scholarly journals Paternal effects correlate with female reproductive stimulation in the polyandrous ladybirdCheilomenes sexmaculata

2014 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 480-485 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Mirhosseini ◽  
J.P. Michaud ◽  
M.A. Jalali ◽  
M. Ziaaddini
Keyword(s):  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Paternal Effects ◽  
Female Fecundity ◽  
Adult Weight ◽  
Male Age ◽  
Mating History ◽  
Epigenetic Effects ◽  
Seminal Fluids ◽  
Egg Fertility ◽  
Male Factors

AbstractComponents of male seminal fluids are known to stimulate fecundity and fertility in females of numerous insect species and paternal effects on offspring phenotype are also known, but no studies have yet demonstrated links between male effects on female reproduction and those on progeny phenotype. In separate laboratory experiments employing 10-day-old virgin females ofCheilomenes sexmaculata(F.), we varied male age and mating history to manipulate levels of male allomones and found that the magnitude of paternal effects on progeny phenotype was correlated with stimulation of female reproduction. Older virgin males remained in copula longer than younger ones, induced higher levels of female fecundity, and sired progeny that developed faster to yield heavier adults. When male age was held constant (13 days), egg fertility declined as a function of previous male copulations, progeny developmental times increased, and the adult weight of daughters declined. These results suggest that male epigenetic effects on progeny phenotype act in concert with female reproductive stimulation; both categories of effects increased as a consequence of male celibacy (factor accumulation), and diminished as a function of previous matings (factor depletion). Male factors that influence female reproduction are implicated in sexual conflict and parental effects may extend this conflict to offspring phenotype. Whereas mothers control the timing of oviposition events and can use maternal effects to tailor progeny phenotypes to prevailing or anticipated conditions, fathers cannot. Since females remate and dilute paternity in polyandrous systems, paternal fitness will be increased by linking paternal effects to female fecundity stimulation, so that more benefits accrue to the male's own progeny.

Biparental mealybugs may be more promiscuous than we thought

2018 ◽  
Vol 109 (05) ◽  
pp. 574-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.B. Silva ◽  
C. Mourato ◽  
M. Branco ◽  
Z. Mendel ◽  
J.C. Franco
Keyword(s):  
Pest Management ◽  
Multiple Mating ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Scale Insects ◽  
Planococcus Citri ◽  
Female Fecundity ◽  
Male Age ◽  
Mating History ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Negative Effect

AbstractKnowledge on the reproductive biology of target insect pest is essential for the effective implementation of pheromone-based pest management tactics. In mealybugs, the second largest family of scale insects, the existence of female multiple mating was recently suggested. In this study, we aimed at testing how general is this behavior in mealybugs, by investigating polygyny and polyandry in two cosmopolitan pest mealybugs, Planococcus citri and Pseudococcus calceolariae. Males of these species were able to mate an average of 11.9 and 13.3 females, respectively, during their lifespan. The number of fertilized females per male decreased with male age/mating history for both mealybugs. We found no differences in female fecundity and fertility, when fertilized by males with different mating history. When we used male age as a proxy of mating history, we observed a significant negative effect on female fecundity. The females of both species remained receptive after first copula and eventually mated multiple times. The percentage of remated females of P. citri decreased linearly with time since first copula, with some maintaining receptivity up to 24 h. Males showed no preference between virgin and mated females, in static-air olfactometer tests. We found no benefit of female multiple mating in relation to fecundity. In biparental mealybugs, the mating system of males is possibly scramble competition polygyny; and that of females is possibly polyandry, with female receptivity restricted to a relatively short period. We discuss the practical implications of the results for pest management.

scholarly journals Sexual activity diminishes male virility in twoCoccinellaspecies: consequences for female fertility and progeny development

2013 ◽  
Vol 103 (5) ◽  
pp. 570-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.P. Michaud ◽  
Mahadev Bista ◽  
Geetanjali Mishra ◽  
Omkar Singh
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Seminal Fluid ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Coccinella Septempunctata ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Paternal Effects ◽  
Female Fecundity ◽  
Mating Activity ◽  
Seminal Fluid Proteins ◽  
Mating History

