scholarly journals Comparison of Sperm Number, Spermatophore Size, and Body Size in Four Cricket Species

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Sturm

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 2739-2744 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. E. O'Dea ◽  
M. D. Jennions ◽  
M. L. Head


2010 ◽  
Vol 281 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. B. Rasotto ◽  
Y. Sadovy De Mitcheson ◽  
G. Mitcheson


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Bo Liao ◽  
Mao Jun Zhong ◽  
Stefan Lüpold

AbstractSperm competition is often considered the primary selective force underlying the rapid and diversifying evolution of ejaculate traits. Yet, several recent studies have drawn attention to other forms of selection with the potential of exceeding the effects of sperm competition. Since ejaculates are complex, multivariate traits, it seems plausible that different ejaculate components vary in their responses to different selective pressures. Such information, however, is generally lacking as individual ejaculate traits tend to be studied in isolation. Here, we studied the macroevolutionary patterns of ejaculate volume, sperm number, sperm length and the proportion of viable normal sperm in response to varying levels of sperm competition, body size and the duration of female sperm storage in pheasants and allies (Phasianidae). Ejaculate volume, sperm number and sperm viability were all relatively higher in polygamous than in monogamous mating systems. However, whereas ejaculate volume additionally covaried with body size, sperm number instead increased with the female sperm-storage duration, in conjunction with a decrease in sperm length. Overall, our results revealed important details on how different forms of selection can jointly shape ejaculates as complex, composite traits.



Behaviour ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 144 (10) ◽  
pp. 1179-1192 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Reinhold ◽  
Hasan Sevgili

AbstractTheoretical models predict that males should allocate sperm in response to female quality and empirical studies have shown that fecundity traits including age, mass and mating status can influence male sperm allocation strategies. We tested whether female size has an influence on sperm allocation in the bushcricket Poecilimon jonicus jonicus (Orthoptera: Phaneropterinae). Contrary to other studies, we found neither evidence of strategic sperm allocation in response to female size nor an effect of female size on spermatophore size. Male age and mating history was positively related to sperm number during sequential matings, but had no effect on spermatophylax or ampulla weight. Spermatophore weight, but not sperm number, was positively correlated with male body weight. Ampulla weight was positively correlated with spermatophylax weight.



1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (12) ◽  
pp. 2124-2132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan L. Carroll

The independent and interacting effects of male body size, age, and previous number of matings on (i) spermatophore size and (ii) female reproductive performance were examined in the laboratory using Zeiraphera canadensis Mut. &Free. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Spermatophore size was not influenced by male age, but large males produced larger spermatophores and their size decreased with the number of consecutive matings. The capacity of males to produce spermatophores on successive days was size dependent. Large males produced well-defined spermatophores over five consecutive copulations, whereas small males were no longer able to produce a discernible spermatophore by the fourth mating. Male body size and mating history, independently or in combination, did not affect female fecundity or longevity despite their influence on spermatophore size, suggesting that potential spermatophore-derived nutrients were not utilized for reproduction or somatic maintenance. However, the number of previous matings on consecutive days influenced successful insemination as well as the receptivity of successfully inseminated females to additional matings. Moreover, the influence of multiple male matings on insemination success and mating receptivity was also size dependent. After several consecutive copulations, small males were less likely to successfully inseminate females and "switch off" the females' mating receptivity than large males. The size-dependent decline in ability to inseminate and switch off females, independent of spermatophore size, suggests that small males were more limited than large ones in their capacity to produce accessory gland secretions other than those required for spermatophore construction. Large Z. canadensis males may experience higher reproductive success than small ones by inseminating more females over consecutive evenings and leaving fewer females receptive to remating.





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