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Míčková K, Jelínek V, Tomášek O, Stopková R, Stopka P, Albrecht T. Proteomic analysis reveals dynamic changes in cloacal fluid composition during the reproductive season in a sexually promiscuous passerine. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14259. [PMID: 38902251 PMCID: PMC11190206 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62244-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptic female choice (CFC) is a component of postcopulatory sexual selection that allows females to influence the fertilization success of sperm from different males. While its precise mechanisms remain unclear, they may involve the influence of the protein composition of the female reproductive fluids on sperm functionality. This study maps the protein composition of the cloacal fluid across different phases of female reproductive cycle in a sexually promiscuous passerine, the barn swallow. Similar to mammals, the protein composition in the female reproductive tract differed between receptive (when females copulate) and nonreceptive phases. With the change in the protein background, the enriched gene ontology terms also shifted. Within the receptive phase, distinctions were observed between proteomes sampled just before and during egg laying. However, three proteins exhibited increased abundance during the entire receptive phase compared to nonreceptive phases. These proteins are candidates in cryptic female choice, as all of them can influence the functionality of sperm or sperm-egg interaction. Our study demonstrates dynamic changes in the cloacal environment throughout the avian breeding cycle, emphasizing the importance of considering these fluctuations in studies of cryptic female choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristýna Míčková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Jelínek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Oldřich Tomášek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Romana Stopková
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Stopka
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Tomáš Albrecht
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
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2
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Hadlow JH, Lymbery RA, Evans JP. Paternal environment effects are driven by female reproductive fluid but not sperm age in an external fertilizer. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230368. [PMID: 37991195 PMCID: PMC10664279 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm ageing after ejaculation can generate paternal environment effects that impact offspring fitness. In many species, female reproductive fluids (FRFs), i.e. ancillary fluids released by eggs or within the female reproductive tract, may protect sperm from ageing and can additionally interact with sperm to influence offspring viability. This raises the intriguing prospect that FRFs may alleviate paternal effects associated with sperm ageing. Here, we test this novel hypothesis using the broadcast spawning mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. We show that incubating sperm in FRF prior to fertilization increases offspring viability, and that these effects occur independently of sperm age. Our results provide novel evidence that FRFs allow females to selectively bias fertilization toward higher quality sperm within an ejaculate, which in turn yields more viable offspring. We consider this FRF-mediated paternal effect in the context of female physiological control over fertilization and the transgenerational effects of female-regulated haploid selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica H. Hadlow
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Rowan A. Lymbery
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jonathan P. Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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3
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Pinzoni L, Locatello L, Gasparini C, Rasotto MB. Female reproductive fluid concentrations affect sperm performance of alternative male phenotypes in an external fertilizer. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:1198-1207. [PMID: 37438920 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
There is growing evidence that the female reproductive fluid (FRF) plays an important role in cryptic female choice through its differential effect on the performance of sperm from different males. In a natural spawning event, the male(s) may release ejaculate closer or further away from the spawning female. If the relative spatial proximity of competing males reflects the female pre-mating preference towards those males, then favoured males will encounter higher concentrations of FRF than unpreferred males. Despite this being a common situation in many external fertilizers, whether different concentrations of FRF can differentially influence the sperm performance of distinct male phenotypes (favoured and unfavoured by the female) remains to be elucidated. Here, we tested this hypothesis using the grass goby (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus), a fish with distinct territorial-sneaker reproductive tactics and female pre-mating preference towards territorial males, that consequently mate in an advantaged position and whose sperm experience higher concentrations of FRF. Our findings revealed a differential concentration-dependent effect of FRF over sneaker and territorial sperm motility only at low concentrations (i.e. at the distance where sneakers typically ejaculate), with increasing FRF concentrations (i.e. close to the eggs) similarly boosting the sperm performance of both sneaker and territorial males. The ability to release sperm close to the eggs is a prerogative of territorials, but FRF can likewise advantage the sperm of those sneakers that are able to get closer, allowing flexibility in the direction of female post-mating choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Pinzoni
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Lisa Locatello
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms (BEOM), Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Fano Marine Center, Fano, Italy
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4