AbstractMale contributions, both chemical and behavioural, can influence female sperm usage and reproductive success. To determine whether such male factors are subject to depletion inCoccinella septempunctataandCoccinella transversalis, we tested the effects of male mating history on male virility, as estimated by measures of mating behaviour, female reproductive success and progeny fitness, with parental age held constant. Overt measures of male mating effort (wriggling duration, number of shaking bouts and total copula duration) all diminished from virgin to 5 × mated males and were mirrored by concurrent declines in female fecundity and fertility (measured over 20 days). Paternal effects were also observed which diminished as a function of mating history, suggesting that transgenerational signals of male origin are also subject to depletion. Progeny of virgin fathers had higher rates of survival (C. transversalis) and faster development (both species) than progeny of 5 × mated fathers. Seminal fluid proteins are known to have allohormonal properties and can stimulate female fecundity and fertility in a number of insects, making them strong candidates for depletion as a function of mating activity. However, it is also possible that sperm limitation and/or reduced tactile stimulation of females by multiple-mated males may have contributed to some of the observed effects.

scholarly journals The effects of male age, sperm age and mating history on ejaculate senescence

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 1267-1279 ◽  
Author(s):  
Regina Vega‐Trejo ◽  
Rebecca J. Fox ◽  
Maider Iglesias‐Carrasco ◽  
Megan L. Head ◽  
Michael D. Jennions
Keyword(s):  
Male Age ◽  
Mating History

scholarly journals Short-term variation in sperm competition causes sperm-mediated epigenetic effects on early offspring performance in the zebrafish

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1785) ◽  
pp. 20140422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Zajitschek ◽  
Cosima Hotzy ◽  
Felix Zajitschek ◽  
Simone Immler
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Genetic Factors ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Paternal Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Offspring Performance ◽  
Lower Survival Rate ◽  
Epigenetic Effects ◽  
Rapid Responses ◽  
Short Period

The inheritance of non-genetic factors is increasingly seen to play a major role in ecology and evolution. While the causes and consequences of epigenetic effects transmitted from the mother to the offspring have received ample attention, much less is known about how variation in the condition of the father affects the offspring. Here, we manipulated the intensity of sperm competition experienced by male zebrafish Danio rerio to investigate the potential for sperm-mediated epigenetic effects over a relatively short period of time. We found that the rapid responses of males to varying intensity of sperm competition not only affected sperm traits as shown previously, but also the performance of the resulting offspring. We observed that males exposed to high intensity of sperm competition produced faster swimming and more motile sperm, and sired offspring that hatched over a narrower time frame but exhibited a lower survival rate than males exposed to low intensity of sperm competition. Our results provide striking evidence for short-term paternal effects and the possible fitness consequences of such sperm-mediated non-genetic factors not only for the resulting offspring but also for the female.

scholarly journals Separating the effects of male age and past mating effort on paternity success under sperm competition

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Upama Aich ◽  
Megan Head ◽  
Rebecca Fox ◽  
Michael D Jennions
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Competition ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Mating Effort ◽  
Reproductive Senescence ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Male Age ◽  
Mating History ◽  
Paternity Success ◽  
Older Males

Older males often perform poorly under post-copulatory sexual selection. It is unclear, however, whether reproductive senescence is due to male age itself or the accumulated costs of the higher lifetime mating effort that is usually associated with male age. To date, very few studies have accounted for male mating history when testing for the effect of male age on sperm traits, and none test how age and past mating history influence paternity success under sperm competition. Here, we experimentally manipulate male mating history to tease apart its effects from that of age on ejaculate traits and paternity in the mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki. We found that old, naive males had more sperm than old, experienced males, while the reverse was true for young males. In contrast, neither male age nor mating history affected sperm velocity. Finally, using artificial insemination to experimentally control the number of sperm per male, we found that old males sired significantly more offspring than young males independent of their mating history. Our results highlight that the general pattern of male reproductive senescence described in many taxa may often be affected by two naturally confounding factors, male mating history and sperm age, rather than male age itself.

scholarly journals X- and Y-chromosome linked paternal effects on a life-history trait

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Urban Friberg ◽  
Andrew D. Stewart ◽  
William R. Rice
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Life History ◽  
Parental Care ◽  
Maternal Effects ◽  
Phenotypic Variation ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Life History Trait ◽  
Paternal Effects ◽  
Epigenetic Effects ◽  
Males And Females

Males and females usually invest asymmetrically in offspring. In species lacking parental care, females influence offspring in many ways, while males only contribute genetic material via their sperm. For this reason, maternal effects have long been considered an important source of phenotypic variation, while paternal effects have been presumed to be absent or negligible. The recent surge of studies showing trans-generational epigenetic effects questions this assumption, and indicates that paternal effects may be far more important than previously appreciated. Here, we test for sex-linked paternal effects in Drosophila melanogaster on a life-history trait, and find substantial support for both X- and Y-linked effects.

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