity is enhanced, which suggests a constraint on ejaculate evolution whereby high female refractoriness and sperm competitiveness are mutually exclusive. Using quantitative proteomics, we reveal changes to the seminal proteome that surprisingly encompass alterations to main-cell-derived proteins, indicating important cross-talk between classes of SFP-secreting cells. Our results demonstrate that ejaculate composition and function emerge from the integrated action of multiple secretory cell types, suggesting that modification to the cellular make-up of seminal-fluid-producing tissues is an important factor in ejaculate evolution.
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33
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Divergence in Transcriptional and Regulatory Responses to Mating in Male and Female Fruitflies. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16100. [PMID: 31695054 PMCID: PMC6834580 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51141-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mating induces extensive physiological, biochemical and behavioural changes in female animals of many taxa. In contrast, the overall phenotypic and transcriptomic consequences of mating for males, hence how they might differ from those of females, are poorly described. Post mating responses in each sex are rapidly initiated, predicting the existence of regulatory mechanisms in addition to transcriptional responses involving de novo gene expression. That post mating responses appear different for each sex also predicts that the genome-wide signatures of mating should show evidence of sex-specific specialisation. In this study, we used high resolution RNA sequencing to provide the first direct comparisons of the transcriptomic responses of male and female Drosophila to mating, and the first comparison of mating-responsive miRNAs in both sexes in any species. As predicted, the results revealed the existence of sex- and body part-specific mRNA and miRNA expression profiles. More genes were differentially expressed in the female head-thorax than the abdomen following mating, whereas the opposite was true in males. Indeed, the transcriptional profile of male head-thorax tissue was largely unaffected by mating, and no differentially expressed genes were detected at the most stringent significance threshold. A subset of ribosomal genes in females were differentially expressed in both body parts, but in opposite directions, consistent with the existence of body part-specific resource allocation switching. Novel, mating-responsive miRNAs in each sex were also identified, and a miRNA-mRNA interactions analysis revealed putative targets among mating-responsive genes. We show that the structure of genome-wide responses by each sex to mating is strongly divergent, and provide new insights into how shared genomes can achieve characteristic distinctiveness.
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34
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Divergent allocation of sperm and the seminal proteome along a competition gradient in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:17925-17933. [PMID: 31431535 PMCID: PMC6731677 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1906149116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ejaculate quality plays an essential role in fertility, sperm competition, and offspring health. A key modulator of ejaculate quality is the social environment. Although males across taxa are known to strategically allocate sperm in response to rivals, how this applies to myriad other ejaculate components is poorly resolved. Here, we take a multilevel approach, from protein to fitness, to show that Drosophila melanogaster males divergently allocate sperm and seminal fluid proteins along a competition gradient. Using a combination of fluorescence-labeled sperm, quantitative proteomics, and multimating assays, we demonstrate that males are remarkably sensitive to the intensity of competition they perceive, show compositional change across and within portions of the ejaculate, and that this compositional change carries distinct costs and benefits. Sperm competition favors large, costly ejaculates, and theory predicts the evolution of allocation strategies that enable males to plastically tailor ejaculate expenditure to sperm competition threat. While greater sperm transfer in response to a perceived increase in the risk of sperm competition is well-supported, we have a poor understanding of whether males (i) respond to changes in perceived intensity of sperm competition, (ii) use the same allocation rules for sperm and seminal fluid, and (iii) experience changes in current and future reproductive performance as a result of ejaculate compositional changes. Combining quantitative proteomics with fluorescent sperm labeling, we show that Drosophila melanogaster males exercise independent control over the transfer of sperm and seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) under different levels of male–male competition. While sperm transfer peaks at low competition, consistent with some theoretical predictions based on sperm competition intensity, the abundance of transferred SFPs generally increases at high competition levels. However, we find that clusters of SFPs vary in the directionality and sensitivity of their response to competition, promoting compositional change in seminal fluid. By tracking the degree of decline in male mating probability and offspring production across successive matings, we provide evidence that ejaculate compositional change represents an adaptive response to current sperm competition, but one that comes at a cost to future mating performance. Our work reveals a previously unknown divergence in ejaculate component allocation rules, exposes downstream costs of elevated ejaculate investment, and ultimately suggests a central role for ejaculate compositional plasticity in sexual selection.