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Wang X, Liu Q, Zhou L, Song Z, Li J. Effect of ovarian fluid on sperm performance in teleost with internal and external fertilization strategies. Theriogenology 2023; 206:189-196. [PMID: 37229958 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Ovarian fluid is essential for successful fertilization by maintaining the viability, motility, and velocity of sperm. The organic compounds and inorganic ions in ovarian fluid significantly influence spermatozoa's motility, velocity, and longevity. However, the effect of ovarian fluid on sperm performance is limited in teleost fish. In this study, the effect of ovarian fluid on sperm performance and its components in external fertilization species (Scophthalmus maximus, turbot) and internal fertilization species (Sebastes schlegelii, black rockfish) was investigated using computer-assisted sperm analysis, high-performance liquid chromatography, and metabolome analysis. The ovarian fluid had a distinct and species-specific effect on both species. In the black rockfish, the ovarian fluid from turbot significantly increased sperm motility (74.07% ± 4.09%), as well as VCL (45 ± 1.67 μm/s), VAP (40.17 ± 1.6 μm/s), and VSL (36.67 ± 1.86 μm/s), and longevity (352 ± 11.31 min) (P < 0.05). In the turbot, only the longevity (71.33 ± 5.69 min) and fertilization rate (65.27% ± 11.59%) showed significantly improvement (P < 0.05). The ovarian fluid was rich in organic compounds, suggesting enrichment in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis pathways. The results suggest that glycometabolism plays a crucial role in improving sperm performance in teleost with internal fertilization. Thus, incorporating ovarian fluid into the sperm activation medium can enhance artificial fertilization in fish breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueying Wang
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China
| | - Qinghua Liu
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China.
| | - Li Zhou
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zongcheng Song
- Weihai Shenghang Aquatic Product Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Weihai, China
| | - Jun Li
- CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China.
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5
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Kashef NS, Stafford DM, Sogard SM, Garza JC, Field JC, Gilbert-Horvath EA. Multiple-brooding rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) can utilize stored sperm from individual sires to fertilize consecutive broods. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023; 102:952-961. [PMID: 36752196 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Viviparous rockfishes (Sebastes spp., family Scorpaenidae) mate and store sperm in the ovaries for several months prior to fertilization, as oocytes develop for the parturition season. Although multiple paternity has been documented in single-brooding rockfishes, paternity in consecutive broods of multiple-brooding species has not been studied. Analyses of multilocus microsatellite genotypes in both residual larvae left in the ovary from a previous parturition and upcoming fertilized broods in the same ovary demonstrated evidence of the same sires in consecutive broods in chilipepper (Sebastes goodei) and speckled (Sebastes ovalis) rockfishes. One S. goodei mother showed evidence of multiple paternity from the same two sires in both consecutive broods. The ability to retain sperm, even after a parturition event, for use in subsequent broods, confers an advantage to ensure fertilization and allows for extension of the parturition season. This life-history strategy provides a bet-hedging advantage in the California Current system, an environmentally dynamic ecosystem where larval survivorship and subsequent recruitment to adult populations can vary temporally by orders of magnitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neosha S Kashef
- Fisheries Collaborative Program, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - David M Stafford
- Fisheries Collaborative Program, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Susan M Sogard
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - John C Garza
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, USA
- Department of Ocean Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - John C Field
- Fisheries Collaborative Program, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Gilbert-Horvath
- Fisheries Collaborative Program, Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California, USA
- Fisheries Ecology Division, Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Santa Cruz, California, USA
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6
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Fernlund Isaksson E, Fitzpatrick JL. Examining the potential for resource-dependent female reproductive fluid-sperm interactive effects in a livebearing fish. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:709-719. [PMID: 36891998 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Sexually selected traits can be costly to produce and maintain. The amount of resources available to an individual is therefore expected to influence investment in costly sexual traits. While resource-dependent expression of sexually selected traits has traditionally been examined in males, resource limitation can also influence how sexual selection operates in females. Female reproductive fluids are thought to be costly to produce and may play an important role in shaping the outcome of postcopulatory sexual selection by influencing sperm performance. However, we know surprisingly little about whether and how female reproductive fluids are influenced by resource limitation. Here, we examine if resource restriction influences female reproductive fluid-sperm interactive effects in the pygmy halfbeak (Dermogenys collettei), a small internally fertilizing freshwater fish where females store sperm. After experimentally altering female diets (high vs. restricted diets), we compared how female reproductive fluids influence two key metrics of sperm quality: sperm viability and velocity. While female reproductive fluids enhanced sperm viability and velocity, we found no evidence that female diet influenced the interactive effect between female reproductive fluids and sperm viability or velocity. Our findings build on the growing evidence that female reproductive fluids influence sperm performance and call for further attention to be devoted to understanding how resource quantity and quality influence how female reproductive fluids affect sperm performance.
