scholarly journals Intromittent Organ Morphology and Testis Size in Relation to Mating System in Waterfowl

The Auk ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 403-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Coker ◽  
Frank McKinney ◽  
Helen Hays ◽  
Susan V. Briggs ◽  
Kimberly M. Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Testis Size ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
Size Number ◽  
Actual Mechanism

Abstract The waterfowl family Anatidae is one of very few avian taxa that possesses an intromittent organ. This paper examines the adaptive significance of the intromittent organ in waterfowl by determining the relationships between intromittent organ morphology and the intensity of sperm competition (as reflected by frequency of forced extrapair copulations [FEPCs]). Intromittent organ morphological characteristics, including length and circumference (adjusted for body size), number of ridges and knobs (per unit area), ridge or knob height, ridge or knob span, and area covered by ridges and knobs, were measured from scaled drawings of museum specimens of 54 waterfowl species (33 genera), 27 of which were ranked by frequency of FEPC (1 = monogamous, 2 = rare FEPC, 3 = frequent FEPC, and 4 = polygynous or promiscuous). Testes sizes were also investigated in relation to FEPCs, where testes mass (adjusted for body size) from 44 species (24 genera) were obtained (29 species with mating strategies). The size of the testes, the length of the intromittent organ, the height of the intromittent organ ridges and knobs, and the area covered by ridges and knobs increased significantly with the frequency of FEPC, and those relationships exist after correcting for common ancestry constraints. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that waterfowl intromittent organs are involved in sperm competition. Further research into the actual mechanism by which the intromittent organ is involved would be worthwhile.

II.—Hidden Divergence in Laboratory Strains of Drosophila pseudo-obscura

1944 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowena Lamy
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Genetic Constitution ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Testis Size ◽  
Hybrid Female ◽  
Back Cross ◽  
Pure Race ◽  
Range Of Variation

The Race A/Race B hybrid females of D. pseudo-obscura have a high percentage of fertility, comparable with that of females of pure race. The number and viability of their offspring, however, are largely affected by the genetic constitution of the hybrid female as well as by that of the male to which she is mated in the backcross. Hence the performance of any given hybrid is determined in the first instance by the actual strains of the pure races which are used in making the P1 racial cross. Generally speaking the results are of the same order whenever the same strains are used. The progenies of hybrid females of different genetic constitution may differ in three main aspects: (1) The total number of offspring may be comparable with that usually obtained in a pure race cross; it may be reduced to any extent; in certain matings it is consistently at zero. (2) The sex ratio may be completely normal or male-deficient or female-deficient in any degree; completely uni-sexual progenies are sometimes obtained. (The above observations are mainly in agreement with reports of earlier writers; cf. Lancefield, 1929, Dobzhansky, 1936, Mampell, 1941, Sturtevant, 1937.) (3) “Viability characters,” i.e. those affecting general vigour and physical normality, may be of a high or a low grade; some progenies are comparable in this respect with the pure race, the only exception being that they show a much greater range of variation in body-size of both sexes, and in the testis size of males, abnormalities which are common to all back-cross progenies whatever the genetic constitution of the mother or father. Some progenies show in addition deformities of a peculiar type usually affecting the abdomen and occasionally the legs and wings.

Relative testis size and mating systems in anurans: large testis in multiple-male mating in foam-nesting frogs

2011 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Bo Liao ◽  
Zhi Ping Mi ◽  
Cai Quan Zhou ◽  
Ling Jin ◽  
Xian Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Competition ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Testis Size ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Large Testis ◽  
Testes Size ◽  
Testis Mass

AbstractComparative studies of the relative testes size in animals show that promiscuous species have relatively larger testes than monogamous species. Sperm competition favours the evolution of larger ejaculates in many animals – they give bigger testes. In the view, we presented data on relative testis mass for 17 Chinese species including 3 polyandrous species. We analyzed relative testis mass within the Chinese data set and combining those data with published data sets on Japanese and African frogs. We found that polyandrous foam nesting species have relatively large testes, suggesting that sperm competition was an important factor affecting the evolution of relative testes size. For 4 polyandrous species testes mass is positively correlated with intensity (males/mating) but not with risk (frequency of polyandrous matings) of sperm competition.