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Fernandes Martins MJ. Adult sex-ratio in ostracods and its implications for sexual selection. INVERTEBR REPROD DEV 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/07924259.2019.1592789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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Macartney EL, Crean AJ, Nakagawa S, Bonduriansky R. Effects of nutrient limitation on sperm and seminal fluid: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:1722-1739. [PMID: 31215758 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Theory predicts that costly sexual traits should be reduced when individuals are in poor condition (i.e. traits should exhibit condition-dependent expression). It is therefore widely expected that male ejaculate traits, such as sperm and seminal fluid, will exhibit reduced quantity and quality when dietary nutrients are limited. However, reported patterns of ejaculate condition dependence are highly variable, and there has been no comprehensive synthesis of underlying sources of such variation in condition-dependent responses. In particular, it remains unclear whether all ejaculate traits are equally sensitive to nutrient intake, and whether such traits are particularly sensitive to certain dietary nutrients, respond more strongly to nutrients during specific life stages, or respond more strongly in some taxonomic groups. We systematically reviewed these potential sources of variation through a meta-analysis across 50 species of arthropods and vertebrates (from 71 papers and 348 effect sizes). We found that overall, ejaculate traits are moderately reduced when dietary nutrients are limited, but we also detected substantial variation in responses. Seminal fluid quantity was strongly and consistently condition dependent, while sperm quantity was moderately condition dependent. By contrast, aspects of sperm quality (particularly sperm viability and morphology) were less consistently reduced under nutrient limitation. Ejaculate traits tended to respond in a condition-dependent manner to a wide range of dietary manipulations, especially to caloric and protein restriction. Finally, while all major taxa for which sufficient data exist (i.e. arthropods, mammals, fish) showed condition dependence of ejaculate traits, we detected some taxonomic differences in the life stage that is most sensitive to nutrient limitation, and in the degree of condition dependence of specific ejaculate traits. Together, these biologically relevant factors accounted for nearly 20% of the total variance in ejaculate responses to nutrient limitation. Interestingly, body size showed considerably stronger condition-dependent responses compared to ejaculate traits, suggesting that ejaculate trait expression may be strongly canalised to protect important reproductive functions, or that the cost of producing an ejaculate is relatively low. Taken together, our findings show that condition-dependence of ejaculate traits is taxonomically widespread, but there are also many interesting, biologically relevant sources of variation that require further investigation. In particular, further research is needed to understand the differences in selective pressures that result in differential patterns of ejaculate condition dependence across taxa and ejaculate traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Angela J Crean
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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House CM, Rapkin J, Hunt J, Hosken DJ. Operational sex ratio and density predict the potential for sexual selection in the broad-horned beetle. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Singh P, Mishra G, Omkar. Influence of body size and familiarity on mating and reproductive parameters in the zig-zag ladybird beetle, Menochilus sexmaculatus (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). CAN J ZOOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Body size often indicates an individual’s quality and so mate selection is typically for larger individuals, including in ladybirds (Coccinellidae). Many organisms including ladybirds are also are known to refuse mating attempts with familiar individuals, but whether at the expense of mating with larger individuals is not clear. We assessed the cumulative effect of body size and familiarity on mating and reproductive behaviour in the zig-zag ladybird beetle (Menochilus sexmaculatus (Fabricius, 1781) = Cheilomenes sexmaculata (Fabricius, 1781)). For this study, individuals were separated into small- and large-bodied individuals and allowed to mate in all possible combinations. Furthermore, following the first mating, an immediate second mating was provided to the males, with either a familiar (same as in the first mating) or an unfamiliar (new female with the same mating status) female. Mating and reproductive parameters were recorded. The mating duration was longer with familiar partners than unfamiliar individuals. Mating duration was shorter for the second mating, suggesting that mating and ejaculate transfer are costly, to assure higher reproductive success. In this ladybird beetle, familiarity modified mating duration, whereas fecundity and egg viability were influenced by body size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya Singh
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India
| | - Geetanjali Mishra
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India
| | - Omkar
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India
- Ladybird Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, India
