1
|
Simon M, Widdig A, Weiß BM. Sniffing behavior of semi free-ranging Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus). Am J Primatol 2024; 86:e23611. [PMID: 38409866 DOI: 10.1002/ajp.23611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Olfaction is one of the evolutionarily oldest senses and plays a fundamental role in foraging and social interactions across mammals. In primates, the role of olfaction is now well recognized, but better investigated in strepsirrhine and platyrrhine primates than in catarrhines. We observed the sniffing behavior of semi-free ranging Barbary macaques, Macaca sylvanus, at Affenberg Salem, Germany, to assess how frequently macaques sniff and in which contexts, and how sniffing is affected by sex and age. Focal observations of 24 males and 24 females aged 1-25 years showed that Barbary macaques sniffed, on average, 5.24 times per hour, with more than 80% of sniffs directed at food. Irrespective of the context, younger individuals sniffed more often than older ones. Females' sniffs were more often directed at food than male sniffs, while males sniffed more often than females in a social context. Sniffs at conspecifics occurred primarily in a sexual context, with 70% of social sniffs directed at female anogenital swellings performed by males. Of the observed 176 anogenital inspections, 51 involved sniffing of the swelling. Olfactory inspections were followed by copulation significantly less often than merely visual inspections, suggesting that anogenital odors may play a role in male mating decisions, but the role of olfaction in sexual interactions warrants further investigations. In sum, results show that Barbary macaques routinely use olfaction during feeding, but also in a socio-sexual context, corroborating the relevance of the olfactory sense in the lives of catarrhine primates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Simon
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Division of Anthropology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Anja Widdig
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Human Behavior, Research Group Primate Behavioural Ecology, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Brigitte M Weiß
- Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Institute of Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Human Behavior, Research Group Primate Behavioural Ecology, Ecology and Culture, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Leung G, Ricart-Arbona R, Monette S, Lipman NS. Pathologic copulatory lock in a genetically engineered laboratory mouse breeding pair. Lab Anim 2023; 57:664-668. [PMID: 37070346 DOI: 10.1177/00236772231168185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2023]
Abstract
A breeding pair of genetically engineered laboratory mice (Mus musculus) presented in apparent copulatory lock (coital tie). After anesthetizing the animals, gentle traction was used to separate the pair at which point a vaginal prolapse was detected and the penis was covered with black, firm, dry crusts and noted to have a solid pale, tan, firm cylindrical mass adhering to its glans. The vaginal prolapse was reduced and the female was returned to its cage. The male mouse had a severely distended bladder which could not be expressed and was euthanized. Histopathologic examination of the distal two-thirds of the penis revealed diffuse, acute coagulative necrosis. The mass adhered to the distal penis was a homogenous granular eosinophilic material consistent with a copulatory plug. While copulatory plugs and locks have been described in some rodent species, they have not been reported in laboratory mice. While the cause of the adherence of the plug to the penis could not be determined, we hypothesize that its adherence to both the penis and the vagina led to the lock and subsequently to ischemic necrosis of the distal penis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Glory Leung
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine and Science, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and The Rockefeller University, USA
| | - Rodolfo Ricart-Arbona
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine and Science, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and The Rockefeller University, USA
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, USA
| | - Sebastien Monette
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine and Science, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and The Rockefeller University, USA
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, USA
| | - Neil S Lipman
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Laboratory Animal Medicine and Science, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, and The Rockefeller University, USA
- Center for Comparative Medicine and Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Weill Cornell Medicine, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shan Y, Zhou XS, Cai XM, Luo ZX, Li ZQ, Xiu CL, Chen ZM, Bian L. Mating and post- copulation behavior in the tea leafhopper, Empoasca onukii (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae). Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1273718. [PMID: 37860253 PMCID: PMC10583563 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1273718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
The tea leafhopper, Empoasca onukii, relies on substrate-borne vibrations for sexual communication and is mainly controlled with chemical pesticides, which poses risks to the environment and food safety. Based on previous studies, we conducted a series of behavioral assays by simultaneous observation of vibration signals and movement to investigate the mating and post-copulation behavior of tea leafhoppers. During mating, the activity of E. onukii was restricted to dawn and dusk and concentrated on the sixth or seventh mature leaf below the tea bud. By comparing the time spent in locating females among different males, the timely reply of females was the key factor affecting mating success. Empoasca onukii females mated only once in their lives, while males could mate multiple times. Male rivalry behavior involved two distinct strategies. The rivals could send disruptive pulses to overlap the male calling signals, locate the courting males, and drive them away after contact. Some rivals could emit mating disruption signals (MDSs) to interrupt the ongoing identification duet and establish their own mating communication. Both identification and location duets could be interrupted by playback of MDSs, which is essential to create effective synthetic signals to disrupt mating communication of E. onukii. Our study clarified the spatial and temporal distribution of E. onukii in mating and the function of MDSs, which will be essential to develop future vibrational mating disruption techniques for E. onukii and its energy-efficient application in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yao Shan
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Sen Zhou
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Ming Cai
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zong-Xiu Luo
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhao-Qun Li
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chun-Li Xiu
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zong-Mao Chen
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Bian
- Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Biology, Genetics and Breeding of Special Economic Animals and Plants, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hangzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Annate S, Ng TH, Sutcharit C, Panha S. Ethogram and classification of the mating and egg-laying behaviour of the Southeast Asian apple snail Pilavirescens (Deshayes, 1824) (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Caenogastropoda, Ampullariidae). Zookeys 2023; 1180:295-316. [PMID: 38312321 PMCID: PMC10838561 DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1180.106498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The status of the indigenous Southeast Asian apple snails belonging to the genus Pila is of concern due to their fast rate of population decline, possibly as a result of multiple factors including habitat loss or disturbance and the introduction of globally-invasive apple snails, Pomacea spp. Conservation actions, including captive breeding of the native Pila species, have been suggested as urgent remedial practices, but the lack of knowledge regarding the fundamental reproductive biology of indigenous Pila spp. makes such practices difficult. In the present study, observations on the mating and egg-laying behaviour of an economic valuable apple snail native to Southeast Asia, P.virescens, were conducted using video recording to examine and describe their reproductive behaviour under a laboratory condition. A total of 15 types of mating and seven egg-laying behaviour were recorded. The mating sequence which subsequently resulted in egg laying was comprised of seven types of major sequential behaviour: mate probing, mounting, shell circling, positioning, insemination posture, sheath withdrawal and dismounting. Rejection of mating attempts by the female was frequently observed. Egg laying occurred during either day or night. A sequence of seven distinct types of behaviour were performed during oviposition: climbing, positioning, forming a temporary tube, mucous secreting, egg depositing, leaving and resting. Overall, these results provide an understanding of the egg-laying behavioural process and highlight its complexity in P.virescens. In addition, detailed ethograms of mating and egg-laying behaviour were derived. These will promote further systematic comparative studies of the reproductive behaviour of apple snails.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Supunya Annate
- Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Ting Hui Ng
- Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Jalan UMS, 88450 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia Universiti Malaysia Sabah Sabah Malaysia
| | - Chirasak Sutcharit
- Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
| | - Somsak Panha
- Animal Systematics Research Unit, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, 254 Phayathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand Chulalongkorn University Bangkok Thailand
- Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Thailand, Bangkok 10300, Thailand Academy of Science, The Royal Society of Thailand Bangkok Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Matsumura Y, Gorb EV, Gorb SN. The tight attachment achieved by the male discoidal setae is possibly a counter-adaptation to the grease layer on female integument surfaces in green dock beetles. J R Soc Interface 2023; 20:20230324. [PMID: 37582406 PMCID: PMC10427193 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2023.0324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Green dock beetles Gastrophysa viridula exhibit sexual dimorphism in tarsal attachment setae: females have only pointed, lanceolate and spatula-like setae, while males additionally possess discoidal ones. The sexual dimorphism is probably attributed to the necessity of male discoidal setae to adhere to the smooth back of the female during copulation. We aimed to understand its possible mechanism of attachment with G. viridula. Pull-off forces of both females and males were measured on (i) alive females, (ii) dead and dried females, and (iii) resin replicas of fresh females. The attachment ability tended to increase on dead and replicated female surfaces in both sexes, which indicates that the epicuticular grease layer on the integument of alive intact beetles decreases the attachment. This tendency was prominent in females. The present study clearly showed that in G. viridula discoidal setae enable the males to adhere stronger to female surfaces. The divergent performance found between the sexes differing in their setal composition is probably caused by the stiffness difference between the setae types and by the specific shape of the setal tips. A peculiar reproductive biology in G. viridula is probably attributed to this remarkable divergence of labour in their attachment pads between the sexes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Matsumura
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
- Department of Systematic Entomology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, 060-8589 Sapporo, Japan
| | - Elena V. Gorb
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| | - Stanislav N. Gorb
- Department of Functional Morphology and Biomechanics, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, Am Botanischen Garten 9, 24118 Kiel, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Cerda-Molina AL, Borráz-León JI, Matamoros-Trejo G, de la O C, Estudillo-Mendoza GR, Mayagoitia-Novales L, Maestripieri D. Testing the Challenge Hypothesis in Stumptail Macaque Males: The Role of Testosterone and Glucocorticoid Metabolites in Aggressive and Mating Behavior. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:813. [PMID: 37372098 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The "challenge hypothesis" predicts higher male-male aggressive behavior along with increases in testosterone levels during times of reproductive challenges and social instability. In addition, in some primate species, higher glucocorticoid levels can be observed as well, but this is usually modulated by dominance rank. We studied rank-related aggressive behavior, mating activity, and fecal testosterone and glucocorticoid metabolites (fTm and fGCm) in male stumptail macaques (Macaca arctoides) in order to test some predictions of the "challenge hypothesis". Over a 20-month period, we collected data on aggressive behavior and copulation, as well as fecal samples (n = 700) to quantify fTm and fGCm in seven adult stumptail males living in captivity. During periods of mating activity, male-to-male aggression increased in higher- and middle-ranking males. Neither fTm nor fGCm levels predicted male-to-male aggression. fGCm levels (but not fTm) were positively associated with male-to-female aggression; however, this association was pronounced during periods of mating activity. fGCm levels differed according to social rank, with middle-ranking males having the highest levels. Both hormones were higher during periods of mating activity, but only in higher- and middle-ranking males. Taken together, our findings partially support the challenge hypothesis in a non-seasonal primate and shed some light on the unique social and mating system of the stumptail macaque.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lilia Cerda-Molina