REACTION OF CD68-POSITIVE RAT LIVER AND SPLEEN CELLS ON SILICON INTAKE WITH DRINKING WATER

2021 ◽  
pp. 34-43
Author(s):  
Evgeniia A. Grigoreva ◽  
Valentina S. Gordova ◽  
Valentina E. Sergeeva ◽  
Alina T. Smorodchenko
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Cytoplasmic Membrane ◽  
Unit Area ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Silicon Compound ◽  
Average Cell ◽  
Laboratory Rats ◽  
Experimental Group

The article presents data on the long-term effect (nine months) of a silicon compound supplied with drinking water – nonahydrate sodium metasilicate (10 mg/l in terms of silicon), on CD68-positive macrophages in the liver and spleen of laboratory rats. Changes in the morphological characteristics of this cell population were found. There was a decrease in the average cell area (in the liver of the control group of rats, the average macrophage area was 179.23±5.94 microns2, and in the group receiving silicon with drinking water – 117.04±3.35 microns2; in the spleen-136.02±3.93 microns2 and 103.44±2.8 microns2, respectively). Macrophages in the liver preparations of the experimental group of rats had a fewer processes and a darker cytoplasmic membrane. The number of macrophages in the liver per unit area was comparable, for the control group of rats it was 18.78±1.24, and for the rats that received with water with the addition of silicon – 19.41±0.75 cells. CD68+ macrophages of the red splenic pulp in laboratory rats that received silicon also underwent the following morphological changes: they were located in a denser way and had fewer processes, while the number of macrophages per unit area was 73.7±2.3 for the control group, 91.6±5.0-for the experimental group, respectively. The distance between them did not change. There was a change in the intensity of CD68 expression on the surface of the cytoplasmic membrane and in the cytoplasm of liver and spleen macrophages. These changes can be interpreted as the adaptive ability of liver and spleen macrophages to silicon introduced with drinking water. Given the heterogeneity of the macrophage population in the liver and spleen, further studies using markers for different subpopulations of macrophages are needed to clarify their role in the response of tissues to silicon supplied with drinking water.

scholarly journals Adaptive significance of small body size under poor socio-economic conditions in southern Peru

1973 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 255-261 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Roberto Frisancho ◽  
Jorge Sanchez ◽  
Danilo Pallardel ◽  
Lizandro Yanez
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Small Body ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Small Body Size ◽  
Southern Peru

Adaptive flexibility, testosterone, and mating fitness: Are low FA individuals the pinnacle of evolution?

2000 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 599-600 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Fluctuating Asymmetry ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Mating Pattern ◽  
Environmental Determinants ◽  
Male Behavior ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Human Relationships

The expansion of human evolutionary theory into the domain of personal and environmental determinants of mating strategies is applauded. Questions are raised about the relation between fluctuating asymmetry (FA), testosterone, and body size and their effects on male behavior and outcomes. Low FA males' short-term mating pattern is considered in the context of an evolved tendency for closer and longer human relationships.

scholarly journals Ultraviolet Degradation in Carotenoid Patches: Live Versus Museum Specimens of Wood Warblers (Parulidae)

The Auk ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 793-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel D. McNett ◽  
Karen Marchetti
Keyword(s):  
Natural Populations ◽  
Adaptive Significance ◽  
Color Variation ◽  
Museum Specimens ◽  
The Past ◽  
Wood Warblers ◽  
Color Spectrum ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Source Materials

Abstract Accurate assessment of color is essential in testing the adaptive significance of color variation in avian plumage. Over the past decade, use of objective methods for assessing color has increased, with particular emphasis on ultraviolet (UV) wavelengths. Researchers have used various source materials, most notably museum specimens, to extend or represent color measurements of individuals in natural populations. Here, we address whether the colors seen in museum specimens accurately represent the colors seen in natural populations. We focus on UV wavelengths and carotenoid-derived colors across 10 species of wood-warblers (Parulidae). Our results indicate an uneven decrease in brightness across the color spectrum, with greater relative decrease in shorter wavelengths in museum specimens. That decrease leads to differences in both hue and chroma between living and museum specimens. The difference from live specimens appears to increase with the museum specimen's age. Our results suggest that caution is needed when using data from museum specimens to test hypotheses on plumage coloration, particularly those involving communication. Degradación Ultravioleta en Parches de Carotenoides: Especímenes Vivos versus Especímenes de Museo de Especies de la Familia Parulidae

A new species in the genus Alopecosa Simon, 1885 from Korea (Araneae: Lycosidae)

Zootaxa ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 397 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
JUNGSUN YOO ◽  
JOOPIL KIM ◽  
HOZUMI TANAKA
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscope ◽  
New Species ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Scanning Electron Microscope ◽  
Morphological Characteristics ◽  
The Body ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
A New Species ◽  
Scanning Electron

Alopecosa volubilis n. sp. is described from Korea and is differentiated from other species in Alopecosa Simon, 1885 by morphological characteristics, such as three retromarginal teeth of chelicera, smaller body size, and the presence of a distinct tip of the median apophysis. The pedipalpal sclerites and somatic characters of two similar species, A. moriutii Tanaka, 1985 and A. hokkaidensis Tanaka, 1985, are compared with those of the new species. An illustration of the body and scanning electron microscope (SEM) pictures of the pedipalpal organ are provided.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document