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Sexual conflict drives male manipulation of female postmating responses in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:8437-8444. [PMID: 30962372 PMCID: PMC6486729 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1821386116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In species with males and females, reproduction requires contributions from both sexes and therefore some degree of cooperation. At the same time, antagonistic interactions can evolve because of the differing goals of males and females. We aligned the interests of the sexes in the naturally promiscuous fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster by enforcing randomized monogamy for more than 150 generations. Males repeatedly evolved to manipulate females less, a pattern visible in both the timing of female reproductive effort and gene expression changes after mating. Male investment in expression of genes encoding seminal fluid proteins, which shape the female postmating response, declined concurrently. Our results confirm the presence of sexually antagonistic selection on postcopulatory interactions that can be reversed by monogamy. In many animals, females respond to mating with changes in physiology and behavior that are triggered by molecules transferred by males during mating. In Drosophila melanogaster, proteins in the seminal fluid are responsible for important female postmating responses, including temporal changes in egg production, elevated feeding rates and activity levels, reduced sexual receptivity, and activation of the immune system. It is unclear to what extent these changes are mutually beneficial to females and males or instead represent male manipulation. Here we use an experimental evolution approach in which females are randomly paired with a single male each generation, eliminating any opportunity for competition for mates or mate choice and thereby aligning the evolutionary interests of the sexes. After >150 generations of evolution, males from monogamous populations elicited a weaker postmating stimulation of egg production and activity than males from control populations that evolved with a polygamous mating system. Males from monogamous populations did not differ from males from polygamous populations in their ability to induce refractoriness to remating in females, but they were inferior to polygamous males in sperm competition. Mating-responsive genes in both the female abdomen and head showed a dampened response to mating with males from monogamous populations. Males from monogamous populations also exhibited lower expression of genes encoding seminal fluid proteins, which mediate the female response to mating. Together, these results demonstrate that the female postmating response, and the male molecules involved in eliciting this response, are shaped by ongoing sexual conflict.
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Koppik M, Ruhmann H, Fricke C. The effect of mating history on male reproductive ageing in Drosophila melanogaster. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 111:16-24. [PMID: 30312587 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 10/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/08/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Mating bears costs, but how these costs affect the senescence of reproductive traits in males has received relatively little attention. Males of many species show reduced benefits from pre- and post-copulatory reproductive traits during ageing. Senescence of post-copulatory reproductive traits is often linked to a reduction in sperm quantity and quality, but can also be a consequence of changes in seminal fluid proteins that are transferred alongside sperm during mating. Here we investigated how mating history affects male reproductive ageing, especially at the post-copulatory level, using Drosophila melanogaster, a species in which links between seminal fluid proteins and male reproductive traits are well established. Besides a male cohort kept virgin until the start of the experiment we also included a cohort of males kept together with females allowing for ample mating opportunities. With these males we conducted a series of behavioral experiments covering several aspects of male reproductive success with males ranging in age from 4 days to 6 weeks after eclosion. Additionally, we investigated the storage capacity of male accessory glands (AG), the production site of the majority of seminal fluid proteins. We found male reproductive success to decline with increasing male age and, most importantly, males with prior matings showed a reduced performance in pre-copulatory success. However, our data suggest a constant short-term cost of mating rather than an accelerated senescence of pre-copulatory traits. In contrast, senescence of post-copulatory reproductive traits differed between mated and virgin males, hinting at mating costs in males altering the ageing process. We could not find any differences in the capacity of the AG to store seminal fluid proteins, however, our data suggest that old males transfer fewer seminal fluid proteins in a single mating. We conclude that a variety of traits is affected by male reproductive ageing in D. melanogaster with the cost of mating varying in its impact on senescence in these traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareike Koppik
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster, Huefferstr. 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
| | - Hanna Ruhmann
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster, Huefferstr. 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany; Muenster Graduate School of Evolution, University of Muenster, Huefferstr. 1a, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
| | - Claudia Fricke
- Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Muenster, Huefferstr. 1, D-48149 Muenster, Germany.