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7
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Hankison S, Gangloff EJ, Fry B, Arnold A, Lashway AJ, Betts JM, Otap SD, Walter K, Juergens MY, Crawford A. Effects of reliance on stored sperm on reproduction in the sailfin molly Poecilia latipinna. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 101:1628-1633. [PMID: 36134581 PMCID: PMC10091790 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The impacts of relying on stored sperm were evaluated in the sailfin molly, Poecilia latipinna. Females reliant on stored sperm had fewer offspring compared to remated females, but offspring size and short-term growth rate did not differ. Thus, females may use stored sperm in cases such as previous mating with a preferred male, lack of access to mating opportunities during a reproductive cycle, or to maximize egg fertilization. Females do not compensate for producing fewer offspring however, by allocating more resources to offspring relative to their size or initial growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shala Hankison
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Eric J. Gangloff
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Breanna Fry
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Alena Arnold
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - A. J. Lashway
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Jenell M. Betts
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Sandra D. Otap
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | - Katherine Walter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
| | | | - Alax Crawford
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ohio Wesleyan UniversityDelawareOhioUSA
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8
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Gasparini C, Pilastro A, Evans JP. The role of female reproductive fluid in sperm competition. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20200077. [PMID: 33070736 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of non-gametic components of the ejaculate (seminal fluid) in fertility and sperm competitiveness is now well established. Surprisingly, however, we know far less about female reproductive fluid (FRF) in the context of sexual selection, and insights into male-FRF interactions in the context of sperm competition have only recently emerged. Despite this limited knowledge, evidence from taxonomically diverse species has revealed insights into the effects of FRF on sperm traits that have previously been implicated in studies of sperm competition. Specifically, through the differential effects of FRF on a range of sperm traits, including chemoattraction and alterations in sperm velocity, FRF has been shown to exert positive phenotypic effects on the sperm of males that are preferred as mating partners, or those from the most compatible or genetically diverse males. Despite these tantalizing insights into the putative sexually selected functions of FRF, we largely lack a mechanistic understanding of these processes. Taken together, the evidence presented here highlights the likely ubiquity of FRF-regulated biases in fertilization success across a diverse range of taxa, thus potentially elevating the importance of FRF to other non-gametic components that have so far been studied largely in males. This article is part of the theme issue 'Fifty years of sperm competition'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clelia Gasparini
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Andrea Pilastro
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Jonathan P Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, 6009 WA, Australia
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9
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Cargnelutti F, Calbacho-Rosa L, Uñates D, Costa-Schmidt LE, Córdoba-Aguilar A, Peretti AV. Copulatory behaviour increases sperm viability in female spiders. Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/blaa130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
One remarkable reproductive feature in animals with internal fertilization is a reduction in sperm viability over time in females. Whether this reduction is driven by male–male competition and/or cryptic female choice is unclear. From the perspective of cryptic female choice, we postulated that sperm viability is affected by a particular male copulatory behaviour. In this study, we investigated the following aspects: (1) sperm viability in mated females vs. males; (2) whether sperm viability varies temporally after mating; and (3) whether male copulatory behaviour covaries positively with sperm viability within females. We used the spider Holocnemus pluchei, whose males use several copulatory behaviours to court females. We found that females that stored sperm for 4 or 15 days showed no difference in sperm viability but had lower sperm viability compared with males, and males that performed a longer post-insemination behaviour had higher sperm viability inside the female. It is unclear how sperm viability is reduced and how male post-insemination behaviour affects this. It is possible that extending copulation allows males to induce females to keep sperm alive for longer. This result is predicted by theory whereby males induce females to facilitate sperm to reach and fertilize eggs based on male postcopulatory behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franco Cargnelutti
