The effect of alternative mating tactics on the fertilization success of a hermaphroditic seabass

Oecologia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 170 (2) ◽  
pp. 355-361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mia S. Adreani
2007 ◽  
Vol 274 (1615) ◽  
pp. 1309-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa M House ◽  
John Hunt ◽  
Allen J Moore

Fertilization success in sperm competition is often determined by laboratory estimates of the proportion of offspring sired by the first ( P 1 ) or second ( P 2 ) male that mates. However, inferences from such data about how sexual selection acts on male traits in nature may be misleading if fertilization success depends on the biological context in which it is measured. We used the sterile male technique to examine the paternity of the same male in two mating contexts in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides , a species where males have alternative mating strategies based on the presence or absence of resources. We found no congruence in the paternity achieved by a given male when mating under different social conditions. P 2 estimates were extremely variable under both conditions. Body size was unrelated to success in sperm competition away from a carcass but, most probably through pre-copulatory male–male competition, influenced fertilization success on a carcass. The contribution of sperm competition is therefore dependent on the conditions under which it is measured. We discuss our findings in relation to sperm competition theory and highlight the need to consider biological context in order to link copulation and fertilization success for competing males.


2008 ◽  
Vol 86 (10) ◽  
pp. 1121-1130 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Watanabe ◽  
S. Takamura ◽  
K. Maekawa

Using a natural population of masu salmon ( Oncorhynchus masou (Brevoort, 1856)) in a stream of Shikaribetsu Lake, Hokkaido, Japan, we combined behavioural observations with genetic parentage analysis to explore the factors affecting fertilization success achieved by alternative mating tactics (fighting by large migratory males and sneaking by small mature male parr). Larger males gained priority access to females; migrant males do this by holding a guarding position near the nesting female and mature male parr do this by adopting sneaker behaviour and attending spawning groups. Status of mature male parr was related to success of nest entry but not to timing of nest entry, although the timing of nest entry influenced fertilization success of sneakers and ejaculation simultaneous with pair spawning was needed for fertilization by sneakers. The relative body size of each male who successfully spawned with a female is also likely to determine the proportion of eggs he fertilized because larger males have larger ejaculate. These results provide insight into factors relating to variation in fertilization success, how body size dimorphisms may be related to fitness, and evolution of alternative mating tactics.


1996 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 334-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Stockley ◽  
Jeremy B. Searle ◽  
David W. Macdonald ◽  
Catherine S. Jones

2005 ◽  
Vol 83 (12) ◽  
pp. 1638-1642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albrecht I Schulte-Hostedde ◽  
Gary Burness

Sperm competition results in the evolution of ejaculate characteristics such as high sperm density, high motility, and fast sperm swimming speed. A fundamental assumption of sperm competition theory is that ejaculates with high motility and fast-swimming sperm have an advantage with respect to fertilization success. We tested this assumption by studying the fertilization dynamics of alternative mating tactics (cuckolders and parentals) of male bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque, 1819). Sneakers (cuckolders) have faster swimming sperm and a higher proportion of motile sperm immediately following sperm activation than do parentals; however, these variables decline more quickly over time in sneaker sperm than in the sperm of parental males. We used a controlled fertilization experiment to test the prediction that parental males will have higher fertilization success than sneakers late in the sperm activation cycle because of the reduced rate of decline in ejaculate quality over time. We found that as the time from sperm activation increases parental sperm fertilizes more eggs than the sperm of sneakers. Our results support the idea that fertilization success is higher when ejaculates contain a higher proportion of either motile sperm or faster swimming sperm, all else being equal. In addition, after controlling for time from sperm activation, we found a significant bias in fertilization success toward parental males, suggesting that cryptic female choice might play a role in fertilization dynamics.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig A. Walling ◽  
Clare E. Stamper ◽  
Claire L. Salisbury ◽  
Allen J. Moore

2020 ◽  
pp. 27-62
Author(s):  
John M. McNamara ◽  
Olof Leimar

Standard examples in biological game theory are introduced. The degree of cooperation at evolutionary stability is analysed in models that deal with situations such as the Prisoner’s Dilemma, the Tragedy of the Commons and the conflict of interest between parents over care of their common young. Several models of aggressive interactions are treated in this book. In this chapter the Hawk–Dove game, which is the simplest of these models, is analysed. Further models in the chapter deal with the situation in which individuals vary in their fighting ability and the situation in which information about the opponent is available before an individual decides whether to be aggressive. The problem of the allocation of resources to sons versus daughters has played a central role in biological game theory. This chapter introduces the basic theory, as well as a model in which the environmental temperature affects the development of the sexes differentially, so that at evolutionary stability the sex of offspring is determined by this temperature. Coordination games, alternative mating tactics, dispersal to avoid kin competition, and the idea that signals can evolve from cues are also introduced.


2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (6) ◽  
pp. 1025-1033 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damian C Lidgard ◽  
Daryl J Boness ◽  
W Don Bowen ◽  
Jim I McMillan

We examined the diving behaviour of breeding male grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) at Sable Island, Nova Scotia, from 1997 to 2001. The proportion of time spent at sea varied between 0 and 78% (N = 30). Males engaged in deep (43.4 ± 3.3 m (mean ± SE), N = 27) diving, and these dives were clustered into bouts, which mostly occurred during long trips (62.2 ± 14.7 h). We suggest that males spent time foraging during deep dives. Shallow diving (5.9 ± 0.1 m, N = 27) accounted for 40.8% of dives, which were also clustered into bouts that mostly occurred during short trips (2.1 ± 0.37 h). We suggest that shallow diving comprised a suite of behaviours, but included little foraging behaviour. Phenotypic traits had little influence on diving behaviour. Further work is required to understand the extent to which foraging behaviour enhances reproductive success, and whether shallow diving is a component of the mating tactics of male grey seals at Sable Island.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document