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Macartney EL, Nicovich PR, Bonduriansky R, Crean AJ. Developmental diet irreversibly shapes male post-copulatory traits in the neriid fly Telostylinus angusticollis. J Evol Biol 2018; 31:1894-1902. [PMID: 30267554 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13384] [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: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient availability has been shown to influence investment in many fitness-related traits, including male reproductive success. Many studies have demonstrated that a reduction in nutrient availability alters male post-copulatory trait expression, with some studies demonstrating an effect of developmental nutrients and others, an effect of adult nutrients. However, few studies have manipulated both developmental and adult nutrients in the same experiment. Therefore, it is not clear what life-stage has the greatest effect on post-copulatory trait expression, and if the effects of developmental and adult nutrients can interact. Here, we investigate effects of developmental and adult nutrition on male testes and accessory gland size, sperm movement within the female reproductive tract and sperm length in the neriid fly, Telostylinus angusticollis. We found that males fed a nutrient-poor developmental diet produced sperm with a reduced tail beat frequency and had smaller testes and accessory glands compared to males fed a nutrient-rich developmental diet. In contrast, we found no effects of adult nutrition on any traits measured, although sperm length was correlated with body size and male age but unaffected by nutrition at any stage. Therefore, investment in adult post-copulatory traits is determined early on by developmental nutrients in male neriid flies, and this effect is not altered by adult nutrient availability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip R Nicovich
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging and EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Angela J Crean
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Macartney EL, Crean AJ, Bonduriansky R. Epigenetic paternal effects as costly, condition-dependent traits. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 121:248-256. [PMID: 29904169 PMCID: PMC6082865 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0096-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now recognized that post-copulatory traits, such as sperm and ejaculate production can impose metabolic costs, and such traits are therefore expected to exhibit condition-dependent expression, whereby, low condition individuals experience a greater marginal cost of investment compared to high condition individuals. Ejaculates are especially costly in species where males invest in offspring quality through nutrient-rich spermatophores or other seminal nuptial gifts. However, recent evidence shows that, in species where males do not provision females or offspring, males can still influence offspring development through paternal effects mediated by epigenetic factors, such as non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation and chromatin structure. Because such epigenetic paternal effects do not involve the transfer of substantial quantities of resources, such as nutrients, the costs of conferring such effects have not been considered. Here we argue that if selection favours paternal investment in offspring quality through epigenetic factors, then the epigenetic machinery required to bring about such effects may also be expected to evolve strongly condition-dependent expression. We outline indirect evidence suggesting that epigenetic paternal effects could impose substantial metabolic costs, consider the conditions under which selection may act on such effects, and suggest ways to test for differential costs and condition-dependence of these effects. Incorporating epigenetic paternal effects into condition-dependent life history theory will further our understanding of the heritability of fitness and the evolution of paternal investment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
| | - Angela J Crean
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
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Nystrand M, Cassidy EJ, Dowling DK. The effects of a bacterial challenge on reproductive success of fruit flies evolved under low or high sexual selection. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:9341-9352. [PMID: 30377505 PMCID: PMC6194216 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2018] [Revised: 06/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The capacity of individuals to cope with stress, for example, from pathogen exposure, might decrease with increasing levels of sexual selection, although it remains unclear which sex should be more sensitive. Here, we measured the ability of each sex to maintain high reproductive success following challenges with either heat-killed bacteria or procedural control, across replicate populations of Drosophila melanogaster evolved under either high or low levels of sexual selection. Our experiment was run across four separate sampling blocks. We found an interaction between bacterial treatment, sexual selection treatment, and sampling block on female reproductive success. Specifically, and only in the fourth block, we observed that bacterial-challenged females that had evolved under high sexual selection, exhibited lower reproductive success than bacterial-challenged females that had evolved under low sexual selection. Furthermore, we could trace this block-specific effect to a reduction in viscosity of the ovipositioning substrate in the fourth block, in which females laid around 50% more eggs than in previous blocks. In contrast, patterns of male reproductive success were consistent across blocks. Males that evolved under high sexual selection exhibited higher reproductive success than their low-selection counterparts, regardless of whether they were subjected to a bacterial challenge or not. Our results are consistent with the prediction that heightened sexual selection will invoke male-specific evolutionary increases in reproductive fitness. Furthermore, our findings suggest that females might pay fitness costs when exposed to high levels of sexual selection, but that these costs may lie cryptic, and only be revealed under certain environmental contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elizabeth J. Cassidy