- Departamento de Etología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico
| | - Javier I Borráz-León
- Departamento de Etología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico
- Institute for Mind and Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Gilberto Matamoros-Trejo
- Departamento de Neurofisiología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico
| | - Claudio de la O
- FES Zaragoza C-III, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Santa Cruz Tlaxcala 90640, Mexico
- Escuela de Psicología, Universidad Latina, Ciudad de México 4330, Mexico
| | - Gema R Estudillo-Mendoza
- Departamento de Etología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico
| | - Lilian Mayagoitia-Novales
- Departamento de Etología, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría "Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz", Ciudad de México 14370, Mexico
| | - Dario Maestripieri
- Institute for Mind and Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Comparative Human Development, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Pascacio-Villafán C, Guillén L, Altúzar-Molina A, Tellez-Mora JA, Cruz-Hernández E, Aluja M. Feeding on the Fruit Waste Orange Bagasse Modifies Immature Protein Content, Body Weight, Scent Bouquet Composition, and Copula Duration in Males of a Tephritid Frugivorous Fly. Biology (Basel) 2023; 12:biology12050739. [PMID: 37237551 DOI: 10.3390/biology12050739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Anastrepha ludens is a polyphagous frugivorous tephritid that infests citrus and mango. Here, we report the establishment of a laboratory colony of A. ludens reared on a larval medium that is a waste for the citrus industry, specifically, orange (Citrus × sinensis) fruit bagasse. After 24 generations of rearing on a nutritionally poor orange bagasse diet, pupae weighed 41.1% less than pupae from a colony reared on a nutritionally rich artificial diet. Larvae from the orange bagasse diet had 6.94% less protein content than larvae from the artificial diet, although their pupation rate was similar. Males from the orange bagasse diet produced a scent bouquet with 21 chemical compounds and were sexually competitive, but they had significantly shorter copulations when compared to males from the artificial diet and from the wild host, Casimiroa edulis, which had relatively simple scent bouquets. The chemical complexity in the odors of males from the orange bagasse diet might initially have attracted females to novel scent combinations, but, once in the copula, they may have been able to sense negative characteristics in males, leading them to terminate copulations soon after they began. We conclude that A. ludens can adjust morphological, life history, nutritional, and chemical traits when adapted to a larval environment consisting of fruit bagasse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Pascacio-Villafán
- Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores, Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa 91073, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Larissa Guillén
- Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores, Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa 91073, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Alma Altúzar-Molina
- Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores, Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa 91073, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Julio A Tellez-Mora
- Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa 91090, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Enedina Cruz-Hernández
- Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores, Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa 91073, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Martín Aluja
- Red de Manejo Biorracional de Plagas y Vectores, Clúster Científico y Tecnológico BioMimic®, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Xalapa 91073, Veracruz, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Abstract
Mating produces profound changes in the behavior of female flies, such as an increase in oviposition, reduction in sexual receptivity, increase in feeding, and even excretion. Many of these changes are produced by copulation, sperm, and accessory gland products that males transfer to females during mating. Our knowledge on the function of the male ejaculate and its effect on female insects is still incipient. In this article, we review peri- and postcopulatory behaviors in tephritid flies. We address the effects of male copulatory behavior; copula duration; and the male ejaculate, sperm, and accessory gland products on female remating behavior. Many species from these families are pests of economic importance; thus, understanding male mating effects on female behavior contributes to both developing more effective environmentally friendly control methods and furthering our understanding of evolutionary implications of intersexual competition and sexual conflict.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Solana Abraham
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ecoetológicas de Moscas de la Fruta y sus Enemigos Naturales (LIEMEN), PROIMI-Biotecnología, CONICET, San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ito T, Morita M, Okuno S, Inaba K, Shiba K, Munehara H, Koya Y, Homma M, Awata S. Fertilization modes and the evolution of sperm characteristics in marine fishes: Paired comparisons of externally and internally fertilizing species. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9562. [PMID: 36479029 PMCID: PMC9720005 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertilization mode may affect sperm characteristics, such as morphology, velocity, and motility. However, there is little information on how fertilization mode affects sperm evolution because several factors (e.g., sperm competition) are intricately intertwined when phylogenetically distant species are compared. Here, we investigated sperm characteristics by comparing seven externally and four internally fertilizing marine fishes from three different groups containing close relatives, considering sperm competition levels. The sperm head was significantly slenderer in internal fertilizers than in external fertilizers, suggesting that a slender head is advantageous for swimming in viscous ovarian fluid or in narrow spaces of the ovary. In addition, sperm motility differed between external and internal fertilizers; sperm of external fertilizers were only motile in seawater, whereas sperm of internal fertilizers were only motile in an isotonic solution. These results suggest that sperm motility was adapted according to fertilization mode. By contrast, total sperm length and sperm velocity were not associated with fertilization mode, perhaps because of the different levels of sperm competition. Relative testis mass (an index of sperm competition level) was positively correlated with sperm velocity and negatively correlated with the ratio of sperm head length to total sperm length. These findings suggest that species with higher levels of sperm competition have faster sperm with longer flagella relative to the head length. These results contradict the previous assumption that the evolution of internal fertilization increases the total sperm length. In addition, copulatory behavior with internal insemination may involve a large genital morphology, but this is not essential in fish, suggesting the existence of various sperm transfer methods. Although the power of our analyses is not strong because of the limited number of species, we propose a new scenario of sperm evolution in which internal fertilization would increase sperm head length, but not total sperm length, and change sperm motility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Ito
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka Metropolitan UniversityOsakaJapan,Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka City UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Masaya Morita
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research CenterUniversity of the RyukyusMotobuJapan
| | - Seiya Okuno
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka Metropolitan UniversityOsakaJapan,Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka City UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Kazuo Inaba
- Shimoda Marine Research CenterUniversity of TsukubaShimodaJapan
| | - Kogiku Shiba
- Shimoda Marine Research CenterUniversity of TsukubaShimodaJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Munehara
- Usujiri Fisheries Station, Field Science Center for Northern BiosphereHokkaido UniversityHakodateJapan
| | - Yasunori Koya
- Department of Biology, Faculty of EducationGifu UniversityGifuJapan
| | | | - Satoshi Awata
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka Metropolitan UniversityOsakaJapan,Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka City UniversityOsakaJapan
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rangel BS, Afonso AS, Garla R. Female wound records suggest mating periods for the Caribbean reef shark at an insular marine protected area from the Equatorial Atlantic Ocean. J Fish Biol 2022; 101:1591-1594. [PMID: 36070183 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite being one of the most abundant, economically significant, reef-associated shark species, little is known about the reproductive aspects of the Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi). In the present study the authors report the first evidence of mating wounds and scars in female Caribbean reef sharks at the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, a remote marine protected area in the South Atlantic Ocean. Data from four females suggest this species mates mainly during the austral summer, between February and March. Given that the archipelago has been previously described as a nursery ground for the Caribbean reef shark, these results add information about the reproductive cycle of this species in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bianca S Rangel
- Departamento de Fisiologia, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo. Rua do Matão, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - André S Afonso
- Departamento de Pesca e Aquicultura, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ARNET - Aquatic Research Network, Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ricardo Garla
- Beacon Development, KAUST - King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Mena-Valenzuela P, Valdiviezo-Rivera J, Mena-Olmedo J, Aguirre WE. The first observation of copulation in Andean catfish Astroblepus ubidiai (Siluriformes, Astroblepidae), in Lago San Pablo, Imbabura, Ecuador. J Fish Biol 2022; 101:1348-1352. [PMID: 35869641 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The reproductive behaviour of the Andean catfish Astroblepus ubidiai was observed directly and with an underwater camera in a spring located next to Lago San Pablo in the province of Imbabura, Ecuador, in late 2015 and early 2016. Five mating attempts were observed, four of which were video-taped, and two of which resulted in complete copulation. During copulation, the male grabs the female from the top of the head with its buccal disc and pelvic fins and, from this position, bends its body forming a "C" to reach the genital pore of the female and introduce its copulatory organ. Once copulation is complete, the female swims away rapidly. Details of the copulation are described here through illustrations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Javier Mena-Olmedo
- Investigador Asociado al Instituto Nacional Biodiversidad, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Windsor E Aguirre
- Department of Biological Sciences, DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Rodríguez-Gómez A, Balanza V, Donate A, Abelaira AB, Reche MDC, Sánchez-Martínez I, Bielza P. Effect of Parental Age and Mating Status on Reproductive Performance of Orius laevigatus (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). Insects 2022; 13:827. [PMID: 36135528 PMCID: PMC9502808 DOI: 10.3390/insects13090827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The reproductive potential of biological control agents (BCAs) is crucial for efficient mass-rearing and field performance, and it all begins with mating. Fecundity can be strongly influenced by intrinsic conditions, such as female age and, often neglected, male age and mating status. However, little is known about the impact of parental status at mating on female reproductive outcomes in BCAs. Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) is widely used to control thrips in protected crops. We evaluated how many consecutive females a male could successfully mate and the effect on a female's reproductive output. In addition, we studied the effects of male and female age on mating. In the multiple mating experiment, the males showed a high capacity to fertilize females successively, not reducing fecundity until the sixth mated female. In the delayed mating experiment, copulation duration and fecundity increased with male age but decreased with female age. In contrast, fertility followed an opposite pattern, increasing with female age but decreasing with male age. However, fecundity gains outweighed fertility declines in both sexes. Therefore, reproductive capacity is increased when mating newly emerged females with males a few days old. The implications of our results for mass rearing and field performance are discussed.