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Lucia Calbacho-Rosa
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Diego Uñates
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Luiz Ernesto Costa-Schmidt
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia, Universidade do Vale do Rio dos Sinos, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
- Departamento de Ecologia, Zoologia e Genética, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil
| | - Alex Córdoba-Aguilar
- Departamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alfredo Vicente Peretti
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Departamento de Diversidad Biológica y Ecología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Laboratorio de Biología Reproductiva y Evolución, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), Córdoba, Argentina
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10
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Cardozo G, Devigili A, Antonelli P, Pilastro A. Female sperm storage mediates post-copulatory costs and benefits of ejaculate anticipatory plasticity in the guppy. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:1294-1305. [PMID: 32614995 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Males of many species evolved the capability of adjusting their ejaculate phenotype in response to social cues to match the expected mating conditions. When females store sperm for a prolonged time, the expected fitness return of plastic adjustments of ejaculate phenotype may depend on the interval between mating and fertilization. Although prolonged female sperm storage (FSS) increases the opportunity for sperm competition, as a consequence of the longer temporal overlap of ejaculates from several males, it may also create variable selective forces on ejaculate phenotype, for example by exposing trade-offs between sperm velocity and sperm survival. We evaluated the relationship between the plasticity of ejaculate quality and FSS in the guppy, Poecilia reticulata, a polyandrous live-bearing fish in which females store sperm for several months and where stored sperm contribute significantly to a male's lifelong reproductive success. In this species, males respond to the perception of future mating opportunities by increasing the quantity (number) and quality (swimming velocity) of ready-to-use sperm (an anticipatory response called 'sperm priming'). Here we investigated (a) the effect of sperm priming on in vitro sperm viability at stripping and its temporal decline (as an estimate of sperm survival), and (b) the in vivo competitive fertilization success in relation to female sperm storage using artificial insemination. As expected, sperm-primed males produced more numerous and faster sperm, but with a reduced in vitro sperm viability at stripping and after 4 hr, compared with their counterparts. Artificial insemination revealed that the small (nonsignificant) advantage of primed sperm when fertilization immediately follows insemination is reversed when eggs are fertilized by female-stored sperm, weeks after insemination. By suggesting a plastic trade-off between sperm velocity and viability, these results demonstrate that prolonged female sperm storage generates divergent selection pressures on ejaculate phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Cardozo
- Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), CONICET-UNC and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Alessandro Devigili
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.,Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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11
