Size influences male mating success in the alfalfa blotch leafminer (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

2001 ◽  
Vol 133 (5) ◽  
pp. 717-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arild Andersen ◽  
Jeremy N. McNeil
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Larval Competition ◽  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Male Size ◽  
Female Life History ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Alfalfa Blotch Leafminer ◽  
Agromyza Frontella

Male size is an important parameter in mate choice for many species and has been associated with such female life-history parameters as increased fecundity or fertility and larger progeny (Phelan and Baker 1986; Savalli and Fox 1998, 1999; Brown 1999). In the alfalfa blotch leafminer, Agromyza frontella (Rondani), intraspecific larval competition may significantly influence the size of both males and females (Quiring and McNeil 1984a). The influence of female size on female reproductive success has been studied (Quiring and McNeil 1984b, 1984c), but to date, no attention has been given to the possible effects of male size. The objectives of this study were to determine if differences in male size, the result of intraspecific larval competition, affected male longevity and reproductive success, as well as various parameters of female reproduction.

scholarly journals Nocturnal mating behaviour and dynamic male investment of copulation time in the southern blue-ringed octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa (Cephalopoda: Octopodidae)

Behaviour ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 152 (14) ◽  
pp. 1883-1910 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Morse ◽  
Kyall R. Zenger ◽  
Mark I. McCormick ◽  
Mark G. Meekan ◽  
Christine L. Huffard
Keyword(s):  
Mating Systems ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Male Size ◽  
Male Preference ◽  
Video Footage ◽  
Mating History ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Strategic Allocation ◽  
Do So

The southern blue-ringed octopus,Hapalochlaena maculosaHoyle (1883), is a nocturnal species that exhibits a mating system in which females hold sperm from multiple males over a one to two month breeding window before laying a single egg clutch. Contrary to most studied animal mating systems where anisogamy exists, gamete package production is limited for both males and females of this species (approx. 50 spermatophores/eggs). This presents an animal model for studying aspects of sperm competition and dynamic mate choice behaviours. The present study reports on the mating behaviour ofH. maculosaobserved under laboratory conditions using infrared closed-circuit television video footage. Rates of male copulation attempts increased with male size, while female receptivity to mating attempts increased with female size, resulting in larger animals of both sexes gaining more copulations and spending more time per day in copulation. There was some evidence of female preference of larger males, but no male preference of females based on measured morphological traits. Both sexes terminated copulations in equal frequencies but male-terminated copulations were significantly shorter in duration. Males were more likely to terminate copulation early with females they had previously mated with, however were less likely to do so if the female had recently mated with a different male. Among male-terminated copulations, males mated for longer with females that had previously mated with other males in the trial. Male–male mounts were as common as male–female mounts, suggesting that maleH. maculosaare not able to discriminate the sex of conspecifics. These findings suggest male strategic allocation of spermatophores based female mating history is an important factor influencing mating behaviours of this species.

Influence of advertisement calls on reproductive success in the male midwife toad Alytes obstetricans

Behaviour ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 140 (7) ◽  
pp. 885-898 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominique Le Jacques ◽  
Thierry Lodé
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Female Choice ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Advertisement Call ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Evolutionary Trend ◽  
Male Size ◽  
Midwife Toad ◽  
Alytes Obstetricans

AbstractConsidering the advertisement call in anuran as a sexually selected trait, we investigated the effects of male call parameters on reproductive success in midwife toad Alytes obstetricans. The pattern of advertisement call was studied in 81 males. The mean fundamental frequency varied among males. Fundamental frequency, call duration and male size correlated with the male mating success. From the stepwise regression analysis, the low call frequency was found to influence significantly the number of carried eggs and the hatching success. The fact that a single male may fertilise the eggs of several females and a single female may mate with several males constitutes an original sexual system. Large males obtained more matings and showed a higher hatching success. Female choice for dominant frequency may be regarded as a related-fitness trait being correlated with male size. Anyway, the male size and the female choice for low calls result in a same evolutionary trend favouring a best fitness.

scholarly journals Female size and pre-copulatory sexual selection by males of intertidal snail (Littorina saxatilis)

SURG Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora Alsafi
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Selection ◽  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Mating Frequency ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Littorina Saxatilis ◽  
Male Size ◽  
Female Relative ◽  
Intertidal Snail ◽  
Males And Females

Littorina saxatilis, the rough periwinkle, is highly promiscuous and polyandrous; female L. saxatilis snails rarely reject male advances. Sexual selection by males has been observed in this species. Sexual selection is one of the driving forces of evolution and may be a significant contributor to partial reproductive isolation between two ecotypes of L. saxatilis. Male sexual selection based on female size was investigated for wave-exposed crab ecotype snails in this study. Males and females were measured and placed in mating arenas. Males were presented with a choice of a smaller or larger female relative to themselves. Mating frequency and duration was recorded. A total of 19 successful trials were performed. A significantly higher mating frequency (p<0.005) was associated with larger females, indicating that males exhibit strong pre-copulatory sexual selection. Mating duration was significantly longer for larger female mating events (p<0.05) but was also equally determined by male size (p<0.05) as larger males tended to mate for longer. These results indicate that a strong sexual selection by males exists for L. saxatilis, in which larger females are preferred. This behavior may be a response to perceived fecundity of females, and/or may be a product of selection against hybrids.