Collapse
|
13
|
Zhao H, Liu Y, Zhang H, Breeze TD, An J. Worker-Born Males Are Smaller but Have Similar Reproduction Ability to Queen-Born Males in Bumblebees. Insects 2021; 12:insects12111008. [PMID: 34821809 PMCID: PMC8622041 DOI: 10.3390/insects12111008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Queen-worker conflict over the reproduction of males exists in the majority of haplodiplioidy hymenpteran species such as bees, wasps, and ants, whose workers lose mating ability but can produce haploid males in colony. Bumblebee is one of the representatives of primitively eusocial insects with plastic division labor and belongs to monandrous and facultative low polyandry species that have reproductive totipotent workers, which are capable of competing with mother queen to produce haploid males in the queenright colony compared to higher eusocial species, e.g., honeybees. So, bumblebees should be a better material to study worker reproduction, but the reproductive characteristics of worker-born males (WMs) remain unclear. Here, we choose the best-studied bumblebee Bombus terrestris to evaluate the morphological characteristics and reproductive ability of WMs from the queenless micro-colonies. The sexually matured WMs showed smaller in forewing length and weight, relatively less sperm counts but equally high sperm viability in comparison with the queen-born males (QMs) of the queenright colony. Despite with smaller size, the WMs are able to successfully mate with the virgin queens in competition with the QMs under laboratory conditions, which is quite different from the honeybees reported. In addition, there was no difference in the colony development, including the traits such as egg-laying rate, colony establishment rate, and populations of offspring, between the WM- and the QM-mated queens. Our study highlights the equivalent reproductive ability of worker-born males compared to that of queens, which might exhibit a positive application or special use of bumblebee rearing, especially for species whose males are not enough for copulation. Further, our finding contributes new evidence to the kin selection theory and suggests worker reproduction might relate to the evolution of sociality in bees.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huiyue Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Insect-Pollinator Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (H.Z.); (Y.L.); (H.Z.)
| | - Yanjie Liu
- Key Laboratory for Insect-Pollinator Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (H.Z.); (Y.L.); (H.Z.)
| | - Hong Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Insect-Pollinator Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (H.Z.); (Y.L.); (H.Z.)
| | - Tom D. Breeze
- Centre for Agri-Environmental Research, School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Reading University, Reading RG6 6AH, UK;
| | - Jiandong An
- Key Laboratory for Insect-Pollinator Biology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Apicultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, China; (H.Z.); (Y.L.); (H.Z.)
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Churchill ER, Dytham C, Bridle JR, Thom MDF. Social and physical environment independently affect oviposition decisions in Drosophila. Behav Ecol 2021; 32:1391-1399. [PMID: 34949961 PMCID: PMC8691557 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In response to environmental stimuli, including variation in the presence of conspecifics, genotypes show highly plastic responses in behavioral and physiological traits influencing reproduction. Although extensively documented in males, such female responses are rather less studied. We expect females to be highly responsive to environmental variation and to differentially allocate resources to increase offspring fitness, given the major contribution of mothers to offspring number, size, and developmental conditions. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we (a) manipulate exposure to conspecific females, which mothers could use to anticipate the number of potential mates and larval density, and; (b) test how this interacts with the spatial distribution of potential oviposition sites, with females from higher densities expected to prefer clustered resources that can support a larger number of larvae. We found that high density females were slower to start copulating and reduced their copulation duration, the opposite effect to that observed in males. There was a parallel, perhaps related, effect on egg production: females previously housed in groups laid fewer eggs than those housed in solitude. Resource patchiness also influenced oviposition behavior: females preferred aggregated substrate, which attracted more females to lay eggs. However, we found no interaction between prior housing conditions and resource patchiness, indicating that females did not perceive the value of different resource distributions differently when exposed to environments that could signal expected levels of larval competition. We show that, although exposure to consexual competition changes copulatory behaviors of females, the distribution of oviposition resources has a greater effect on oviposition decisions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Churchill
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | | | - Jon R Bridle
- Department for Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michael D F Thom
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Sakata JT, Catalano I, Woolley SC. Mechanisms, development, and comparative perspectives on experience-dependent plasticity in social behavior. J Exp Zool A Ecol Integr Physiol 2021; 337:35-49. [PMID: 34516724 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Revealing the mechanisms underlying experience-dependent plasticity is a hallmark of behavioral neuroscience. While the study of social behavior has focused primarily on the neuroendocrine and neural control of social behaviors, the plasticity of these innate behaviors has received relatively less attention. Here, we review studies on mating-dependent changes to social behavior and neural circuitry across mammals, birds, and reptiles. We provide an overview of species similarities and differences in the effects of mating experiences on motivational and performative aspects of sexual behaviors, on sensory processing and preferences, and on the experience-dependent consolidation of sexual behavior. We also discuss recent insights into the neural mechanisms of and developmental influences on mating-dependent changes and outline promising approaches to investigate evolutionary parallels and divergences in experience-dependent plasticity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jon T Sakata
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Isabella Catalano
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Sarah C Woolley
- Integrated Program in Neuroscience, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.,Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Zhang HH, Li HJ, Ye YX, Zhuo JC, Zhang CX. Intersex Plays a Role in Microbial Homeostasis in the Brown Planthopper. Biology (Basel) 2021; 10:biology10090875. [PMID: 34571752 PMCID: PMC8465078 DOI: 10.3390/biology10090875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary RNAi-mediated knockdown of intersex in the newly emerged Nilaparvata lugens leads to abnormal expansion of the copulatory bursa by infection filled with bacteria. RNA-seq analysis shows a significant enrichment of immune defense genes responsive to bacteria in differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Moreover, inhibition of intersex expression by dsRNA treatment results in changes in the richness index of symbiotic microorganisms in copulatory bursa, fat body, and midgut of the planthopper. Specifically, significant changes are observed in the microbial community composition of the copulatory bursa. These findings reveal the function of intersex in maintaining microbial homeostasis in this insect, thereby providing insight to improve the pest control strategies. Abstract Insects harbor a wide variety of symbiotic microorganisms that are capable of regulating host health and promoting host adaptation to their environment and food sources. However, there is little knowledge concerning the mechanisms that maintain the microbial community homeostasis within insects. In this study, we found that the intersex (ix) gene played an essential role in maintaining microbial homeostasis in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens. Injection of the double-strand RNA targeting N. lugens ix (Nlix) into the newly emerged females resulted in abnormal expansion of the copulatory bursa of BPH after mating. Further observation by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the abnormally enlarged copulatory bursa resulting from dsNlix treatment was full of microorganisms, while in contrast, the copulatory bursa of dsGFP-treated individuals stored a large number of sperm accompanied by a few bacteria. Moreover, RNA-seq analysis showed that the gene responses to bacteria were remarkably enriched in differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In addition, 16s rRNA sequencing indicated that, compared with control samples, changes in the composition of microbes presented in dsNlix-treated copulatory bursa. Together, our results revealed the immune functions of the Nlix gene in maintaining microbial homeostasis and combating infection in BPH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hou-Hong Zhang
- Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (H.-H.Z.); (H.-J.L.); (Y.-X.Y.)
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MOA of China and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China;
| | - Han-Jing Li
- Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (H.-H.Z.); (H.-J.L.); (Y.-X.Y.)
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MOA of China and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China;
| | - Yu-Xuan Ye
- Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (H.-H.Z.); (H.-J.L.); (Y.-X.Y.)
| | - Ji-Chong Zhuo
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MOA of China and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China;
| | - Chuan-Xi Zhang
- Institute of Insect Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; (H.-H.Z.); (H.-J.L.); (Y.-X.Y.)
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-Products, Key Laboratory of Biotechnology in Plant Protection of MOA of China and Zhejiang Province, Institute of Plant Virology, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China;
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Moore BC, Kelly DA, Piva M, Does M, Kim DK, Simoncini M, Leiva PML, Pina CI. Genital anatomy and copulatory interactions in the broad snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris). Anat Rec (Hoboken) 2021; 305:3075-3087. [PMID: 34236769 DOI: 10.1002/ar.24699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The broad snouted caiman is a crocodylian native to South America that is subject to extensive conservation management in both wild and farming environments. Although reproductive behaviors like egg laying and clutch care have been examined in this species, little else is known about their copulatory system. We examined the anatomy of male and female cloacal and genital tissues ex vivo to build hypotheses of their interactions during copulation and the effects of that interaction on insemination. Male phallic glans tissues were artificially inflated to expand into their copulatory state, allowing the examination and quantification of structural changes at the gross and tissue levels. Digital reconstruction of MRI stacks yielded three-dimensional tissue compartment specific glans models of the inflated state. Silicone molds of female cloacae and oviducts in conjunction with dissection and diceCT analysis allowed us to assess internal geometry and infer how male and female features interact in copulo. We observed glans expansion within the female proctodeum would result in a copulatory lock limiting deeper intromission or retraction. Intromission and subsequent creation of the copulatory lock produces extensive clitoral compression, providing a possible mechanism for female assessment of male copulatory performance. Further, glans expansion forms a distal lumen that positions the glans tip in or near the vaginal openings. A coiled, muscular vagina provides a possible mechanism for postcopulatory sexual selection by excluding semen. Together, the complex male-female interaction supports evidence for cryptic selection by female choice, which can act as a driver of genital coevolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon C Moore
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.,Deartment of Biology, School of Health Sciences, Stephens College, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Diane A Kelly
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Milan Piva
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
| | - Mark Does
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Dong Kyu Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Melina Simoncini
- CICyTTP (CONICET-Prov. ER-UADER), Proyecto Yacare, FCYT/UADER, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - Pamela M L Leiva
- CICyTTP (CONICET-Prov. ER-UADER), Proyecto Yacare, FCYT/UADER, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| | - Carlos I Pina
- CICyTTP (CONICET-Prov. ER-UADER), Proyecto Yacare, FCYT/UADER, Diamante, Entre Ríos, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Dalziell AH, Maisey AC, Magrath RD, Welbergen JA. Male lyrebirds create a complex acoustic illusion of a mobbing flock during courtship and copulation. Curr Biol 2021; 31:1970-1976.e4. [PMID: 33636120 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 11/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Darwin argued that females' "taste for the beautiful" drives the evolution of male extravagance,1 but sexual selection theory also predicts that extravagant ornaments can arise from sexual conflict and deception.2,3 The sensory trap hypothesis posits that elaborate sexual signals can evolve via antagonistic coevolution whereby one sex uses deceptive mimicry to manipulate the opposite sex into mating.3 Here, the success of deceptive mimicry depends on whether it matches the receiver's percept of the model,4 and so has little in common with concepts of aesthetic judgement and 'beauty.'1,5-9 We report that during their song and dance displays,10 male superb lyrebirds (Menura novaehollandiae) create an elaborate acoustic illusion of a mixed-species mobbing flock. Acoustic analysis showed that males mimicked the mobbing alarm calls of multiple species calling together, enhancing the illusion by also vocally imitating the wingbeats of small birds. A playback experiment confirmed that this illusion was sufficient to fool avian receivers. Furthermore, males produced this mimicry only (1) when females attempted to exit male display arenas, and (2) during the lyrebirds' unusually long copulation, suggesting that the mimicry aims to prevent females from prematurely terminating these crucial sexual interactions. Such deceptive behavior by males should select for perceptual acuity in females, prompting an inter-sexual co-evolutionary arms race between male mimetic accuracy and discrimination by females. In this way the elaboration of the complex avian vocalizations we call 'song' could be driven by sexual conflict, rather than a female's preference for male extravagance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia H Dalziell
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA; Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2614, Australia; Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.