- School of Biological SciencesMonash UniversityClaytonVic.Australia
- Department of Plant and Organismal BiologyUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagenDenmark
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Cory AL, Schneider JM. Mate availability does not influence mating strategies in males of the sexually cannibalistic spider Argiope bruennichi. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5360. [PMID: 30123703 PMCID: PMC6086085 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sexual selection theory predicts that male investment in a current female should be a function of female density and male competition. While many studies have focused on male competition, the impact of female density on male mating investment has been widely neglected. Here, we aimed to close this gap and tested effects of mate density on male mating decisions in the orb-web spider Argiope bruennichi. Males of this species mutilate their genitalia during copulation, which reduces sperm competition and limits their mating rate to a maximum of two females (bigyny). The mating rate is frequently further reduced by female aggression and cannibalization. Males can reduce the risk of cannibalism if they jump off the female in time, but will then transfer fewer sperm. An alternative solution of this trade-off is to copulate longer, commit self-sacrifice and secure higher minimal paternity. The self-sacrificial strategy may be adaptive if prospective mating chances are uncertain. In A. bruennichi, this uncertainty may arise from quick changes in population dynamics. Therefore, we expected that males would immediately respond to information about low or high mate availability and opt for self-sacrifice after a single copulation under low mate availability. If male survival depends on information about prospective mating chances, we further predicted that under high mate availability, we would find a higher rate of males that leave the first mating partner to follow a bigynous mating strategy. Method We used naïve males and compared their mating decisions among two treatments that differed in the number of signalling females. In the high mate availability treatment, males perceived pheromone signals from four adult, virgin females, while in the low mate availability treatment only one of four females was adult and virgin and the other three were penultimate and unreceptive. Results Males took more time to start mate searching if mate availability was low. However, a self-sacrificial strategy was not more likely under low mate availability. We found no effects of treatment on the duration of copulation, the probability to survive the first copulation or the probability of bigyny. Interestingly, survival chances depended on male size and were higher in small males. Discussion Our results do not support the hypothesis that mate density variation affects male mating investment, although they clearly perceived mate density, which they presumably assessed by pheromone quantity. One reason for the absence of male adjustments to mating tactics could be that adaptations to survive female attacks veil adaptations that facilitate mating decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Lena Cory
- Institute of Zoology, Universität Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
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45
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Uggla C, Mace R. Adult sex ratio and social status predict mating and parenting strategies in Northern Ireland. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 372:rstb.2016.0318. [PMID: 28760761 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2016.0318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence from animal species indicates that a male-biased adult sex ratio (ASR) can lead to higher levels of male parental investment and that there is heterogeneity in behavioural responses to mate scarcity depending on mate value. In humans, however, there is little consistent evidence of the effect of the ASR on pair-bond stability and parental investment and even less of how it varies by an individual's mate value. In this paper we use detailed census data from Northern Ireland to test the association between the ASR and pair-bond stability and parental investment by social status (education and social class) as a proxy for mate value. We find evidence that female, but not male, cohabitation is associated with the ASR. In female-biased areas women with low education are less likely to be in a stable pair-bond than highly educated women, but in male-biased areas women with the lowest education are as likely to be in a stable pair-bond as their most highly educated peers. For both sexes risk of separation is greater at female-biased sex ratios. Lastly, our data show a weak relationship between parental investment and the ASR that depends on social class. We discuss these results in the light of recent reformulations of parental investment theory.This article is part of the themed issue 'Adult sex ratios and reproductive decisions: a critical re-examination of sex differences in human and animal societies'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Uggla
- Stockholm University Demography Unit (SUDA), Sociology Department, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden .,Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton street, London WC1H 0BW, UK
| | - Ruth Mace
- Department of Anthropology, University College London, 14 Taviton street, London WC1H 0BW, UK .,Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
