scholarly journals Sexual cannibalism increases male material investment in offspring: quantifying terminal reproductive effort in a praying mantis

2016 ◽  
Vol 283 (1833) ◽  
pp. 20160656 ◽  
Author(s):  
William D. Brown ◽  
Katherine L. Barry
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Sexual Cannibalism ◽  
Male Body ◽  
Praying Mantis ◽  
Substantial Investment ◽  
Praying Mantid ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Radiolabelled Amino Acids

Models of the evolution of sexual cannibalism argue that males may offset the cost of cannibalism if components of the male body are directly allocated to the eggs that they fertilize. We tested this idea in the praying mantid Tenodera sinensis . Males and females were fed differently radiolabelled crickets and allowed to mate. Half of the pairs progressed to sexual cannibalism and we prevented cannibalism in the other half. We assess the relative allocation of both male-derived somatic materials and ejaculate materials into the eggs and soma of the female. Our results show that male somatic investment contributes to production of offspring. The eggs and reproductive tissues of cannibalistic females contained significantly more male-derived amino acids than those of non-cannibalistic females, and there was an increase in the number of eggs produced subsequent to sexual cannibalism. Sexual cannibalism thus increases male material investment in offspring. We also show that males provide substantial investment via the ejaculate, with males passing about 25% of their radiolabelled amino acids to females via the ejaculate even in the absence of cannibalism.

scholarly journals The cost of associating with males for Bornean and Sumatran female orangutans: a hidden form of sexual conflict?

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia A. Kunz ◽  
Guilhem J. Duvot ◽  
Maria A. van Noordwijk ◽  
Erik P. Willems ◽  
Manuela Townsend ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Conflict ◽  
Sexual Coercion ◽  
High Association ◽  
Sexual Swellings ◽  
Fecal Cortisol ◽  
Habitat Productivity ◽  
Pongo Pygmaeus Wurmbii ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
The Cost

Abstract Sexual coercion, in the form of forced copulations, is relatively frequently observed in orangutans and generally attributed to their semi-solitary lifestyle. High ecological costs of association for females may be responsible for this lifestyle and may have prevented the evolution of morphological fertility indicators (e.g., sexual swellings), which would attract (male) associates. Therefore, sexual conflict may arise not only about mating per se but also about associations, because males may benefit from associations with females to monitor their reproductive state and attempt to monopolize their sexual activities. Here, we evaluate association patterns and costs for females when associating with both males and females of two different orangutan species at two study sites: Suaq, Sumatra (Pongo abelii), and Tuanan, Borneo (Pongo pygmaeus wurmbii). Female association frequency with both males and females was higher in the Sumatran population, living in more productive habitat. Accordingly, we found that the cost of association, in terms of reduced feeding to moving ratio and increased time being active, is higher in the less sociable Bornean population. Males generally initiated and maintained such costly associations with females, and prolonged associations with males led to increased female fecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) levels at Tuanan, the Bornean population. We conclude that male-maintained associations are an expression of sexual conflict in orangutans, at least at Tuanan. For females, this cost of association may be responsible for the lack of sexual signaling, while needing to confuse paternity. Significance statement Socioecological theory predicts a trade-off between the benefits of sociality and the ecological costs of increased feeding competition. Orangutans’ semi-solitary lifestyle has been attributed to the combination of high association costs and low predation risk. Previous work revealed a positive correlation between association frequencies and habitat productivity, but did not measure the costs of association. In this comparative study, we show that females likely incur costs from involuntary, male-maintained associations, especially when they last for several days and particularly in the population characterized by lower association frequencies. Association maintenance therefore qualifies as another expression of sexual conflict in orangutans, and especially prolonged, male-maintained associations may qualify as an indirect form of sexual coercion.

scholarly journals 129 Effects of a multi-strain Bacillus subtilis-based direct-fed microbial on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and colonic pH in diets fed to weanling pigs

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 101-102
Author(s):  
Jaron R Lewton ◽  
Adrienne Woodward ◽  
Ronny Moser ◽  
Kyan M Thelen ◽  
Adam J Moeser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Bacillus Subtilis ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Distal Colon ◽  
Nutrient Digestibility ◽  
Nursery Pigs ◽  
Fiber Digestion ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Dietary Treatments ◽  
The Impact

Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a multi-strain Bacillus subtilis-based direct-fed microbial (DFM) on apparent digestibility and colonic pH of nursery pigs. Eighty pigs, of equal number of barrows and gilts (initial BW: 6.99 ± 1.67 kg), were weaned at 21 ± 1 d and randomly allotted to sixteen pens, with five pigs per pen. Two dietary treatments were implemented, a basal control (CON) and a control plus DFM (DFM). Both diets were corn, soybean meal, and distillers dried grains based, formulated to meet all or exceed all nutritional requirements, and manufactured on site. Diets were fed for 42 days. Performance measures were recorded weekly. On d 21 and 42 of the experiment, one pig per pen was randomly selected and euthanized, with equal number of males and females represented. Digestibility of specific nutrients was evaluated within the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, ascending and distal colon. There were no overall differences in growth performance. Overall means ± SD were 0.51 ± 0.05 kg/d, 0.79 ± 0.05 kg/d and 0.66 ± 0.05 for ADG, ADFI, and G:F, respectively. Digestibility of tryptophan within the jejunum tended (P = 0.06) to increase with addition of DFM, as did cysteine (P = 0.12) and methionine (P = 0.10). The analysis also suggested that the impact of the DFM on the digestibility of amino acids may be early in the nursery phase. The pH of contents in ascending colon, a possible indicator of varied fiber digestion, did not differ. Likewise, no differences were observed between treatment in apparent total tract nitrogen and energy digestibility (analysis of distal colon contents). The addition of a multi-strain Bacillus subtilis-based DFM appears to impact digestibility of select amino acids depending upon location in the gastrointestinal tract.

