Outbred embryos rescue inbred half-siblings in mixed-paternity broods of live-bearing females

Nature ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 439 (7073) ◽  
pp. 201-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeanne A. Zeh ◽  
David W. Zeh
Keyword(s):  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Demont ◽  
Paul I Ward ◽  
Wolf U Blanckenhorn ◽  
Stefan Lüpold ◽  
Oliver Y Martin ◽  
...  

Abstract Precise mechanisms underlying sperm storage and utilization are largely unknown, and data directly linking stored sperm to paternity remain scarce. We used competitive microsatellite PCR to study the effects of female morphology, copula duration and oviposition on the proportion of stored sperm provided by the second of two copulating males (S2) in Scathophaga stercoraria (Diptera: Scathophagidae), the classic model for sperm competition studies. We genotyped all offspring from potentially mixed-paternity clutches to establish the relationship between a second male’s stored sperm (S2) and paternity success (P2). We found consistent skew in sperm storage across the three female spermathecae, with relatively more second-male sperm stored in the singlet spermatheca than in the doublet spermathecae. S2 generally decreased with increasing spermathecal size, consistent with either heightened first-male storage in larger spermathecae, or less efficient sperm displacement in them. Additionally, copula duration and several two-way interactions influenced S2, highlighting the complexity of postcopulatory processes and sperm storage. Importantly, S2 and P2 were strongly correlated. Manipulation of the timing of oviposition strongly influenced observed sperm-storage patterns, with higher S2 when females laid no eggs before being sacrificed than when they oviposited between copulations, an observation consistent with adaptive plasticity in insemination. Our results identified multiple factors influencing sperm storage, nevertheless suggesting that the proportion of stored sperm is strongly linked to paternity (i.e., a fair raffle). Even more detailed data in this vein are needed to evaluate the general importance of sperm competition relative to cryptic female choice in postcopulatory sexual selection.


2005 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zavodna ◽  
S. G. Compton ◽  
S. Raja ◽  
P. M. Gilmartin ◽  
J. M. M. van Damme
Keyword(s):  

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 191548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Milene G. Gaiotti ◽  
Michael S. Webster ◽  
Regina H. Macedo

Most of the diversity in the mating systems of birds and other animals comes at higher taxonomic levels, such as across orders. Although divergent selective pressures should lead to animal mating systems that diverge sharply from those of close relatives, opportunities to examine the importance of such processes are scarce. We addressed this issue using the Araripe manakin ( Antilophia bokermanni ), a species endemic to a forest enclave surrounded by xeric shrublands in Brazil. Most manakins exhibit polygynous lekking mating systems that lack territoriality but exhibit strong sexual selection. In sharp contrast, we found that male Araripe manakins defended exclusive territories, and females nested within male territories. However, territoriality and offspring paternity were dissociated: males sired only 7% of nestlings from the nests within their territories and non-territorial males sired numerous nestlings. Moreover, female polyandry was widespread, with most broods exhibiting mixed paternity. Apparently, territories in this species function differently from both lekking arenas and resource-based territories of socially monogamous species. The unexpected territoriality of Araripe manakins and its dissociation from paternity is a unique evolutionary development within the manakin clade. Collectively, our findings underscore how divergences in mating systems might evolve based on selective pressures from novel environmental contexts.


Behaviour ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 136 (9) ◽  
pp. 1065-1077 ◽  
Author(s):  
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◽  
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AbstractIn order to quantify the outcome of sperm competition in the mating system of the rove beetle Aleochara curtula we performed three different mating experiment series. Paternity was established by DNA fingerprinting with oligonucleotide probes. We found a precedence of the last male with a proportion of eggs fathered by the last male of 87% (median). Nevertheless, we observed a large variation of P2-values in A. curtula and cases of mixed paternity were documented as well as cases of 100% or 0% paternity of the last male. The variation of P2-values correlates with the efficiency of spermatophore and sperm transfer.


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