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46
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Meade L, Harley E, Cotton A, Howie JM, Pomiankowski A, Fowler K. Variation in the benefits of multiple mating on female fertility in wild stalk-eyed flies. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:10103-10115. [PMID: 29238540 PMCID: PMC5723596 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyandry, female mating with multiple males, is widespread across many taxa and almost ubiquitous in insects. This conflicts with the traditional idea that females are constrained by their comparatively large investment in each offspring, and so should only need to mate once or a few times. Females may need to mate multiply to gain sufficient sperm supplies to maintain their fertility, especially in species in which male promiscuity results in division of their ejaculate among many females. Here, we take a novel approach, utilizing wild-caught individuals to explore how natural variation among females and males influences fertility gains for females. We studied this in the Malaysian stalk-eyed fly species Teleopsis dalmanni. After an additional mating, females benefit from greatly increased fertility (proportion fertile eggs). Gains from multiple mating are not uniform across females; they are greatest when females have high fecundity or low fertility. Fertility gains also vary spatially, as we find an additional strong effect of the stream from which females were collected. Responses were unaffected by male mating history (males kept with females or in male-only groups). Recent male mating may be of lesser importance because males in many species, including T. dalmanni, partition their ejaculate to maintain their fertility over many matings. This study highlights the importance of complementing laboratory studies with data on wild-caught populations, where there is considerable heterogeneity between individuals. Future research should focus on environmental, demographic and genetic factors that are likely to significantly influence variation in individual female fecundity and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Meade
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Elisabeth Harley
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Alison Cotton
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- CoMPLEXUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Bristol Zoological SocietyBristol Zoo GardensCliftonBristolUK
| | - James M. Howie
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Andrew Pomiankowski
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- CoMPLEXUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Kevin Fowler
- Department of Genetics, Evolution and EnvironmentUniversity College LondonLondonUK
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Wensing KU, Koppik M, Fricke C. Precopulatory but not postcopulatory male reproductive traits diverge in response to mating system manipulation in Drosophila melanogaster. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:10361-10378. [PMID: 29238561 PMCID: PMC5723610 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 09/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Competition between males creates potential for pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection and conflict. Theory predicts that males facing risk of sperm competition should evolve traits to secure their reproductive success. If those traits are costly to females, the evolution of such traits may also increase conflict between the sexes. Conversely, under the absence of sperm competition, one expectation is for selection on male competitive traits to relax thereby also relaxing sexual conflict. Experimental evolution studies are a powerful tool to test this expectation. Studies in multiple insect species have yielded mixed and partially conflicting results. In this study, we evaluated male competitive traits and male effects on female costs of mating in Drosophila melanogaster after replicate lines evolved for more than 50 generations either under enforced monogamy or sustained polygamy, thus manipulating the extent of intrasexual competition between males. We found that in a setting where males competed directly with a rival male for access to a female and fertilization of her ova polygamous males had superior reproductive success compared to monogamous males. When comparing reproductive success solely in double mating standard sperm competition assays, however, we found no difference in male sperm defense competitiveness between the different selection regimes. Instead, we found monogamous males to be inferior in precopulatory competition, which indicates that in our system, enforced monogamy relaxed selection on traits important in precopulatory rather than postcopulatory competition. We discuss our findings in the context of findings from previous experimental evolution studies in Drosophila ssp. and other invertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina U. Wensing
- Institute for Evolution and BiodiversityUniversity of MuensterMuensterGermany
- Muenster Graduate School of EvolutionUniversity of MuensterMuensterGermany
| | - Mareike Koppik
- Institute for Evolution and BiodiversityUniversity of MuensterMuensterGermany
| | - Claudia Fricke
- Institute for Evolution and BiodiversityUniversity of MuensterMuensterGermany