| | - Alex C Maisey
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2614, Australia; Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, University of Wollongong, Northfields Ave, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia; Sherbrooke Lyrebird Survey Group, 30 Moores Road, Monbulk, VIC 3793, Australia
| | - Robert D Magrath
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2614, Australia
| | - Justin A Welbergen
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Moore BC, Brennan PLR, Francis R, Penland S, Shiavone K, Wayne K, Woodward AR, Does MD, Kim DK, Kelly DA. Glans inflation morphology and female cloaca copulatory interactions of the male American alligator phallus†. Biol Reprod 2020; 104:374-386. [PMID: 33112370 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The phallic glans of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) is the distal termination of the semen-conducting sulcus spermaticus and during copulation has the closest, most intimate mechanical interactions with the female urodeum, the middle cloacal chamber that contains the opening to the vaginal passages and oviducts. However, the details of this interface leading to insemination and gamete uptake are unclear. Here, we: (1) histologically characterize the underlying tissue types and morphologically quantify the shape changes associated with glans inflation into the copulatory conformation, (2) digitally reconstruct from MRI the 3D shape of functional tissue compartments, and (3) diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography image the copulatory fit between male phallus and female cloaca. We discuss these results in relation to tissue type material properties, the transfer on intromittent forces, establishing potential copulatory lock, inflated glans volume scaling with body mass/length, the mechanics of semen targeting and insemination, and potential female cryptic choice impacting multiple clutch paternity. In part, this study further clarifies the phallic morphological variation observed among crocodylians and begins to investigate the role(s) these divergent male forms play during copulation interacting with female cloacal forms to increase reproductive success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon C Moore
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | | | - Rachel Francis
- Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | - Samuel Penland
- Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | - Kelsie Shiavone
- Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | - Kathryn Wayne
- Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | - Allan R Woodward
- Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Mark D Does
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Dong Kyu Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Diane A Kelly
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
Killing of unrelated young by sexually naïve male mammals is taxonomically widespread, but in many species, males subsequently show paternal care or at least do not harm their own young. This dramatic and important change is due to a shift in paternal state rather than to recognition of young, the mother or the location in which mating occurred. This transition from infanticidal to paternal behaviour is timed so that the inhibition of infanticide is synchronized with the birth of their own young. Ejaculation followed by cohabitation with the pregnant female causes this transition, but the precise stimuli from the female remain elusive. However, changes in social status also cause changes in infanticide. The switch from infanticide is accompanied by physiological change in the male that can be detected by both females and pups. Hormonal changes have been implicated in the switch but establishing causal links has been difficult. Recent neuroanatomical studies show that pup odours activate the vomeronasal organ and its efferent projections to induce infanticide. The emergence of paternal care depends on the inability of the vomeronasal organ to detect pup odours. In the absence of vomeronasal input, pup odours activate a conserved parental circuit and induce caregiving behaviour. An emerging picture is of complex, antagonistic circuits competing for behavioural expression, which allow for males to commit infanticide when they may benefit from such activity but ensure that they do not damage their fitness by killing their own young. However, we stress the need for more work on the neural mechanisms that mediate this process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert W. Elwood
- Queen’s University Belfast, School of Biological Sciences, Belfast, U.K
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Moore BC, Francis R, Foster A, Kelly DA, Does M, Kim DK, Groenewald HB, Myburgh JG. Morphological changes associated with Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) phallic glans inflation. J Morphol 2020; 281:636-645. [PMID: 32271493 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The crocodylian phallic glans is the distal inflatable structure that makes the most direct contact with the female cloacal and associated reproductive tract openings during copulation. Therefore, its form and function directly impact female tissue sensory interactions and insemination mechanics. Compared to mammals, less is known about glans functional anatomy among other amniotes, including crocodylians. Therefore, we paired an ex vivo inflation technique with magnetic resonance imaging 3D-reconstructions and corresponding histological analyses to better characterize the morphological glans restructuring occurring in the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) at copulation. The expansion of contiguous inflatable spongiform glans tissues is variably constrained by adjacent regions of dense irregular collagen-rich tissues. Therefore, expansion shows regional differences with greater lateral inflation than dorsal and ventral. Furthermore, this enlargement elaborates the cup-like glans lumen, dorsally reorients the glans ridge, stiffens the blunt and bifid glans tip, and putatively works to seal the ventral sulcus spermaticus semen conduit groove. We suggest how these dynamic male structures may interact with structures of the female cloacal urodeum and how these morphological changes, in concert with the varying material properties of the structural tissue compartments visualized in this study, aid copulatory gamete transfer and resulting fecundity. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Nile crocodile glans inflation produces a reproductively relevant copulatory structure directing insemination and female tissue interactions. Pairing magnetic resonance imaging 3D reconstruction with corresponding histology effectively studies functional anatomy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon C Moore
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.,Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rachel Francis
- Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, USA
| | - Adam Foster
- Biology Department, Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, USA
| | - Diane A Kelly
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mark Does
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Dong K Kim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Herman B Groenewald
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| | - Jan G Myburgh
- Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Moore BC, Fitri WN, Augustine L. Crocodylian conservation and evolution insights from an anatomical and histological examination of phalli from male false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii). Anat Histol Embryol 2020; 49:390-401. [PMID: 32154618 DOI: 10.1111/ahe.12542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
As wild population threats for the endangered false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii) persist, conservation breeding programs, including developing semen collection techniques for subsequent artificial insemination, are becoming important species conservation measures. Developing reproductive biology understanding of a species is important to developing best practices and hopefully maximizing reproductive successes. However, information on crocodylians functional copulatory anatomy in general is lacking. To that end, zoological facilities and conservation centres have the exceptional opportunity to contribute new understandings that may not otherwise be attainable regarding crocodylian reproductive anatomy, particularly during routine physical examinations or post-mortem necropsies. Therefore, to better understand T. schlegelii reproductive biology, to contribute knowledge in support of zoo breeding conservation efforts and to contribute to what is known overall about crocodylian reproduction, we investigated phallic anatomy of adult male Tomistoma from two zoological populations, the St. Louis Zoo, USA and Sungai Dusun Wildlife Reserve, Peninsular Malaysia. Here, we present the gross anatomical features and histological analysis of underlying tissue-level details in pursuit of a better understanding of copulatory function and associated gamete transfer mechanisms. While much of the overall Tomistoma phallic morphology and inferred function corresponds to that of other crocodylian species and speaks to conserved aspects of functional anatomy across taxa, species-specific aspects of glans and glans tip morphology are also identified. These novelties are discussed in a general function and overall broader evolutionary contexts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brandon C Moore
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, TN, USA
| | - Wan-Nor Fitri
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,Research Centre for Wildlife, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Lauren Augustine
- Curator of Herpetology, Saint Louis Zoo, Saint Louis, MO, USA.,Smithsonian National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Signor SA. When structure meets function. eLife 2019; 8:51746. [PMID: 31612861 PMCID: PMC6794084 DOI: 10.7554/elife.51746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A new study upturns the long-held belief that the yellow gene determines sex-specific behaviors in fruit flies by acting in the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Signor
- Department of Biological Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, United States
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Li X, Jia X, Xiang H, Diao H, Yan Y, Wang Y, Ma R. The Effect of Photoperiods and Light Intensity on Mating Behavior and Reproduction of Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Environ Entomol 2019; 48:1035-1041. [PMID: 31348494 DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvz066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), is a worldwide pest and is the dominant pest of rosaceous plants in northern China. Little is known, however, about the influence of abiotic factors on the daily life history events of this economically important pest, so here we evaluated the effect of different photoperiods (L:D) (0:24; 2:22; 4:20; 6:18; 8:16; 10:14; 12:12; 14:10; 15:9 [control]; 16:8; 18:6; 20:4; 22:2; and 24:0 h) and light intensities (50, 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 lux) on the mating behavior and reproduction of oriental fruit moth. We found that oriental fruit moth adults with an 8, 9, or 10 h scotophase showed considerably more courtship behavior than those in other photoperiod treatments. Meanwhile, male fanning and male 'crawling in a circle' behaviors significantly decreased with increasing light intensity. Neither female or male oriental fruit moth longevity nor the egg hatch rate were influenced by photoperiod (P = 0.146; 0.271; 0.107) or light intensity (P = 0.268; 0.08; 0.123). In both photoperiod and light intensity treatments (P < 0.05), the number of eggs laid daily by females was significantly influenced by female age, decreasing with greater age. Female oriental fruit moth lifetime fecundity was influenced by photoperiod, with the 9, 10, 16, 18, and 22 h scotophase periods having higher fecundity than other treatments. Meanwhile, fecundity decreased with increasing light intensity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xianwei Li
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| | - Xiaoting Jia
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| | - Huiming Xiang
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| | - Hongliang Diao
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| | - Yu Yan
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| | - Yi Wang
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| | - Ruiyan Ma