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Pitnick S, Wolfner MF, Dorus S. Post-ejaculatory modifications to sperm (PEMS). Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:365-392. [PMID: 31737992 PMCID: PMC7643048 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2019] [Revised: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm must spend a minimum period of time within a female reproductive tract to achieve the capacity to fertilize oocytes. This phenomenon, termed sperm 'capacitation', was discovered nearly seven decades ago and opened a window into the complexities of sperm-female interaction. Capacitation is most commonly used to refer to a specific combination of processes that are believed to be widespread in mammals and includes modifications to the sperm plasma membrane, elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP levels, induction of protein tyrosine phosphorylation, increased intracellular Ca2+ levels, hyperactivation of motility, and, eventually, the acrosome reaction. Capacitation is only one example of post-ejaculatory modifications to sperm (PEMS) that are widespread throughout the animal kingdom. Although PEMS are less well studied in non-mammalian taxa, they likely represent the rule rather than the exception in species with internal fertilization. These PEMS are diverse in form and collectively represent the outcome of selection fashioning complex maturational trajectories of sperm that include multiple, sequential phenotypes that are specialized for stage-specific functionality within the female. In many cases, PEMS are critical for sperm to migrate successfully through the female reproductive tract, survive a protracted period of storage, reach the site of fertilization and/or achieve the capacity to fertilize eggs. We predict that PEMS will exhibit widespread phenotypic plasticity mediated by sperm-female interactions. The successful execution of PEMS thus has important implications for variation in fitness and the operation of post-copulatory sexual selection. Furthermore, it may provide a widespread mechanism of reproductive isolation and the maintenance of species boundaries. Despite their possible ubiquity and importance, the investigation of PEMS has been largely descriptive, lacking any phylogenetic consideration with regard to divergence, and there have been no theoretical or empirical investigations of their evolutionary significance. Here, we (i) clarify PEMS-related nomenclature; (ii) address the evolutionary origin, maintenance and divergence in PEMS in the context of the protracted life history of sperm and the complex, selective environment of the female reproductive tract; (iii) describe taxonomically widespread types of PEMS: sperm activation, chemotaxis and the dissociation of sperm conjugates; (iv) review the occurence of PEMS throughout the animal kingdom; (v) consider alternative hypotheses for the adaptive value of PEMS; (vi) speculate on the evolutionary implications of PEMS for genomic architecture, sexual selection, and reproductive isolation; and (vii) suggest fruitful directions for future functional and evolutionary analyses of PEMS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Pitnick
- Department of Biology, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syacuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Mariana F. Wolfner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Steve Dorus
- Department of Biology, Center for Reproductive Evolution, Syacuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
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12
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Poli F, Immler S, Gasparini C. Effects of ovarian fluid on sperm traits and its implications for cryptic female choice in zebrafish. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractIn polyandrous mating systems, females maintain the opportunity to bias male fertilization success after mating in a process known as cryptic female choice. Mechanisms of cryptic female choice have been described both in internal and external fertilizers, and may affect fertilization processes at different stages before, during, and after fertilization. In internal fertilizers, females have substantial control over sperm storage and fertilization, whereas in external fertilizers, female control is limited. A key factor proposed to mediate cryptic female choice is the fluid surrounding the eggs, the ovarian fluid, as it may directly affect sperm performance. Here, we studied the role of ovarian fluid in post-mating sexual selection using the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Firstly, we assessed how ovarian fluid affects sperm swimming performance compared with freshwater. We focused on sperm motility, velocity, swimming trajectory, and longevity, all traits associated with competitive fertilization success in externally fertilizing fish. In a second step, we used a North Carolina II design to explore female, male, and female x male effects by testing sperm motility of 2 males in the ovarian fluid of 2 females in a total of 11 blocks. Our results indicate that the ovarian fluid affects sperm performance differently from freshwater. Specifically, sperm velocity, motility, and longevity were higher in the ovarian fluid than in freshwater, whereas sperm linearity and beat cross frequency showed the opposite pattern. Moreover, these effects varied according to male, female, and male x female identities, supporting the potential for cryptic female choice mediated by ovarian fluid in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Poli
