Microsatellite markers reveal multiple paternity and sperm storage in the Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise, Testudo graeca

2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Roques ◽  
C Díaz-Paniagua ◽  
A C Andreu

The spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) is a terrestrial species in which multiple mating is frequently observed. We assessed the probability of multiple paternity in clutches (n = 15) laid by eight females, including successive clutches. Paternity was determined by microsatellite analyses at three loci. A large number of alleles per locus (n = 15–22) provided high probabilities of detecting multiple paternity, particularly at all loci combined (P = 0.989). Multiple paternity was found in 20% of the clutches in which offspring displayed more than two paternal alleles. However, this frequency may have been underestimated, given the small clutch sizes and the few loci used. Also, T. graeca is able to store sperm from single or multiple matings and can use it to fertilize subsequent clutches of eggs, as indicated by the fact that the second clutch of a captive female was sired by a different male and that clutches of another female were multiply sired by the same males. These results confirm that multiple paternity exists in T. graeca and that sperm storage in this species may be an important reproductive strategy to fertilize multiple clutches per year.

2006 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 520-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily E. Johnston ◽  
Matthew S. Rand ◽  
Stephan G. Zweifel

Reproductive success is a critical measure of an organism’s fitness. Determining reproductive success in vertebrates is confounded by the concealed mechanism and timing of fertilization (e.g., sperm competition and storage). To assess the relationship between observed mating behavior and reproductive success in the central Asian tortoise, Testudo horsfieldii Gray, 1844, we determined individual genotypes from a captive colony of adults and their offspring. We constructed a size-selected genomic library from T. horsfieldii and screened for polymorphic microsatellite markers. The screen resulted in identification of two novel microsatellite regions. Cross-species amplification of microsatellite markers using primers developed for the bog turtle, Glyptemys muhlenbergii (Schoepff, 1801), resulted in isolation of three additional polymorphic microsatellites for T. horsfieldii. The five loci, which have between 5 and 17 alleles and observed heterozygosities between 0.44 and 0.90, were used to determine the frequency of multiple paternity in the captive colony. We found evidence for multiple paternity in 27% of the clutches examined, as well as evidence for overwinter sperm storage and variance in adult male reproductive success. These data indicate that ample opportunity exists for sperm competition and female mate choice in T. horsfieldii.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 171385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie J. Holmes ◽  
Lisa C. Pope ◽  
Samuel M. Williams ◽  
Ian R. Tibbetts ◽  
Mike B. Bennett ◽  
...  

Multiple paternity has been documented as a reproductive strategy in both viviparous and ovoviviparous elasmobranchs, leading to the assumption that multiple mating may be ubiquitous in these fishes. However, with the majority of studies conducted on coastal and nearshore elasmobranchs that often form mating aggregations, parallel studies on pelagic, semi-solitary species are lacking. The tiger shark ( Galeocerdo cuvier ) is a large pelagic shark that has an aplacental viviparous reproductive mode which is unique among the carcharhinids. A total of 112 pups from four pregnant sharks were genotyped at nine microsatellite loci to assess the possibility of multiple paternity or polyandrous behaviour by female tiger sharks. Only a single pup provided evidence of possible multiple paternity, but with only seven of the nine loci amplifying for this individual, results were inconclusive. In summary, it appears that the tiger sharks sampled in this study were genetically monogamous. These findings may have implications for the genetic diversity and future sustainability of this population.


2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (11) ◽  
pp. 985-988 ◽  
Author(s):  
A.F. Kahrl ◽  
R.H. Laushman ◽  
A.J. Roles