- College of Agriculture, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Xu J, Gao B, Shi MR, Yu H, Huang LY, Chen P, Li YH. Copulation Exerts Significant Effects on mRNA Expression of Cryptochrome Genes in a Moth. J Insect Sci 2019; 19:3. [PMID: 30817821 PMCID: PMC6394973 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/iez016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
It is recognized that the behavioral rhythms of organisms are controlled by the circadian clock, while the reverse direction, i.e., whether changes in physiology and behavior react to the internal rhythms, is unclear. Cryptochromes (CRYs) are photolyase-like flavoproteins with blue-light receptor function and other functions on circadian clock and migration in animals. Here, we cloned the full-length cDNA of CRY1 and CRY2 in Spodoptera litura (Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Sl-CRYs show high similarity to orthologs from other insects, and their conserved regions contain a DNA photolyase domain and a FAD-binding seven domain. The expression levels of both genes were relatively low during the larval stage, which increased during the pupal stage and then peaked at the adult stage. The expression of Sl-CRY1 and Sl-CRY2 showed differences between males and females and between scotophase and photophase. Further, our study demonstrated that copulation has a significant effect on the expression of Sl-CRYs. More interestingly, the changes in the expression of Sl-CRY1 and Sl-CRY2 due to copulation showed the same trend in both sexes, in which the expression levels of both genes in copulated males and females decreased in the subsequent scotophase after copulation and then increased significantly in the following photophase. Considering the nature of the dramatic changes in reproductive behavior and physiology after copulation in S. litura, we propose that the changes in the expression of Sl-CRYs after copulation could have some function in the reproductive process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jin Xu
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Bo Gao
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Min-Rui Shi
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Hong Yu
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| | - Ling-Yan Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Yunnan Academy of Forestry, Kunming, China
| | - Yong-He Li
- Yunnan Academy of Biodiversity, Southwest Forestry University, Kunming, China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Cheng Z, Yoshizawa K. Functional morphology of Trichadenotecnum male and female genitalia analyzed using μCT (Insecta: Psocodea: Psocomorpha). J Morphol 2019; 280:555-567. [PMID: 30775799 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Although the great genital diversity of the barklouse genus Trichadenotecnum has been described in previous studies, the specific function of the genital structures during the copulation process has received less investigative attention. We reconstructed 3D-models of each structure of the male and female genitalia of Trichadenotecnum incognitum in copula and those of uncopulated male and female of Trichadenotecnum pseudomedium. By comparing the changes in male and female genital structures and related muscles in copulated and uncopulated states, the function of each genital structure can be described. During the copulation, we found that the female subgenital plate was hooked into the male body by the distal process on the male paraproct and was fixed by the male epiproct, hypandrium and phallosome. In addition, sexual coevolution was suggested by tightly contacting structures, that is, thorny male hypandrium and thickened membrane around the female spermapore plate. These results not only give us a new understanding copulation process of Trichadenotecnum, but also explain the reasons why genital structures are so divers in the genus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zixin Cheng
- Systematic Entomology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kazunori Yoshizawa
- Systematic Entomology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Abts KC, Ivy JA, DeWoody JA. Demographic, environmental and genetic determinants of mating success in captive koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). Zoo Biol 2018; 37:416-433. [PMID: 30488502 DOI: 10.1002/zoo.21457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Many factors have been shown to affect mating behavior. For instance, genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are known to influence mate choice in a wide variety of vertebrate species. The genetic management of captive populations can be confounded if intrinsic mate choice reduces or eliminates reproductive success between carefully chosen breeding pairs. For example, the San Diego Zoo koala colony only has a 45% copulation rate for matched individuals. Herein, we investigated determinants of koala mating success using breeding records (1984-2010) and genotypes for 52 individuals at four MHC markers. We quantified MHC diversity according to functional amino acids, heterozygosity, and the probability of producing a heterozygous offspring. We then used categorical analysis and logistic regression to investigate both copulation and parturition success. In addition, we also examined age, day length, and average pairwise kinship. Our post-hoc power analysis indicates that at a power level of 1-β = 0.8, we should have been able to detect strong MHC preferences. However, we did not find a significant MHC effect on either copulation or parturition success with one exception: pairs with lower or no production of a joey had significantly lower MHC functional amino acid diversity in the categorical analysis. In contrast, day length and dam age (or age difference of the pair) consistently had an effect on mating success. These findings may be leveraged to improve the success of attempted pairs, conserve resources, and facilitate genetic management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kendra C Abts
- Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| | | | - J Andrew DeWoody
- Departments of Forestry and Natural Resources and Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Nagy O, Nuez I, Savisaar R, Peluffo AE, Yassin A, Lang M, Stern DL, Matute DR, David JR, Courtier-Orgogozo V. Correlated Evolution of Two Copulatory Organs via a Single cis-Regulatory Nucleotide Change. Curr Biol 2018; 28:3450-3457.e13. [PMID: 30344115 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.08.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Diverse traits often covary between species [1-3]. The possibility that a single mutation could contribute to the evolution of several characters between species [3] is rarely investigated as relatively few cases are dissected at the nucleotide level. Drosophila santomea has evolved additional sex comb sensory teeth on its legs and has lost two sensory bristles on its genitalia. We present evidence that a single nucleotide substitution in an enhancer of the scute gene contributes to both changes. The mutation alters a binding site for the Hox protein Abdominal-B in the developing genitalia, leading to bristle loss, and for another factor in the developing leg, leading to bristle gain. Our study suggests that morphological evolution between species can occur through a single nucleotide change affecting several sexually dimorphic traits. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Olga Nagy
- Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS UMR7592, Université Paris-Diderot, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Nuez
- Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS UMR7592, Université Paris-Diderot, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Rosina Savisaar
- Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS UMR7592, Université Paris-Diderot, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Alexandre E Peluffo
- Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS UMR7592, Université Paris-Diderot, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Amir Yassin
- Institut Systématique Évolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, MNHN, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 50, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Michael Lang
- Institut Jacques Monod, CNRS UMR7592, Université Paris-Diderot, 75013 Paris, France
| | - David L Stern
- Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Daniel R Matute
- Biology Department, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jean R David
- Institut Systématique Évolution Biodiversité (ISYEB), Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, MNHN, Sorbonne Université, EPHE, 57 rue Cuvier, CP 50, 75005 Paris, France; Laboratoire Evolution, Génomes, Comportement, Biodiversité (EGCE), CNRS, IRD, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Tong X, Zhong W, Hua BZ. Copulatory mechanism and functional morphology of genitalia and anal horn of the scorpionfly Cerapanorpa dubia (Mecoptera: Panorpidae). J Morphol 2018; 279:1532-1539. [PMID: 30284342 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.20903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2018] [Revised: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The scorpionfly genus Cerapanorpa is characterized by the male possessing a single finger-like anal horn on the posterior portion of tergite VI. However, the functional morphology of this anal horn and the genitalia have not been studied to date. Herein, we investigated the functional morphology of the genitalia and the nongenital structures of the scorpionfly Cerapanorpa dubia by observing the mating process and dissecting the freeze-fixated pairs in copula to reveal the copulatory mechanism. The male C. dubia provides a solid salivary mass to the female as a nuptial gift prior to copulation. When the female starts to feed on the gift, the male uses his notal organ and complex genital structures to control the closest wing and genitalia of the female to establish a V-shaped mating position. In the maintenance phase of copulation, the male uses his anal horn in cooperation with the basally-constricted abdominal segment VII to clamp female abdominal segment VIII. The male hypovalves grasp female cerci, and move up and down rhythmically. The paired parameres clasp both sides of female tergite IX. The basal processes on male gonostyli grip the pleural membranes of the female genital chamber. In the sperm transfer phase, the male aedeagus directly couples with the female medigynium to transmit sperm by connecting his phallotreme to the female's copulatory pore. The evolution of the male complex grasping structures in Panorpidae is also briefly discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Tong
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wen Zhong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, China
| | - Bao-Zhen Hua
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, Ministry of Education, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Brassey CA, Gardiner JD, Kitchener AC. Testing hypotheses for the function of the carnivoran baculum using finite-element analysis. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:20181473. [PMID: 30232157 PMCID: PMC6170803 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The baculum (os penis) is a mineralized bone within the glans of the mammalian penis and is one of the most morphologically diverse structures in the mammal skeleton. Recent experimental work provides compelling evidence for sexual selection shaping the baculum, yet the functional mechanism by which this occurs remains unknown. Previous studies have tested biomechanical hypotheses for the role of the baculum based on simple metrics such as length and diameter, ignoring the wealth of additional shape complexity present. For the first time, to our knowledge, we apply a computational simulation approach (finite-element analysis; FEA) to quantify the three-dimensional biomechanical performance of carnivoran bacula (n = 74) based upon high-resolution micro-computed tomography scans. We find a marginally significant positive correlation between sexual size dimorphism and baculum stress under compressive loading, counter to the 'vaginal friction' hypothesis of bacula becoming more robust to overcome resistance during initial intromission. However, a highly significant negative relationship exists between intromission duration and baculum stress under dorsoventral bending. Furthermore, additional FEA simulations confirm that the presence of a ventral groove would reduce deformation of the urethra. We take this as evidence in support of the 'prolonged intromission' hypothesis, suggesting the carnivoran baculum has evolved in response to pressures on the duration of copulation and protection of the urethra.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte A Brassey