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, UK
| | - Clelia Gasparini
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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13
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Cardozo G, Pilastro A. Female nutritional condition affects ovarian fluid quality in guppies. Biol Lett 2019; 14:rsbl.2018.0122. [PMID: 29848779 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2018.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Male and female gametes are often embedded in fluids that are produced by gonads and other reproductive tissues. Female reproductive fluids, usually called ovarian fluid (OF), which often constitute a relevant volumetric component of the egg mass, are rich in ions, sugars and proteins, and are involved in several functions, from protecting gametes to facilitating fertilization, and often act as mediators of post-mating sexual selection. Despite their applied and evolutionary importance, we know virtually nothing about the costs of female reproductive fluid production. We investigated the effect of nutritional condition on OF quality by experimentally manipulating the diet of two groups of female guppies (Poecilia reticulata) which were maintained for 20 days either on a restricted diet or had ad libitum access to food. In this species, OF enhances sperm swimming longevity and velocity (a predictor of sperm competition success) and mediates post-copulatory inbreeding avoidance. We found that sperm velocity was significantly lower in the OF of diet-restricted females, indicating that OF quality is dependent on female nutritional condition. Our results demonstrate that OF represents a non-trivial component of female reproductive investment and provides a tool to investigate which OF constituents are involved in modulating OF-sperm interactions and fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Cardozo
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy.,Laboratorio de Biología del Comportamiento, Instituto de Diversidad y Ecología Animal (IDEA), CONICET-UNC and Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Andrea Pilastro
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
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14
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Zadmajid V, Myers JN, Sørensen SR, Ernest Butts IA. Ovarian fluid and its impacts on spermatozoa performance in fish: A review. Theriogenology 2019; 132:144-152. [PMID: 31022604 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Factors such as gamete quality can profoundly affect fertility, but the spawning micro-environment that surrounds the spermatozoa and eggs during gamete contact has largely been neglected. In fishes, understanding these gametic interactions is crucial because each female creates a unique spawning environment by simultaneously expelling her distinct ovarian fluid (OF) along with an egg batch. In turn, OF has been shown to influence spermatozoa performance traits by modifying spermatozoa behaviors and fertilization outcomes. Here, we shed light on these gametic interactions by overviewing literature on OF and how it impacts spermatozoa performance traits. Fish OF is clear or has slight coloration and can constitute ≤10-30% of egg mass. Viscosity of the OF is ∼2- to 3-fold higher than water and its pH ranges 6.2 to 8.8. Osmolality of the OF is lower in freshwater (190-322 mOsmol/kg) than marine species (289-514 mOsmol/kg). Na+ (98.3-213.7 mmol/L) and Cl- (89.8-172.7 mmol/L) are predominant ions in OF, while K+ (1.7-19.3 mmol/L), Mg2+ (0.4-8.1 mmol/L), and Ca2+(0.5-9.7 mmol/L) ions are detected at lower concentrations. Protein levels can be high in OF and exhibit intra- and inter-species variation (54-826 mg/100 mL). Fish OF also contains a series of organic components and substances that enhance and/or attract sperm towards the vicinity of an egg. OF can also differentially impact sperm based on genetic relatedness of mates, male phenotype (i.e. alternative reproductive tactics), or geographic origin. To conclude, when testing further reproductive paradigms, we suggest a shift from classic spermatozoa activation medium (water only) to more natural spawning media, which encompass OF-spermatozoa interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahid Zadmajid
- Department of Fisheries Science, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Kurdistan, P.O. Box 416, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Jaelen Nicole Myers
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Sune Riis Sørensen
- National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs., Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ian Anthony Ernest Butts
- School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States.
