Morphology and evolutionary implications of the annual cycle of secretion and sperm storage in spermathecae of the salamanderAmbystoma opacum (Amphibia: Ambystomatidae)

1995 ◽  
Vol 223 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Sever ◽  
John D. Krenz ◽  
Kristin M. Johnson ◽  
Lisa C. Rania
Keyword(s):  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Sperm Storage

scholarly journals Androgen-related sperm storage in oviduct of Chinese Soft-Shelled Turtle in vivo during annual cycle

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tengfei Liu ◽  
Xiaoya Chu ◽  
Yufei Huang ◽  
Ping Yang ◽  
Quanfu Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Sperm Storage

The Effects of the sphragis on male and female genitalia in Acraea (Nymphalidae) butterflies

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon L Summers ◽  
Akito Y Kawahara ◽  
Ana P. S. Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Variation ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Storage Organ ◽  
Mating Plug ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Comparison And Analysis ◽  
Imagej Software ◽  
Sexually Antagonistic Coevolution

Male mating plugs have been used in many species to prevent female re-mating and sperm competition. One of the most extreme examples of a mating plug is the sphragis, which is a large, complex and externalized plug found only in butterflies. This structure is found in many species in the genus Acraea (Nymphalidae) and provides an opportunity for investigation of the effects of the sphragis on the morphology of the genitalia, which is poorly understood. This study aims to understand morphological interspecific variation in the genitalia of Acraea butterflies. Using specimens from museum collections, abdomen dissections were conducted on 19 species of Acraea: 9 sphragis bearing and 10 non-sphragis bearing species. Genitalia imaging was performed for easier comparison and analysis and measurements of genitalia structures was done using ImageJ software. Some distinguishing morphological features in the females were found. The most obvious difference is the larger and more externalized copulatory opening in sphragis bearing species, with varying degrees of external projections. Females of the sphragis bearing species also tend to have a shorter ductus (the structure that connects the copulatory opening with the sperm storage organ) than those without the sphragis. These differences may be due to a sexually antagonistic coevolution between the males and females, where the females evolve larger and more difficult to plug copulatory openings and the males attempt to prevent re-mating with the sphragis.

Localization of calcium and zinc in the sperm storage tubules of chicken, quail and turkey using X-ray microanalysis

Reproduction ◽  
2000 ◽  
pp. 331-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
L Holm ◽  
H Ekwall ◽  
GJ Wishart ◽  
Y Ridderstrale
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Sperm Storage ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Elemental Concentrations ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Intracellular Content ◽  
Wet Weight ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Sperm Storage Tubules ◽  
Scanning Electron

Sperm storage tubules from the utero-vaginal junction of chickens, quails and turkeys were analysed for calcium and zinc using X-ray microanalysis of ultra-rapidly frozen tissue in a scanning electron microscope. This technique enabled the tubular fluid surrounding the stored spermatozoa and the intracellular content of the cells of the sperm storage tubules to be analysed separately and, by using standards with known concentrations, their elemental concentrations were estimated. The mean (+/- SEM) concentration of calcium in the tubular fluid from chickens, quails and turkeys was 17 +/- 3, 19 +/- 3 and 17 +/- 4 mmol kg(-1) wet weight, respectively. The intracellular calcium concentration of the cells of the tubules did not differ significantly from these values and was also similar in the mucosal epithelial cells of the utero-vaginal junction. Zinc was localized in the cells of turkey sperm storage tubules and tubular fluid, but at low concentrations. No zinc could be detected in corresponding structures from chickens and quails. The concentration of calcium in the tubular fluid is within the range known to inhibit the motility of spermatozoa, supporting this function for calcium during storage. Zinc is known to depress turkey sperm metabolism and it may also be involved in inducing quiescence of spermatozoa during storage in this species.

Birds in the Dark: Complementary and Partial Information

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham R. Martin
Keyword(s):  
Annual Cycle ◽  
Colour Vision ◽  
Partial Information ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
Night Feeding ◽  
Nocturnal Species ◽  
Length Changes

Night-time poses exacting problems for vision, resolution inevitably falls and colour vision is not possible as light levels decrease to those of natural night time. Furthermore, light levels are highly variable depending upon whether there is moonlight, and night length changes dramatically in the annual cycle according to latitude. Few birds exploit the resources available at night. Those that do rely upon information received from vision complemented by information from other senses (hearing, olfaction, and touch), and upon highly specialized and restricted behaviours. However, many birds occasionally exploit night-time, e.g. during migration, arriving and departing from nests, and occasional night feeding. Some seabirds dive to such depths that they experience night-time light levels when foraging. Truly nocturnal species such as owls, kiwi, and oilbirds are highly sedentary, and this is essential to allow them to interpret correctly the partial information that is available to them.

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