- School of Science and the Environment, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M1 5GD, UK
| | - James D Gardiner
- Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 8TX, UK
| | - Andrew C Kitchener
- Department of Natural Sciences, National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, UK
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Wulff NC, Schöneich S, Lehmann GUC. Female perception of copulatory courtship by male titillators in a bushcricket. Proc Biol Sci 2018; 285:rspb.2018.1235. [PMID: 30111598 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.1235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Males of the bushcricket Metrioptera roeselii bear paired titillators that are spiny genital structures supposedly functioning as copulatory courtship devices. During copulation, the male inserts its titillators into the female's genital chamber, where they rhythmically tap on the sensilla-covered dorsal surface of the genital fold. Here, we investigated the stimulatory function of male titillators during mating in M. roeselii Tracer backfills of presumptive mechanosensory sensilla at the female genital fold revealed a thick bundle of sensory axons entering the last unfused abdominal ganglion (AG-7). Electrophysiological recordings of abdominal nerves demonstrated that females sense mechanical stimulation at their genital fold. The mechanosensory responses, however, were largely reduced by the insecticide pymetrozine that selectively blocks scolopidia of internal chordotonal organs but not campaniform and hair sensilla on the outer cuticle surface. In mating experiments, the females showed resistance behaviours towards males with asymmetrically shortened titillators, but the resistance was largely reduced when mechanoreceptors at the female's genital fold were either pharmacologically silenced by pymetrozine or mechanically blocked by capping with UV-hardened glue. Our findings support the hypothesis that the male titillators in these bushcrickets may serve as copulatory courtship devices to mechanically stimulate the female genitalia to reduce resistance behaviour.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nadja C Wulff
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 110, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Schöneich
- Institute for Biology, University of Leipzig, Talstrasse 33, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gerlind U C Lehmann
- Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology, Humboldt University Berlin, Invalidenstrasse 110, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Stevens GMW, Hawkins JP, Roberts CM. Courtship and mating behaviour of manta rays Mobula alfredi and M. birostris in the Maldives. J Fish Biol 2018; 93:344-359. [PMID: 30066396 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this 14 year study was to elucidate the entire courtship and mating behaviour of manta rays Mobula alfredi and M. birostris using behavioural observations, video and photographic records. From 2003 to 2016, over 11,000 surveys were undertaken at known manta ray aggregation sites in the Maldives to record any observed manta rays reproductive activity. From 47,591 photo-ID sightings, 4,247 individual M. alfredi were identified and 226 individual M. birostris from 229 photo-ID sightings, all recorded at 22 atolls across 265 different sites. Courtship activity was observed on 206 surveys at 30 different sites. A total of 229 courtship events were recorded, with 90% (n = 205) of them occurring at cleaning sites. The observed courtship activity was categorised into seven distinct stages which are described in detail: initiation, endurance, evasion, pre-copulatory positioning, copulation, post-copulatory holding and separation. Photographs provide the first scientific record of the entirety of manta rays courtship and mating. Both M. alfredi and M. birostris appear to engage in the same elaborate courtship rituals, exhibiting the same behaviours during all stages of the courtship and mating process.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guy M W Stevens
- The Manta Trust, Dorchester, UK
- Environment Department, University of York, York, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Zer-Krispil S, Zak H, Shao L, Ben-Shaanan S, Tordjman L, Bentzur A, Shmueli A, Shohat-Ophir G. Ejaculation Induced by the Activation of Crz Neurons Is Rewarding to Drosophila Males. Curr Biol 2018; 28:1445-1452.e3. [PMID: 29681474 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Revised: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The reward system is a collection of circuits that reinforce behaviors necessary for survival [1, 2]. Given the importance of reproduction for survival, actions that promote successful mating induce pleasurable feeling and are positively reinforced [3, 4]. This principle is conserved in Drosophila, where successful copulation is naturally rewarding to male flies, induces long-term appetitive memories [5], increases brain levels of neuropeptide F (NPF, the fly homolog of neuropeptide Y), and prevents ethanol, known otherwise as rewarding to flies [6, 7], from being rewarding [5]. It is not clear which of the multiple sensory and motor responses performed during mating induces perception of reward. Sexual interactions with female flies that do not reach copulation are not sufficient to reduce ethanol consumption [5], suggesting that only successful mating encounters are rewarding. Here, we uncoupled the initial steps of mating from its final steps and tested the ability of ejaculation to mimic the rewarding value of full copulation. We induced ejaculation by activating neurons that express the neuropeptide corazonin (CRZ) [8] and subsequently measured different aspects of reward. We show that activating Crz-expressing neurons is rewarding to male flies, as they choose to reside in a zone that triggers optogenetic stimulation of Crz neurons and display conditioned preference for an odor paired with the activation. Reminiscent of successful mating, repeated activation of Crz neurons increases npf levels and reduces ethanol consumption. Our results demonstrate that ejaculation stimulated by Crz/Crz-receptor signaling serves as an essential part of the mating reward mechanism in Drosophila. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shir Zer-Krispil
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Hila Zak
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Lisha Shao
- HHMI Janelia Research Campus, 19700 Helix Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, USA
| | - Shir Ben-Shaanan
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Lea Tordjman
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Assa Bentzur
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Anat Shmueli
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Galit Shohat-Ophir
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences and Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center, Bar-Ilan University, 5290002 Ramat-Gan, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Davis SM, Thomas AL, Liu L, Campbell IM, Dierick HA. Isolation of Aggressive Behavior Mutants in Drosophila Using a Screen for Wing Damage. Genetics 2018; 208:273-82. [PMID: 29109180 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggression is a complex social behavior that is widespread in nature. To date, only a limited number of genes that affect aggression have been identified, in large part because the complexity of the phenotype makes screening difficult and time-consuming regardless of the species that is studied. We discovered that aggressive group-housed Drosophila melanogaster males inflict damage on each other's wings, and show that wing damage negatively affects their ability to fly and mate. Using this wing-damage phenotype, we screened males from ∼1400 chemically mutagenized strains and found ∼40 mutant strains with substantial wing damage. Five of these mutants also had increased aggressive behavior. To identify the causal mutation in one of our top aggressive strains, we used whole-genome sequencing and genomic duplication rescue strategies. We identified a novel mutation in the voltage-gated potassium channel Shaker (Sh) and show that a nearby previously identified Sh mutation also results in increased aggression. This simple screen can be used to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying aggression.
Collapse
|
35
|
Hernández MV, Fabre CCG. Triggers of the Postural Display of Courtship in Drosophila persimilis Flies. J Insect Behav 2017; 30:582-594. [PMID: 29104367 PMCID: PMC5656710 DOI: 10.1007/s10905-017-9641-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
D. persimilis courtship shows some flexibility and courting males sometimes perform an elaborate postural display in addition to the standard courtship behaviours shared by most Drosophila species. This postural display includes the acrobatic contortion and tremulation of their abdomen, accompanied by the generation of substrate-borne vibrations, and they proffer a nutritional droplet to the female. Here, we use courtship and choice assays to ask what triggers this display and what advantages males may gain from it during courtship. In pair assays, we found no differences in the courtship duration and copulation success between displaying and non-displaying males. In trio assays, however, the female always mated with the male who performed the display. To investigate what promotes the male display, we varied the level of receptivity of the female and studied the impact of a second male. We found that rejection by the female does not induce the male to display, contrary to what was previously suggested. We present evidence that the male display is in fact promoted by the presence of an attentive and sexually receptive female and the absence of male competition, with the greatest exhibition rate obtained if the courted female is starved. These findings provide valuable information about the social ecology of flies, and how internal and external cues influence sexual behaviours and mate choice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Vega Hernández
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Chauhan V, Srikumar S, Aamer S, Pandareesh MD, Chauhan A. Methylmercury Exposure Induces Sexual Dysfunction in Male and Female Drosophila Melanogaster. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2017; 14:ijerph14101108. [PMID: 28946640 PMCID: PMC5664609 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14101108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Mercury, an environmental health hazard, is a neurotoxic heavy metal. In this study, the effect of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure was analyzed on sexual behavior in Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), because neurons play a vital role in sexual functions. The virgin male and female flies were fed a diet mixed with different concentrations of MeHg (28.25, 56.5, 113, 226, and 339 µM) for four days, and the effect of MeHg on copulation of these flies was studied. While male and female control flies (no MeHg) and flies fed with lower concentrations of MeHg (28.25, 56.5 µM) copulated in a normal manner, male and female flies exposed to higher concentrations of MeHg (113, 226, and 339 µM) did not copulate. When male flies exposed to higher concentrations of MeHg were allowed to copulate with control female flies, only male flies fed with 113 µM MeHg were able to copulate. On the other hand, when female flies exposed to higher concentrations of MeHg were allowed to copulate with control male flies, none of the flies could copulate. After introduction of male and female flies in the copulation chamber, duration of wing flapping by male flies decreased in a MeHg-concentration-dependent manner from 101 ± 24 seconds (control) to 100.7 ± 18, 96 ±12, 59 ± 44, 31 ± 15, and 3.7 ± 2.7 seconds at 28.25, 56.5, 113, 226, and 339 µM MeHg, respectively. On the other hand, grooming in male and female flies increased in a MeHg-concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that MeHg exposure causes sexual dysfunction in male and female Drosophila melanogaster. Further studies showed that MeHg exposure increased oxidative stress and decreased triglyceride levels in a concentration–dependent manner in both male and female flies, suggesting that MeHg-induced oxidative stress and decreased triglyceride levels may partly contribute to sexual dysfunction in fruit flies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ved Chauhan
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA.
| | - Syian Srikumar
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA.
| | - Sarah Aamer
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA.
| | - Mirazkar D Pandareesh
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA.