Multiple mating is expected to be common in organisms that produce large clutches as a mechanism by which sexual reproduction can enrich genetic variation. For freshwater crayfish, observation of multiple mating suggests the potential for high rates of multiple paternity, but genetic confirmation is largely lacking from natural populations. We studied paternity within wild-caught broods of two crayfish species in the genus Orconectes (Sanborn’s crayfish (Orconectes sanbornii (Faxon, 1884)) and the Allegheny crayfish (Orconectes obscurus (Hagen, 1870))). Although females have been observed mating with multiple males, this is the first genetic confirmation of multiple paternity in broods of these two species. Berried females were collected in the field and maintained in aquaria until their eggs hatched. We amplified and genotyped extracted DNA from maternal and hatchling tissue for several microsatellite loci. For both species, paternity reconstruction (GERUD 2.0) yielded 2–3 sires per brood and no single paternity clutches. We discuss these results from natural populations in light of the body of work on reproductive ecology of decapod crustaceans and in the context of changes in life history following the transition from marine to freshwater habitats.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1168-1174
Author(s):  
A.A. Poroshina ◽  
◽  
D.Yu. Sherbakov ◽  

Abstract. Using a computer simulation model, we tried to investigate how the transition from sexual reproduction to asexual reproduction will affect the population of diploid organisms with a neutral character of molecular evolution. At the same time, special attention was paid to the specificity of microsatellite markers. In this paper, we develop fast and inexpensive methods for assessing the changes in populations that occur with a change in reproductive strategy.


2020 ◽  
pp. 332-363
Author(s):  
Carola Becker ◽  
Raymond T. Bauer

In polyandrous mating systems, females mate multiple times and males have evolved adaptations for sperm competition which increase the number and fitness of their offspring. Mate guarding is a widespread monopolization strategy in groups where female receptivity is temporally restricted and often associated with the molt. Precopulatory guarding occurs in branchipods, copepods, peracarids and decapods. Postcopulatory guarding is notable in numerous brachyurans with males protecting females until her exoskeleton has hardened. During copulation, male success in fertilization depends on an effective sperm transfer mechanism, the precise placement of ejaculates closest to where female gametes are fertilized. Male copulatory systems are highly diverse and strongly adapted to these tasks, especially the structures that interact with the female genital ducts. The elaborate tips of brachyuran gonopods are supposed to act in the displacement, possibly even in the removal of rival sperm masses; however, sperm removal is only evident in crayfish: males eat spermatophores previously deposited by other males. During copulation of several crustacean groups, males transfer secretions that harden and form a sealant. These sperm plugs, plaques and gel layers may protect their own sperm, prevent remating or seal off rival sperm from the site of fertilization. Several groups of isopods and decapods have internal insemination, elaborate sperm storage organs and some exhibit internal fertilization. The intensity of sperm competition increases with the latency between the processes of insemination and fertilization. This chapter gives on overview on mate guarding, male sealants and the anatomical adaptations to sperm competition in crustaceans. We also briefly discuss the consequences of multiple matings for the genetic diversity of broods, i.e., single vs. multiple paternities. There is still a lack of data for many crustacean groups. Moreover, it is often hard to assess how successful a male strategy to ensure paternity actually is as many studies focus on either the behavioral, anatomical, or molecular aspects, while comprehensive multi-level studies on crustacean sperm competition are virtually absent from the literature.


2015 ◽  
Vol 159 ◽  
pp. 212-216
Author(s):  
Katiane de Oliveira Pinto Coelho Nogueira ◽  
Sirlene Souza Rodrigues Sartori ◽  
Vinícius Albano Araújo ◽  
Clóvis Andrade Neves ◽  
Benjamin Kolisnyk

2005 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1803-1810 ◽  
Author(s):  
ERIKA M. ADAMS ◽  
ADAM G. JONES ◽  
STEVAN J. ARNOLD

2012 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 308-312 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Meister ◽  
Sylvain Ursenbacher ◽  
Bruno Baur

Males can enhance their reproductive success through mating with multiple females. For females, however, one mating is usually sufficient to inseminate all of their ova. Females may benefit from multiple mating by producing genetically more diverse offspring, and by having the opportunity to choose sperm of the genetically most compatible male. We used five microsatellite loci to investigate the occurrence and frequency of multiple paternity in 11 clutches of the grass snake (Natrix natrix) in Switzerland. Using a very conservative estimate (program GERUD), two or more fathers were found in 27% of the clutches. However, based on the maximum likelihood estimate (program COLONY), multiple paternity occurred in 91% of the clutches with 2-5 contributing males per female. This is the first investigation demonstrating multiple paternity in a European natricine, with a frequency similar to those found in new world natricines.


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