Sperm production in an extremophile fish, the cave molly (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae, Teleostei)

AbstractPrevious studies revealed that females of a cave form of the livebearing fish Poecilia mexicana (cave molly) have maintained the ancestral visual preference for large males, but — as an adaptation to life in darkness — they have evolved the novel capability to assess male size non-visually. Here we examined the mechanisms by which non-visual mate choice for large body size occurs. Are sex- and species-specific chemical cues involved in this preference for large conspecifics? We gave focal females an opportunity to associate with a large and a small stimulus fish in simultaneous choice tests, whereby the females could perceive either multiple cues (visual plus non-visual) from the stimulus fish, solely non-visual cues in darkness, or solely visual cues. Stimulus fish were two conspecific males, conspecific females, or heterospecific females (Xiphophorus hellerii). Cave molly females showed a significant preference for large conspecific males and for large conspecific females in all treatments. When a large and a small swordtail female were presented, cave molly females showed a preference for the larger fish only when exclusively visual cues from the stimulus fish were available. The non-visual preference for large body size appears to be mediated by species- but not by sex-specific cues, suggesting that species-specific chemical cues play an important role during mate choice.

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The role of androgens in species recognition and sperm production in Atlantic mollies (Poecilia mexicana)

Physiology & Behavior ◽

10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.10.024 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 105 (3) ◽

pp. 885-892 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Caitlin R. Gabor ◽

Andrea S. Aspbury ◽

Jacqueline Ma ◽

Chris C. Nice

Keyword(s):

Species Recognition ◽

Sperm Production ◽

Poecilia Mexicana

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Cave molly females (Poecilia mexicana, Poeciliidae, Teleostei) like well-fed males

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology ◽

10.1007/s00265-005-0918-6 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 58 (2) ◽

pp. 144-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Martin Plath ◽

Katja U. Heubel ◽

Francisco J. García de León ◽

Ingo Schlupp

Keyword(s):

Poecilia Mexicana ◽

Cave Molly

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Influence of male competition on male mating behaviour in the cave molly, Poecilia mexicana

Journal of Ethology ◽

10.1007/s10164-005-0156-4 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 27-31 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Rüdiger Riesch ◽

Ingo Schlupp ◽

Martin Plath

Keyword(s):

Mating Behaviour ◽

Male Competition ◽

Male Mating ◽

Poecilia Mexicana ◽

Cave Molly

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Audience effect alters mating preferences in a livebearing fish, the Atlantic molly, Poecilia mexicana.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.1099084.555285 ◽

2008 ◽

Author(s):

Anne Magurran

Keyword(s):

Audience Effect ◽

Mating Preferences ◽

Poecilia Mexicana ◽

Livebearing Fish

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Reproductive characteristics, semen quality, seminal oxidative status, steroid hormones, sperm production efficiency of rabbits fed herbal supplements

Theriogenology ◽

10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.03.020 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 168 ◽

pp. 41-49

Author(s):

Olatunji Abubakar Jimoh ◽

Wahab Adekunle Oyeyemi ◽

Hafsat Ololade Okin-Aminu ◽

Bolaji Fatai Oyeyemi

Keyword(s):

Steroid Hormones ◽

Production Efficiency ◽

Semen Quality ◽

Oxidative Status ◽

Sperm Production ◽

Herbal Supplements ◽

Reproductive Characteristics

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Offsetting Effects of Wolbachia Infection and Heat Shock on Sperm Production inDrosophila simulans: Analyses of Fecundity, Fertility and Accessory Gland Proteins

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/155.1.167 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 155 (1) ◽

pp. 167-178 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rhonda R Snook ◽

Sophia Y Cleland ◽

Mariana F Wolfner ◽

Timothy L Karr

Keyword(s):

Heat Shock ◽

Natural Populations ◽

Adult Life ◽

Reproductive Factors ◽

Male Gamete ◽

Wolbachia Infection ◽

Accessory Gland ◽

Sperm Production ◽

Accessory Gland Proteins ◽

Mating Conditions

AbstractInfection in Drosophila simulans with the endocellular symbiont Wolbachia pipientis results in egg lethality caused by failure to properly initiate diploid development (cytoplasmic incompatibility, CI). The relationship between Wolbachia infection and reproductive factors influencing male fitness has not been well examined. Here we compare infected and uninfected strains of D. simulans for (1) sperm production, (2) male fertility, and (3) the transfer and processing of two accessory gland proteins, Acp26Aa or Acp36De. Infected males produced significantly fewer sperm cysts than uninfected males over the first 10 days of adult life, and infected males, under varied mating conditions, had lower fertility compared to uninfected males. This fertility effect was due to neither differences between infected and uninfected males in the transfer and subsequent processing of accessory gland proteins by females nor to the presence of Wolbachia in mature sperm. We found that heat shock, which is known to decrease CI expression, increases sperm production to a greater extent in infected compared to uninfected males, suggesting a possible link between sperm production and heat shock. Given these results, the roles Wolbachia and heat shock play in mediating male gamete production may be important parameters for understanding the dynamics of infection in natural populations.

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Expression of Mst89B and CG31287 is Needed for Effective Sperm Storage and Egg Fertilization in Drosophila

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10020289 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 289

Author(s):

Gurman Grewal ◽

Bahar Patlar ◽

Alberto Civetta

Keyword(s):

Germ Line ◽

Sperm Storage ◽

Mature Sperm ◽

Sperm Production ◽

Cytogenetic Map ◽

Egg Hatchability ◽

Storage Organs ◽

Competitive Success ◽

Paternity Success ◽

And Storage

In Drosophila, male reproductive fitness can be affected by any number of processes, ranging from development of gametes, transfer to and storage of mature sperm within the female sperm storage organs, and utilization of sperm for fertilization. We have previously identified the 89B cytogenetic map position of D. melanogaster as a hub for genes that effect male paternity success when disturbed. Here, we used RNA interference to test 11 genes that are highly expressed in the testes and located within the 89B region for their role in sperm competition and male fecundity when their expression is perturbed. Testes-specific knockdown (KD) of bor and CSN5 resulted in complete sterility, whereas KD of CG31287, Manf and Mst89B, showed a breakdown in sperm competitive success when second to mate (P2 < 0.5) and reduced fecundity in single matings. The low fecundity of Manf KD is explained by a significant reduction in the amount of mature sperm produced. KD of Mst89B and CG31287 does not affect sperm production, sperm transfer into the female bursa or storage within 30 min after mating. Instead, a significant reduction of sperm in female storage is observed 24 h after mating. Egg hatchability 24 h after mating is also drastically reduced for females mated to Mst89B or CG31287 KD males, and this reduction parallels the decrease in fecundity. We show that normal germ-line expression of Mst89B and CG31287 is needed for effective sperm usage and egg fertilization.

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