| | - Abha Chauhan
- New York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, 1050 Forest Hill Road, Staten Island, NY 10314, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Voigt D, Tsipenyuk A, Varenberg M. How tight are beetle hugs? Attachment in mating leaf beetles. R Soc Open Sci 2017; 4:171108. [PMID: 28989792 PMCID: PMC5627132 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Similar to other leaf beetles, rosemary beetles Chrysolina americana exhibit a distinct sexual dimorphism in tarsal attachment setae. Setal discoid terminals occur only in males, and they have been previously associated with a long-term attachment to the female's back (elytra) during copulation and mate guarding. For the first time, we studied living males and females holding to female's elytra. Pull-off force measurements with a custom-made tribometer featuring a self-aligning sample holder confirmed stronger attachment to female elytra compared with glass in both males and females; corresponding to 45 and 30 times the body weight, respectively. In line with previous studies, males generated significantly higher forces than females on convex elytra and flat glass, 1.2 times and 6.8 times, respectively. Convex substrates like elytra seem to improve the attachment ability of rosemary beetles, because they can hold more strongly due to favourable shear angles of legs, tarsi and adhesive setae. A self-aligning sample holder is found to be suitable for running force measurement tests with living biological samples.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dagmar Voigt
- Institute for Botany, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062 Dresden, Germany
- Author for correspondence: Dagmar Voigt e-mail:
| | - Alexey Tsipenyuk
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City, 32000 Haifa, Israel
| | - Michael Varenberg
- George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 801 Ferst Drive, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Abstract
Most Thysanoptera possess a haplo-diploid reproductive mode and reproduce via arrhenotoky. Females can mature eggs successively throughout almost their entire life, but in most terebrantian thrips spermiogenesis is complete by adult male eclosion, and testes contain only mature spermatids. In parasitoid wasps this phenomenon of preadult spermiogenesis is described as prospermatogeny. It is unclear if prospermatogeny and this predetermined sperm quantity have implications for mating strategy and fitness. In this study, we give a detailed description of mating behavior of the thripine species Echinothrips americanus, which largely corresponds with the only available data of another species of this family, Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). With investigations using light microscopy, we describe for the first time the chronological sequence of internal processes during copulation. The release of male accessory gland material followed subsequently by spermatozoa indicates production of a female-determined type 1 spermatophore. Despite prospermatogeny, males are able to inseminate 10 females with an equal amount of spermatozoa. It is only the quantity of glandular material that decreases with the number of previous copulations. Based on these new findings, the reproductive strategy of this species is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Krueger
- Institute of Biology, Faculty Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Heinrich-Damerow Str. 4A, 06120 Halle, Saale, Germany (; ; )
| | - Marcus Jilge
- Institute of Biology, Faculty Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Heinrich-Damerow Str. 4A, 06120 Halle, Saale, Germany (; ; )
| | - Laurence Mound
- CSIRO, Australian National Insect Collection, Canberra, ACT, Australia ()
| | - Gerald B. Moritz
- Institute of Biology, Faculty Natural Sciences I, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Heinrich-Damerow Str. 4A, 06120 Halle, Saale, Germany (; ; )
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Sanmartín-Villar I, Cordero-Rivera A. Female Colour Polymorphism and Unique Reproductive Behaviour in Polythore Damselflies (Zygoptera: Polythoridae). Neotrop Entomol 2016; 45:658-664. [PMID: 27379758 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-016-0417-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/24/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
We studied Polythore damselflies by mark-recapture techniques in the Jatun Sacha Biological Reserve (Ecuador) for a period of 48 days in October-December 2014. Three species were found: Polythore mutata (MacLachlan) was the commonest species (111 individuals marked), Polythore derivata (MacLachlan) was rare (24 individuals) and Polythore concinna (MacLachlan) occasional (four individuals). In P. mutata, we found two phenotypes amongst females, one of them with a white band on the wings, very similar in colouration to the conspecific male (androchrome), and the other with an amber band (gynochrome). The recapture of marked females indicates that both phenotypes are maintained since emergence to maturation and are not age-related (i.e. polymorphism). Androchromes represent 40% of females observed. The colour of the wing band showed an age-dependent change in size with opposite trends between sexes, increasing in males and decreasing in females. Males and females were observed to return to the same forest locations in different days. Courtships and ovipositions involving androchrome females were not observed. No matings were observed in any morph. In contrast, we recorded two consecutive matings of one female P. derivata. We found that Polythore males grasp the mesothorax of females during mating instead of the prothorax as in other Zygoptera. We discuss the rarity of reproductive behaviour in this genus and how female morphs might be maintained.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- I Sanmartín-Villar
- ECOEVO Lab, Escola de Enxeñaría Forestal, Univ de Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira, 36005, Pontevedra, Galiza, Spain.
| | - A Cordero-Rivera
- ECOEVO Lab, Escola de Enxeñaría Forestal, Univ de Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira, 36005, Pontevedra, Galiza, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Pavlou HJ, Lin AC, Neville MC, Nojima T, Diao F, Chen BE, White BH, Goodwin SF. Neural circuitry coordinating male copulation. eLife 2016; 5:e20713. [PMID: 27855059 PMCID: PMC5114013 DOI: 10.7554/elife.20713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Copulation is the goal of the courtship process, crucial to reproductive success and evolutionary fitness. Identifying the circuitry underlying copulation is a necessary step towards understanding universal principles of circuit operation, and how circuit elements are recruited into the production of ordered action sequences. Here, we identify key sex-specific neurons that mediate copulation in Drosophila, and define a sexually dimorphic motor circuit in the male abdominal ganglion that mediates the action sequence of initiating and terminating copulation. This sexually dimorphic circuit composed of three neuronal classes - motor neurons, interneurons and mechanosensory neurons - controls the mechanics of copulation. By correlating the connectivity, function and activity of these neurons we have determined the logic for how this circuitry is coordinated to generate this male-specific behavior, and sets the stage for a circuit-level dissection of active sensing and modulation of copulatory behavior.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hania J Pavlou
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew C Lin
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Megan C Neville
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Tetsuya Nojima
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Fengqiu Diao
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Brian E Chen
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, Canada
| | - Benjamin H White
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, United States
| | - Stephen F Goodwin
- Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Abstract
The fossil record of marine animals suggests that diversity-dependent processes exerted strong control on biodiversification: after the Ordovician Radiation, genus richness did not trend for hundreds of millions of years. However, diversity subsequently rose dramatically in the Cretaceous and Cenozoic (145 million years ago-present), indicating that limits on diversification can be overcome by ecological or evolutionary change. Here, we show that the Cretaceous-Cenozoic radiation was driven by increased diversification in animals that transfer sperm between adults during fertilization, whereas animals that broadcast sperm into the water column have not changed significantly in richness since the Late Ordovician (∼450 million years ago). We argue that the former group radiated in part because directed sperm transfer permits smaller population sizes and additional modes of prezygotic isolation, as has been argued previously for the coincident radiation of angiosperms. Directed sperm transfer tends to co-occur with many ecological traits, such as a predatory lifestyle. Ecological specialization likely operated synergistically with mode of fertilization in driving the diversification that began during the Mesozoic marine revolution. Plausibly, the ultimate driver of diversification was an increase in food availability, but its effects on the fauna were regulated by fundamental reproductive and ecological traits.
Collapse
|
42
|
Hernández MV, Fabre CCG. The Elaborate Postural Display of Courting Drosophila persimilis Flies Produces Substrate-Borne Vibratory Signals. J Insect Behav 2016; 29:578-590. [PMID: 27795616 PMCID: PMC5055905 DOI: 10.1007/s10905-016-9579-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 08/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Sexual selection has led to the evolution of extraordinary and elaborate male courtship behaviors across taxa, including mammals and birds, as well as some species of flies. Drosophila persimilis flies perform complex courtship behaviors found in most Drosophila species, which consist of visual, air-borne, gustatory and olfactory cues. In addition, Drosophila persimilis courting males also perform an elaborate postural display that is not found in most other Drosophila species. This postural display includes an upwards contortion of their abdomen, specialized movements of the head and forelegs, raising both wings into a "wing-posture" and, most remarkably, the males proffer the female a regurgitated droplet. Here, we use high-resolution imaging, laser vibrometry and air-borne acoustic recordings to analyse this postural display to ask which signals may promote copulation. Surprisingly, we find that no air-borne signals are generated during the display. We show, however, that the abdomen tremulates to generate substrate-borne vibratory signals, which correlate with the female's immobility before she feeds onto the droplet and accepts copulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Vega Hernández
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Nutsch VL, Will RG, Robison CL, Martz JR, Tobiansky DJ, Dominguez JM. Colocalization of Mating-Induced Fos and D2-Like Dopamine Receptors in the Medial Preoptic Area: Influence of Sexual Experience. Front Behav Neurosci 2016; 10:75. [PMID: 27147996 PMCID: PMC4834303 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2016.00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Dopamine in the medial preoptic area (mPOA) stimulates sexual activity in males. This is evidenced by microdialysis and microinjection experiments revealing that dopamine receptor antagonists in the mPOA inhibit sexual activity, whereas agonists facilitate behavior. Microdialysis experiments similarly show a facilitative role for dopamine, as levels of dopamine in the mPOA increase with mating. While the majority of evidence suggests an important role for dopamine receptors in the mPOA in the regulation of male sexual behaviors, whether sexual activity or sexual experience influence dopamine receptor function in the mPOA has not been previously shown. Here we used immunohistochemical assays to determine whether varying levels of sexual activity or experience influence the number of cells containing Fos or D2 receptor immunoreactivity. Results show that sexual experience facilitated subsequent behavior, namely experience decreased latencies. Moreover, the number of cells with immunoreactivity for Fos or D2 correlated with levels of sexual experience and sexual activity. Sexual activity increased Fos immunoreactivity. Sexually experienced animals also had significantly more D2-positive cells. Sexually inexperienced animals copulating for the first time had a larger percentage of D2-positive cells containing Fos, when compared to sexually experienced animals. Finally, regardless of experience, animals that had sex prior to sacrifice had significantly more D2-positive cells that contained Fos, vs. animals that did not copulate. These findings are noteworthy because sexually experienced animals display increased sexual efficiency. The differences in activation of D2 and changes in receptor density may play a role in this efficiency and other behavioral changes across sexual experience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria L Nutsch
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | - Ryan G Will
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - Julia R Martz
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | - Daniel J Tobiansky
- Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin Austin, TX, USA
| | - Juan M Dominguez
- Institute for Neuroscience, The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX, USA; Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at AustinAustin, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Correa PA, Gruninger T, García LR. DOP-2 D2-Like Receptor Regulates UNC-7 Innexins to Attenuate Recurrent Sensory Motor Neurons during C. elegans Copulation. J Neurosci 2015; 35:9990-10004. [PMID: 26156999 DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0940-15.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Neuromodulation of self-amplifying circuits directs context-dependent behavioral executions. Although recurrent networks are found throughout the Caenorhabditis elegans connectome, few reports describe the mechanisms that regulate reciprocal neural activity during complex behavior. We used C. elegans male copulation to dissect how a goal-oriented motor behavior is regulated by recurrently wired sensory-motor neurons. As the male tail presses against the hermaphrodite's vulva, cholinergic and glutamatergic reciprocal innervations of post cloaca sensilla (PCS) neurons (PCA, PCB, and PCC), hook neurons (HOA, HOB), and their postsynaptic sex muscles execute rhythmic copulatory spicule thrusts. These repetitive spicule movements continue until the male shifts off the vulva or genital penetration is accomplished. However, the signaling mechanism that temporally and spatially restricts repetitive intromission attempts to vulva cues was unclear. Here, we report that confinement of spicule insertion attempts to the vulva is facilitated by D2-like receptor modulation of gap-junctions between PCB and the hook sensillum. We isolated a missense mutation in the UNC-7(L) gap-junction isoform, which perturbs DOP-2 signaling in the PCB neuron and its electrical partner, HOA. The glutamate-gated chloride channel AVR-14 is expressed in HOA. Our analysis of the unc-7 mutant allele indicates that when DOP-2 promotes UNC-7 electrical communication, AVR-14-mediated inhibitory signals pass from HOA to PCB. As a consequence, PCB is less receptive to be stimulated by its recurrent synaptic partner, PCA. Behavioral observations suggest that dopamine neuromodulation of UNC-7 ensures attenuation of recursive intromission attempts when the male disengages or is dislodged from the hermaphrodite genitalia. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Using C. elegans male copulation as a model, we found that the neurotransmitter dopamine stimulates D2-like receptors in two sensory circuits to terminate futile behavioral loops. The D2-like receptors promote inhibitory electrical junction activity between a chemosensory and a mechanosensory circuit. Therefore, both systems are attenuated and the animal ceases the recursive behavior.