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Polak M, Simmons LW, Benoit JB, Ruohonen K, Simpson SJ, Solon-Biet SM. Nutritional geometry of paternal effects on embryo mortality. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:20171492. [PMID: 29021174 PMCID: PMC5647300 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Well-established causal links exist between maternal nutritional deficits and embryo health and viability. By contrast, environmental effects operating through the father that could influence embryo mortality have seldom been examined. Yet, ejaculates can require non-trivial resource allocation, and seminal plasma components are increasingly recognized to exert wide-ranging effects on females and offspring, so paternal dietary effects on the embryo should be expected. We test for effects of varying levels of protein (P), carbohydrate (C) and caloric load in adult male diet on embryo mortality in Drosophila melanogaster We demonstrate that macronutrient balance and caloric restriction exert significant effects, and that nutritional effects are more impactful when a prior mating has occurred. Once-mated males produced embryos with marginally elevated mortality under high-caloric densities and a 1 : 8 P : C ratio. In contrast, embryos produced by twice-mated males were significantly more likely to die under male caloric restriction, an outcome that may have resulted from shifts in ejaculate quality and/or epigenetic paternal effects. Body nutrient reserves were strongly and predictably altered by diet, and body condition, in turn, was negatively related to embryo mortality. Thus, sire nutritional history and resultant shifts in metabolic state predict embryo viability and post-fertilization fitness outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Polak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH 42551-0006, USA
| | - Leigh W Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 2009, Australia
| | - Joshua B Benoit
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati OH 42551-0006, USA
| | - Kari Ruohonen
- Cargill Aqua Nutrition, Hanaveien17, 4327 Sandnes, Norway
| | - Stephen J Simpson
- Charles Perkins Centre, The University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
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Mohorianu I, Bretman A, Smith DT, Fowler EK, Dalmay T, Chapman T. Genomic responses to the socio-sexual environment in male Drosophila melanogaster exposed to conspecific rivals. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2017; 23:1048-1059. [PMID: 28428330 PMCID: PMC5473139 DOI: 10.1261/rna.059246.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Socio-sexual environments have profound effects on fitness. Local sex ratios can alter the threat of sexual competition, to which males respond via plasticity in reproductive behaviors and ejaculate composition. In Drosophila melanogaster, males detect the presence of conspecific, same-sex mating rivals prior to mating using multiple, redundant sensory cues. Males that respond to rivals gain significant fitness benefits by altering mating duration and ejaculate composition. Here we investigated the underlying genome-wide changes involved. We used RNA-seq to analyze male transcriptomic responses 2, 26, and 50 h after exposure to rivals, a time period that was previously identified as encompassing the major facets of male responses to rivals. The results showed a strong early activation of multiple sensory genes in the head-thorax (HT), prior to the expression of any phenotypic differences. This gene expression response was reduced by 26 h, at the time of maximum phenotypic change, and shut off by 50 h. In the abdomen (A), fewer genes changed in expression and gene expression responses appeared to increase over time. The results also suggested that different sets of functionally equivalent genes might be activated in different replicates. This could represent a mechanism by which robustness is conferred upon highly plastic traits. Overall, our study reveals that mRNA-seq can identify subtle genomic signatures characteristic of flexible behavioral phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Mohorianu
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Amanda Bretman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
- School of Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, United Kingdom
| | - Damian T Smith
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Emily K Fowler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Tamas Dalmay
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
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Macartney EL, Crean AJ, Bonduriansky R. Adult dietary protein has age- and context-dependent effects on male post-copulatory performance. J Evol Biol 2017; 30:1633-1643. [PMID: 28386961 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The highly conserved effect of dietary protein restriction on lifespan and ageing is observed in both sexes and across a vast range of taxa. This extension of lifespan is frequently accompanied by a reduction in female fecundity, and it has been hypothesized that individuals may reallocate resources away from reproduction and into somatic maintenance. However, effects of dietary protein restriction on male reproduction are less consistent, suggesting that these effects may depend on other environmental parameters. Using the neriid fly, Telostylinus angusticollis, we examined age-specific effects of adult dietary protein restriction on male post-copulatory reproductive performance (fecundity and offspring viability). To explore the context dependence of these effects, we simultaneously manipulated male larval diet and adult mating history. We found that protein-restricted males sired less viable offspring at young ages, but offspring viability increased with paternal age and eventually exceeded that of fully fed males. The number of eggs laid by females was not affected by male dietary protein, whereas egg hatching success was subject to a complex interaction of male adult diet, age, larval diet and mating history. These findings suggest that effects of protein restriction on male reproduction are highly context dependent and cannot be explained by a simple reallocation of resources from reproduction to somatic maintenance. Rather, these effects appear to involve changes in the scheduling of male reproductive investment with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - A J Crean
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - R Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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