Sperm competition in squamate reptiles

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 375(1813), P. 20200079 - 20200079

Published: Oct. 18, 2020

Multiple paternity is ubiquitous within the polyphyletic group called ‘reptiles', especially lizards and snakes. Therefore, probability of sperm competition occurring, being intense, high. Squamates exhibit a diversity tactics to ensure fertilization success in face competition. The duration female storage, which can be many months even years some species, remains an enigma. Here, we emphasize mechanisms that might affect patterns paternity, source function ejaculates features reproductive tract may aid long-term storage. In doing so, present new analysis relationship between size, strength Lizards snakes are diverse has provided excellent models for study array life-history strategies. However, when it comes postcopulatory sexual selection, there much left discover. This article part theme issue ‘Fifty competition'.

Language: Английский

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Fertilization mode differentially impacts the evolution of vertebrate sperm components

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Nov. 10, 2022

Abstract Environmental change frequently drives morphological diversification, including at the cellular level. Transitions in environment where fertilization occurs (i.e., mode) are hypothesized to be a driver of extreme diversity sperm morphology observed animals. Yet how mode impacts evolution components—head, midpiece, and flagellum—each with different functional roles that must act as an integrated unit remains unclear. Here, we test this hypothesis by examining component lengths across 1103 species vertebrates varying (external vs. internal fertilization). Sperm length is explained part vertebrates, but influences varies among components vertebrate clades. We also identify evolutionary responses not influenced mode: midpieces evolve rapidly both external fertilizers. Fertilization thus through complex component- clade-specific responses.

Language: Английский

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Genetic architecture of morphological adaptation and plasticity in insects: gaps, biases, and future directions

Current Opinion in Insect Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 101362 - 101362

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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The evolution of testis architecture and sperm size in Anolis lizards

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 144(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

Abstract The major function of the testes is production sperm cells. Across species there are dramatic differences in morphology, and this variation may result from internal structure testis. Yet, extent to which testis anatomy associated with size remains unclear. In study, we used 20 Anolis lizards examine interspecific relationships between architecture component lengths, as well a proxy for copulation rate (hemipenis muscle damage), using both phylogenetic regular linear models. Results our evolutionary analysis indicate that components have high signal. Further, length, variance these traits, not one another models, although non-phylogenetic analyses suggest larger produce longer flagella. Our interpretation conflicting models strong signal traits mask significant functional developmental reveal. This suggests experiencing selection would cause covary different pattern than their relationships; instead, group they likely evolving together neutrally.

Language: Английский

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Does What You Eat Affect How You Mate? Disentangling the Interactions Between Diet-Induced Phenotypic Plasticity and Adult Reproductive Strategies in Black Soldier Flies

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 6, 2024

Abstract Phenotypic plasticity enables organisms to response environmental variations by generating a range of phenotypes from single genotype. In holometabolous insects, traits that influence larval may hold relevance for adult life history strategies. We present comprehensive investigation into phenotypic in black soldier flies, species known its efficient waste-to-biomass conversion the stage. Here, we document sex-specific plastic responses and reproductive strategies shaped diets. examined including body size, organ development, sperm length, mating behaviours, egg production other parameters across different treatments. Our findings reveal notable differences plasticity, with females showing increased investment. Furthermore, males differed starkly allometric growth weight ratio organs. Diets facilitated longer male lifespans also prompted earlier emergence suggesting an interplay between lifespan degree protandry. This maximizes overlap female lifespans, thereby enhancing success diverse conditions. results where diets producing smaller adults, organs, shorter correlated significantly enhanced effort performance. study highlights complex interactions nutrition, strategies, has significant implications insect bioconversion industries.

Language: Английский

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Sperm morphology and forward motility are indicators of reproductive success and are not age- or condition-dependent in a captive breeding population of endangered snake

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 18(3), P. e0282845 - e0282845

Published: March 10, 2023

The relationship between male ejaculate traits and reproductive success is an important consideration for captive breeding programs. A recovery plan the endangered Louisiana pinesnake includes release of young to wild. Semen was collected from twenty snakes motility, morphology, membrane viability were measured each male. analyzed in relation fertilization rate eggs produced pairings with a single female (% fertility) determine factors contributing success. In addition, we investigated age- condition-dependence trait. We found significant variation males normal sperm morphology ( x¯ = 44.4 ± 13.6%, n 19) forward motility id="M2">

Language: Английский

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Extreme variation in testes size in an insect is linked to recent mating activity

Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 33(2), P. 142 - 150

Published: Nov. 25, 2019

Ample sperm production is essential for successful male reproduction in many species. The amount of a can produce typically constrained by the size his testes, which be energetically expensive to grow and maintain. Although economics ejaculate allocation has been focus much theoretical empirical literature, relatively little attention paid individual adult variation plasticity at source production, testes themselves. We experimentally address this issue using insect Narnia femorata Stål (Hemiptera: Coreidae). established metabolic cost testicular tissue then quantified mass response multiple mate quality quantity treatments. uncovered extreme across individuals considerable short-term effects mating activity on dry mass. Importantly, observed was associated with notable fitness consequences; females paired males larger had greater hatching success. Overall, pairing female resulted 11% reduction Despite apparent investment, we found no evidence strategic higher or longer-term changes dynamic nature its vital consider context re-mating rates, polyandry benefits general system dynamics both species more broadly.

Language: Английский

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Repeated evidence that the accelerated evolution of sperm is associated with their fertilization function

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 287(1932)

Published: Aug. 5, 2020

Spermatozoa are the most morphologically diverse cell type, leading to widespread assumption that they evolve rapidly. However, there is no direct evidence sperm faster than other male traits. Such a test requires comparing traits operate in same selective environment, ideally produced from tissue, yet vary function. Here, we examine rates of phenotypic evolution morphology using two insect groups where males produce fertile and non-fertile types (Drosophila species obscura group subset Lepidoptera species), these constraints solved. Moreover, Drosophila relationship between link with putative pressures fertilization function postcopulatory sexual selection exerted by female reproductive organs. We find repeated evolutionary patterns across groups-lengths sperm. In Drosophila, length evolved body size, but at rate as organ length. also compare different components, showing head evolves while flagellum Our study provides more rapidly sperm, probably because their functional role securing fertility response imposed

Language: Английский

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Sperm Sizer: a program to semi-automate the measurement of sperm length

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 75(5)

Published: April 27, 2021

Language: Английский

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Selection on Sperm Count, but Not on Sperm Morphology or Velocity, in a Wild Population of Anolis Lizards

Cells, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 10(9), P. 2369 - 2369

Published: Sept. 9, 2021

Sperm competition is a widespread phenomenon that shapes male reproductive success. Ejaculates present many potential targets for postcopulatory selection (e.g., sperm morphology, count, and velocity), which are often highly correlated potentially subject to complex multivariate selection. Although on ejaculate traits has been observed in laboratory experiments, it unclear whether similarly wild populations, where individuals mate frequently over longer periods of time. We measured univariate velocity population brown anole lizards (Anolis sagrei). conducted mark-recapture study with genetic parentage assignment estimate individual found significant negative directional quadratic but we did not detect or any other traits, nor correlational trait combinations. Our results may reflect pressure males produce small ejaculates six-month season. This the first measure provides an interesting contrast experimental studies external fertilizers, have phenotypes.

Language: Английский

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