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
Much of the social behavior in which rodents engage is related to reproduction, such as maintaining a breeding territory, seeking mates, mating, and caring for their young. Rodents belong to the internally fertilizing species that require sexual behavior for reproduction. The dyadic, heterosexual patterns of most mammalian species are sexually dimorphic, but they also share mutual components in both sexes: sexual attraction is reciprocal, sexual initiative is assumed, appetitive behavior is engaged in, and mating involves consummatory and postconsummatory phases in females as well as in males. Serotonin, a phylogenetically ancient molecule, is the most widely distributed neurotransmitter in the brain and its signaling pathways are essential for numerous functions including sexual behavior. Since the late 1960s, brain serotonergic neurotransmission has been considered to exert an inhibitory influence on the neural mechanisms mediating sexual behavior. This contention was based mainly on the observations that a decrease in central serotonergic activity facilitated the elicitation of sexual behavior, whereas an increase in central serotonergic activity attenuated it. However, the discovery of over 14 types of serotonin receptors has added numerous layers of complexity to the study of serotonin and sexual behavior. Evidence shows that, upon activation, certain receptor subtypes facilitate, whereas some others suppress, sexual behavior, as well as sexual arousal and motivation. Furthermore, the role of these receptors has been shown to be different in the male and female sexes. The use of serotonergic pharmacological interventions, mouse strains with genetic polymorphisms causing alterations in the levels of brain serotonin, and animal models with genetic manipulations of various serotonin effectors has helped delineate the fundamental role of this neurotransmitter in the regulation of sexual behavior. This review aims to examine the basics of the components of female and male sexual behavior and the participation of the serotonin system in the modulation of these behaviors, with emphasis on rodents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Angoa-Pérez
- aResearch & Development Service, John D. Dingell VA Medical Center bDepartment of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Cruz Y, Juárez R, Medel A, Corona-Quintanilla DL, Pacheco P, Juárez M. Coital Urinary Incontinence Induced by Impairment of the Dorsal Nerve of the Clitoris in Rats. J Urol 2015. [PMID: 26196732 DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2015.06.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We determined the effect of chronic bilateral neurectomy of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris on urinary parameters and sexual behavior of conscious female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 18 anesthetized virgin female Wistar rats were used in this study, including 11 that underwent bilateral neurectomy of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris and 7 that underwent sham surgery. Urinary parameters were determined in awake animals preoperatively, and 3 and 10 days postoperatively. Sexual behavior was tested 14 days postoperatively to determine whether the females expelled urine during sexual encounters. After male ejaculation the females were anesthetized with urethane to record external urethral sphincter electromyogram activity in response to clitoris, perigenital skin and vaginal stimulation. Neurectomy was corroborated anatomically. RESULTS Sham surgery did not significantly modify urinary parameter values. However, bilateral neurectomy of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris significantly increased voiding frequency and voiding duration (p <0.05). It did not significantly affect the flow rate, voided volume or voiding interval. Of females that underwent bilateral neurectomy of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris 67% expelled urine just after male ejaculation. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the pudendal nerve is an important neural pathway in the convergence and crosstalk of female urogenital neural circuits, and genital deafferentation may be a causal factor of coital urinary incontinence. Rats with bilateral transection of the dorsal nerve of the clitoris may serve as an animal model of coital incontinence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Cruz
- Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México.
| | - Raúl Juárez
- Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México
| | - Alfonso Medel
- Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México
| | | | - Pablo Pacheco
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Distrito Federal, México
| | - Margarita Juárez
- Centro Tlaxcala de Biología de la Conducta, Universidad Autónoma de Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala, México
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Markert M, García LR. Virgin Caenorhabditis remanei females are attracted to a coital pheromone released by con-specific copulating males. Worm 2013; 2:e24448. [PMID: 24058874 PMCID: PMC3704448 DOI: 10.4161/worm.24448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2013] [Revised: 03/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The gonochoristic soil nematode Caenorhabditis remanei strictly requires copulation for species propagation. Males of this species are sexually promiscuous with females of other species; therefore, we asked in this study whether virgin C. remanei females display evidence of mate choice. We digitally recorded and measured the locomotor behaviors of one or more virgin females in the presence of a single male on a 5 mm diameter mating lawn. We observed that initially only the male modifies his locomotor trajectory to another animal on the mating lawn; the virgin females showed no locomotor bias toward the mate-searching male. However, once a male started to copulate, females in the vicinity altered their movement trajectories toward the copulating couple. Newly inseminated females are refractive to the coital signal, but partially regain their attraction to copulating males after 24 h. We found only copulating males with an intact gonad can attract females, and that the coital signal can be broadcasted at least 1.5 mm through the air. Unlike males, which are also attracted to hetero-specific females, virgin C. remanei females will only crawl toward a copulating con-specific male. We suggest that Caenorhabditis females use the coital signal as a pheromone to identify a vigorous male of their own species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathew Markert
- Department of Biology; Texas A&M University; College Station, TX USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Baldini F, Gabrieli P, Rogers DW, Catteruccia F. Function and composition of male accessory gland secretions in Anopheles gambiae: a comparison with other insect vectors of infectious diseases. Pathog Glob Health 2012; 106:82-93. [PMID: 22943543 PMCID: PMC4001493 DOI: 10.1179/2047773212y.0000000016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human malaria, a major public health burden in tropical and subtropical countries, is transmitted exclusively by the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria control strategies aimed at inducing sexual sterility in natural vector populations are an attractive alternative to the use of insecticides. However, despite their importance as disease vectors, limited information is available on the molecular mechanisms regulating fertility in Anopheles mosquitoes. In the major malaria vector, An. gambiae, the full complement of sperm and seminal fluid required for a female's lifelong egg production is obtained from a single mating event. This single mating has important consequences for the physiology and behavior of An. gambiae females: in particular, they become refractory to further insemination, and they start laying eggs. In other insects including Drosophila, similar post-copulatory changes are induced by seminal proteins secreted by the male accessory glands and transferred to the female during mating. In this review, we analyze the current state of knowledge on the function and characterization of male seminal proteins in An. gambiae, and provide a comparative assessment of the role of these male reproductive factors in other mosquito vectors of human disease in which female post-copulatory behavior has been studied. Knowledge of the factors and mechanisms regulating fertility in An. gambiae and other vectors can help the design of novel control strategies to fight the spread of disease.
Collapse
|
49
|
Abstract
Partner preferences are expressed by many social species, including humans. They are commonly observed as selective contacts with an individual, more time spent together, and directed courtship behavior that leads to selective copulation. This review discusses the effect of conditioning on the development of heterosexual and homosexual partner preferences in rodents. Learned preferences may develop when a conditioned stimulus (CS) is associated in contingency with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) that functions as a reinforcer. Consequently, an individual may display preference for a partner that bears a CS. Some UCS may be more or less reinforcing, depending on when they are experienced, and may be different for males and females. For example, it could be that, only during periods of early development, that stimuli associated with nurture and juvenile play become conditioned. In adulthood, other stimuli such as sexual reward, cohabitation, mild stress, or even pharmacological manipulations may function as reinforcers to condition partner preferences. Evolutionary biologists and psychologists must take into consideration the idea that an individual's experience with reward (i.e. sexual and pharmacological) can override presumably 'innate' mate choices (e.g. assortativeness and orientation) or mate strategies (e.g. monogamy or polygamy) by means of Pavlovian and operant contingencies. In fact, it is likely as innate to learn about the environment in ways that maximize reward and minimize aversive outcomes, making so-called 'proximate' causes (e.g. pleasure) ultimately more powerful predictors of social behavior and choice than so-called 'ultimate' causes (e.g. genetic or reproductive fitness).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Genaro A. Coria-Avila
- Centro de Investigaciones Cerebrales, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Been LE, Petrulis A. Dissociated functional pathways for appetitive and consummatory reproductive behaviors in male Syrian hamsters. Horm Behav 2012; 61:204-11. [PMID: 22210198 PMCID: PMC3278532 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2011.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2011] [Revised: 12/05/2011] [Accepted: 12/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In many species, including Syrian hamsters, the generation of male reproductive behavior depends critically on the perception of female odor cues from conspecifics in the environment. The behavioral response to these odors is mediated by a network of steroid-sensitive ventral forebrain nuclei including the medial amygdala (MA), posterior bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and medial preoptic area (MPOA). Previous studies have demonstrated that each of these three nuclei is required for appropriate sexual behavior and that MA preferentially sends female odor information directly to BNST and MPOA. It is unknown, however, how the functional connections between MA and BNST and/or MPOA are organized to generate different aspects of reproductive behavior. Therefore, the following experiments used the asymmetrical pathway lesion technique to test the role of the functional connections between MA and BNST and/or MPOA in odor preference and copulatory behaviors. Lesions that functionally disconnected MA from MPOA eliminated copulatory behavior but did not affect odor preference. In contrast, lesions that functionally disconnected MA from BNST eliminated preference for volatile female odors but did not affect preference for directly contacted odors or copulatory behavior. These results therefore demonstrate a double dissociation in the functional connections required for attraction to volatile sexual odors and copulation and, more broadly, suggest that appetitive and consummatory reproductive behaviors are mediated by distinct neural pathways.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura E Been
- Georgia State University, Neuroscience Institute, 100 Piedmont Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|