The genetics of Huntington’s disease

2020 ◽  
pp. 44-53
Author(s):  
Oliver Quarrell
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Genetic Code ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Repeat Expansion ◽  
Cag Repeat ◽  
Dna Molecule ◽  
Cag Repeat Expansion ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Chemical Messenger ◽  
Hd Gene

This chapter describes the nature of the genetic mistake. The genetic code, or DNA molecule, is wound up onto structures called chromosomes. The gene for HD is located on chromosome 4. As we have two copies of our genes the chromosomes are in pairs. Only one copy of the HD has to be abnormal to cause the condition. This results in a pattern of inheritance called autosomal dominant and both males and females can be affected. Genes code for proteins; the protein encoded by the HD gene is called huntingtin. Proteins are made of building blocks called amino acids. The gene for HD has an expansion of the genetic code for glutamine. Therefore, abnormal huntingtin has an expansion of the number of glutamines. The genetic code for glutamine is CAG so the mistake in the gene is sometimes called a CAG repeat expansion disorder or in referring to the protein it is called a polyglutamine repeat expansion. The gene is in one part of the cell and the protein-making machinery is in another part of the cell so a chemical messenger is required which is called RNA. Explaining this is important for understanding some current clinical trials

Peroxovanadates and Its Bio-Mimicking Relation with Vanadium Haloperoxidases

2016 ◽  
pp. 197-219
Author(s):  
Pranjal Saikia ◽  
Saitanya Kumar Bharadwaj ◽  
Abu Taleb Miah
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Active Site ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Recombinant Enzymes ◽  
Vanadium Compounds ◽  
Reaction Conditions ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Major Emphasis ◽  
Protein Active Site

Vanadium Haloperoxidases (VHPOs) have been used in a variety of biotransformations showing remarkable stereoselectivity and regiospecificity. The high efficiency of the enzyme is influenced by the protein active site and the role of certain amino acids in activation of vanadium(V)-bound peroxide for halide oxidation. The use of natural or recombinant enzymes, or biomimetic vanadium compounds brings up issues regarding the cost of production and reaction conditions. In this chapter, the primary intent is to provide a simple and clear picture of functional mimicking nature of peroxovanadium compounds with haloperoxidases enzymes to the readers. Major emphasis would be given to examine the reactivity of the vanadium haloperoxidases with mechanism.

Sex-biased parental-care allocation in three tern species (Laridae, Aves)

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 1461-1467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauro Fasola ◽  
Nicola Saino
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Agonistic Behavior ◽  
Sexual Size Dimorphism ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Seabird Species ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Sandwich Tern ◽  
Parental Expenditure ◽  
Care Allocation

We studied parental-care allocation by males and females in three tern species. Female Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) and Little Terns (S. albifrons) performed more incubation and brooding than males, whereas in the Sandwich Tern (S. sandvicensis) the sexes shared these duties equally. In all three species, agonistic behaviors were performed equally by females and males. Prey types brought by males and females of each species were similar, but males tended to bring larger prey and had higher delivery rates than females. Information on parental-care allocation by female and male seabirds of various species, 5 gulls, 6 terns, and 1 skimmer, indicates that females perform most of the incubation and brooding in both gulls and terns, whereas males perform most territory attendance and agonistic behavior (gulls) and more prey provisioning (terns). These patterns are qualitatively consistent with the explanation that the differences between gulls and terns in sex-biased parental care are related to the fact that gulls exhibit sexual size dimorphism but terns do not. Contrary to theoretical predictions that in monogamous birds, females contribute more reproductive effort than males, in all the seabird species studied so far the total parental expenditure by males seems to equal or outweigh that by females.

The cost of reproduction in women: Reproductive effort and oxidative stress in premenopausal and postmenopausal American women

2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. e23069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Ziomkiewicz ◽  
Amara Frumkin ◽  
Yawei Zhang ◽  
Amelia Sancilio ◽  
Richard G. Bribiescas
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Cost Of Reproduction ◽  
American Women ◽  
The Cost ◽  
And Oxidative Stress

Territorial behaviour in southern red-backed and Ozark zigzag salamanders: effects of sex, species and ownership

Behaviour ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 156 (10) ◽  
pp. 1017-1037 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colton S. Lynn ◽  
Benjamin Dalton ◽  
Alicia Mathis
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behaviour ◽  
Exploratory Behaviour ◽  
Territorial Behaviour ◽  
Defensive Behaviour ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Competitive Behaviour ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Cost

Abstract When both males and females are territorial, spatial and aggressive behaviour can vary between the sexes. We examined differences in exploratory and competitive behaviour between males and females and residents and intruders of two species, the Ozark zigzag (P. angusticlavius) and southern red-backed (P. serratus) salamanders. For exploratory behaviour, males and females differed in distance traveled based on species, but females of both species were significantly more cautious than males about leaving territories. In competition trials, male and female territory residents (owners) did not differ in defensive behaviour, but female intruders were more aggressive than male intruders. Overall, P. angusticlavius showed more aggressive behaviour, explored more, and were less cautious about leaving territories than P. serratus. Female intruders of both species fight harder, potentially to gain territories, and are more cautious about leaving territories, which may indicate that the cost of not having a territory is greater for females.

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