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15
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Eckel BA, Guo R, Reinhardt K. More Pitfalls with Sperm Viability Staining and a Viability-Based Stress Test to Characterize Sperm Quality. Front Ecol Evol 2017. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2017.00165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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16
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Devigili A, Fitzpatrick JL, Gasparini C, Ramnarine IW, Pilastro A, Evans JP. Possible glimpses into early speciation: the effect of ovarian fluid on sperm velocity accords with post-copulatory isolation between two guppy populations. J Evol Biol 2017; 31:66-74. [PMID: 29044818 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2017] [Revised: 08/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Identifying mechanisms of reproductive isolation is key to understanding speciation. Among the putative mechanisms underlying reproductive isolation, sperm-female interactions (post-mating-prezygotic barriers) are arguably the hardest to identify, not least because these are likely to operate at the cellular or molecular level. Yet sperm-female interactions offer great potential to prevent the transfer of genetic information between different populations at the initial stages of speciation. Here, we provide a preliminary test for the presence of a putative post-mating-prezygotic barrier operating between three populations of Trinidadian guppies (Poecilia reticulata), an internally fertilizing fish that inhabits streams with different levels of connectivity across Trinidad. We experimentally evaluate the effect of female ovarian fluid on sperm velocity (a predictor of competitive fertilization success) according to whether males and females were from the same (native) or different (foreign) populations. Our results reveal the potential for ovarian fluid to act as a post-mating-prezygotic barrier between two populations from different drainages, but also that the strength of this barrier is different among populations. This result may explain the previous finding that, in some populations, sperm from native males have precedence over foreign sperm, which could eventually lead to reproductive isolation between these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Devigili
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - J L Fitzpatrick
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.,Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - C Gasparini
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy.,Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - I W Ramnarine
- Department of Life Sciences, University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - A Pilastro
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - J P Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
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17
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Torres-Martínez A, Hernández-Franyutti A, Uribe MC, Contreras-Sánchez WM. Ovarian structure and oogenesis of the extremophile viviparous teleostPoecilia mexicana(Poeciliidae) from an active sulfur spring cave in Southern Mexico. J Morphol 2017; 278:1667-1681. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aarón Torres-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Acuicultura Tropical, División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tab; México
| | - Arlette Hernández-Franyutti
- Laboratorio de Acuicultura Tropical, División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tab; México
| | - Mari Carmen Uribe
- Laboratorio de Biología de la Reproducción Animal, Departamento de Biología Comparada, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México; México
| | - Wilfrido Miguel Contreras-Sánchez
- Laboratorio de Acuicultura Tropical, División Académica de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tab; México
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18
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Olivera-Tlahuel C, Villagrán-Santa Cruz M, Moreno-Mendoza NA, Zúñiga-Vega JJ. Morphological structures for potential sperm storage in poeciliid fishes. Does superfetation matter? J Morphol 2017; 278:907-918. [DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Revised: 01/26/2017] [Accepted: 03/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Olivera-Tlahuel
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Ciudad Universitaria 04510 Ciudad de México México
| | - Maricela Villagrán-Santa Cruz
- Departamento de Biología Comparada; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Ciudad Universitaria 04510 Ciudad de México México
| | - Norma A. Moreno-Mendoza
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Fisiología; Instituto de investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Ciudad Universitaria 04510 Ciudad de México México
| | - J. Jaime Zúñiga-Vega
- Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales; Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Ciudad Universitaria 04510 Ciudad de México México
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19
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Lemaître JF, Gaillard JM. Reproductive senescence: new perspectives in the wild. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2017; 92:2182-2199. [PMID: 28374548 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
According to recent empirical studies, reproductive senescence, the decline in reproductive success with increasing age, seems to be nearly ubiquitous in the wild. However, a clear understanding of the evolutionary causes and consequences of reproductive senescence is still lacking and requires new and integrative approaches. After identifying the sequential and complex nature of female reproductive senescence, we show that the relative contributions of physiological decline and alterations in the efficiency of parental care to reproductive senescence remain unknown and need to be assessed in the light of current evolutionary theories of ageing. We demonstrate that, although reproductive senescence is generally studied only from the female viewpoint, age-specific female reproductive success strongly depends on male-female interactions. Thus, a reduction in male fertilization efficiency with increasing age has detrimental consequences for female fitness. Lastly, we call for investigations of the role of environmental conditions on reproductive senescence, which could provide salient insights into the underlying sex-specific mechanisms of reproductive success. We suggest that embracing such directions should allow building new bridges between reproductive senescence and the study of sperm competition, parental care, mate choice and environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Lemaître
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1; CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
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20
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Cramer ERA, Ålund M, McFarlane SE, Johnsen A, Qvarnström A. Females discriminate against heterospecific sperm in a natural hybrid zone. Evolution 2016; 70:1844-55. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.12986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2016] [Revised: 05/22/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily R. A. Cramer
- Natural History Museum; University of Oslo; 0318 Oslo Norway
- Current Address: Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center; PO Box 37012 MRC5503, Washington, District of Columbia 20008, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ithaca New York 14850
| | - Murielle Ålund
- Department of Ecology and Genetics; Animal Ecology, Uppsala University; Uppsala 75236 Sweden
| | - S. Eryn McFarlane
- Department of Ecology and Genetics; Animal Ecology, Uppsala University; Uppsala 75236 Sweden
| | - Arild Johnsen
- Natural History Museum; University of Oslo; 0318 Oslo Norway
| | - Anna Qvarnström
- Department of Ecology and Genetics; Animal Ecology, Uppsala University; Uppsala 75236 Sweden
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21
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Reinhardt K, Dobler R, Abbott J. An Ecology of Sperm: Sperm Diversification by Natural Selection. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY EVOLUTION AND SYSTEMATICS 2015. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-120213-091611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Using basic ecological concepts, we introduce sperm ecology as a framework to study sperm cells. First, we describe environmental effects on sperm and conclude that evolutionary and ecological research should not neglect the overwhelming evidence presented here (both in external and internal fertilizers and in terrestrial and aquatic habitats) that sperm function is altered by many environments, including the male environment. Second, we determine that the evidence for sperm phenotypic plasticity is overwhelming. Third, we find that genotype-by-environment interaction effects on sperm function exist, but their general adaptive significance (e.g., local adaptation) awaits further research. It remains unresolved whether sperm diversification occurs by natural selection acting on sperm function or by selection on male and female microenvironments that enable optimal plastic performance of sperm (sperm niches). Environmental effects reduce fitness predictability under sperm competition, predict species distributions under global change, explain adaptive behavior, and highlight the role of natural selection in behavioral ecology and reproductive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Reinhardt
- Applied Zoology, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany;,
| | - Ralph Dobler
- Applied Zoology, Department of Biology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany;,
| | - Jessica Abbott
- Department of Biology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
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22
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Gasparini C, Congiu L, Pilastro A. Major histocompatibility complex similarity and sexual selection: different does not always mean attractive. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:4286-95. [PMID: 25940673 DOI: 10.1111/mec.13222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Revised: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Females that mate multiply have the possibility to exert postcopulatory choice and select more compatible sperm to fertilize eggs. Prior work suggests that dissimilarity in major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays an important role in determining genetic compatibility between partners. Favouring a partner with dissimilar MHC alleles would result in offspring with high MHC diversity and therefore with enhanced survival thanks to increased resistance to pathogens and parasites. The high variability of MHC genes may further allow discrimination against the sperm from related males, reducing offspring homozygosity and inbreeding risk. Despite the large body of work conducted at precopulatory level, the role of MHC similarity between partners at postcopulatory level has been rarely investigated. We used an internal fertilizing fish with high level of multiple matings (Poecilia reticulata) to study whether MHC similarity plays a role in determining the outcome of fertilization when sperm from two males compete for the same set of eggs. We also controlled for genomewide similarity by determining similarity at 10 microsatellite loci. Contrary to prediction, we found that the more MHC-similar male sired more offspring while similarity at the microsatellite loci did not predict the outcome of sperm competition. Our results suggest that MHC discrimination may be involved in avoidance of hybridization or outbreeding rather than inbreeding avoidance. This, coupled with similar findings in salmon, suggests that the preference for MHC-dissimilar mates is far from being unanimous and that pre- and postcopulatory episodes of sexual selection can indeed act in opposite directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clelia Gasparini
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, 35100, Italy.,Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Leonardo Congiu
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, 35100, Italy
| | - Andrea Pilastro
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, 35100, Italy
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23
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Devigili A, Doldán-Martelli V, Pilastro A. Exploring simultaneous allocation to mating effort, sperm production, and body growth in male guppies. Behav Ecol 2015. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arv067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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24
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Wilson CJ, Tomkins JL. Countering counteradaptations: males hijack control of female kicking behavior. Behav Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/aru022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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