Levels of Female Choice in the White-Tailed Skimmer Plathemis Lydia (Odonata: Libellulidae)

Behaviour ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 119 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 193-224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter D. Koenig
Keyword(s):  
Mate Choice ◽  
Mating Success ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Minor Importance ◽  
Male Mating Success ◽  
Male Size ◽  
Control Female ◽  
Female Mate

AbstractMale Plathemis lydia defend mating territories along the perimeter of ponds. Females come to ponds for brief periods of time every few days to oviposit. During these visits, females actively discriminate among males, rejecting up to 48.9 % of mating attempts. Males varied significantly in the proportion of attempts successfully leading to copulation. However, males that obtained more matings also experienced more rejections. Extensive analyses based on absolute male size, relative male size, and male size relative to female size yielded only marginally significant evidence of female mate preference based on body mass, wing length, wing loading index, or age; to the extent that any of these characters appeared to influence mating success, they similarly influenced refusal rates. The overall weakness of female mate choice is further suggested by the frequency of females ovipositing without prior matings and by the low frequency with which females remate with the same males. On a population basis, females strongly prefer to oviposit in the middle of the day and at particular parts of the study pond. Thus, females exhibit strong choice at several levels. However, despite the high incidence of active female rejection and high variance in male mating success, mate choice is apparently of minor importance in this population. Female discrimination of males, combined with variance in male mating success, are necessary but not sufficient for the action of sexual selection via mate choice. These findings support the prediction that male-male competition is of primary importance in resource control mating systems in which males are able to control female access to most or all favored oviposition sites. However, it is not clear why females generally fail to discriminate among males, given that they have the opportunity to do so. In general, females appear to have low motivation to mate with males, presumably because multiple mating does not significantly increase their fertility or fecundity. Selection for rapid mating may be significant, both because of predation on females during mating and oviposition and because of the risks for males of losing their territories during mating bouts. This time constraint may be the most important factor limiting female discrimination among males on the basis of consistent characteristics.

scholarly journals The effect of parental size on spermatophore production, egg quality, fertilization success, and larval characteristics in the Caribbean Spiny lobster, Panulirus argus

2015 ◽  
Vol 72 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. i115-i123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Butler ◽  
Alison Macdiarmid ◽  
Gaya Gnanalingam
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Spiny Lobster ◽  
Fertilization Success ◽  
Panulirus Argus ◽  
Minimum Size ◽  
Female Size ◽  
Male Size ◽  
Larval Quality ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Spermatophore Production

Abstract The average size of spiny lobsters (Decapoda; Palinuridae) has decreased worldwide over the past few decades. Market forces coupled with minimum size limits compel fishers to target the largest individuals. Males are targeted disproportionately as a consequence of sexual dimorphism in spiny lobster size (i.e. males grow larger than females) and because of protections for ovigerous females. Therefore, overexploitation of males has led to sperm limitation in several decapod populations with serious repercussions for reproductive success. In the Caribbean spiny lobster, Panulirus argus, little is known about the effect of reduced male size on fertilization success or the role that individual size plays in gamete and larval quality. We conducted a series of laboratory experiments to test the relationship between male size and spermatophore production over multiple mating events and to determine whether spermatophore reduction and female size affected fertilization success or larval attributes in P. argus in the Florida Keys, FL (USA). We found that over consecutive matings, larger males consistently produced spermatophores of a greater weight and area than smaller males, although size-specific differences in sperm cell density were undetected and probably obscured by high variance in the data. Where spermatophores were experimentally reduced to mimic the decline in spermatophore size with declining male size, fertilization success (the number of fertilized eggs/total number of eggs extruded) declined, indicating that sperm availability is indeed limited. No maternal size effects on egg size or quality (C:N ratio) or larval quality (size, swimming speed, mortality) were observed. Our results demonstrate the importance of maintaining large males in populations of P. argus to ensure fertilization success and caution against their overexploitation through fishing, which may severely reduce reproductive success and thus population sustainability.

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.

Selenium Role in Reproduction, Pregnant/Postpartum Women and Neonates: A Current Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-37
Author(s):  
Tabinda Sattar
Keyword(s):  
Infant Development ◽  
Selenium Deficiency ◽  
Human Reproduction ◽  
Postpartum Women ◽  
Female Reproduction ◽  
Pregnancy And Lactation ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
One Year ◽  
Selenium Supplements

Background: Selenium is a micronutrient, although required in low amounts, its importance in male and female reproduction is well known. Objectives: The core purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of selenium in human reproduction, during pregnancy/ lactation in women and newborns. The review explains side by side the sources of selenium, required amounts of selenium in humans and during pregnancy or lactation. Methods: Selenium deficiency is a major cause of male infertility. Similarly, selenium deficiency, both in pregnant and postpartum women, would greatly affect the health of the newborn baby in all respects. The effect of maternal selenium upon the fetus and the neonates even one year after birth has been explained with some recent examples. Results: The study elaborates the fact that the selenium deficiency in pregnancy and lactation is common due to fetal/infant development, so selenium supplements must be provided in order to overcome these deficiency symptoms. Conclusions: The better reproductive health in humans is possible due to the sufficient amounts of selenium present both in males and females as well.

Mating in the harvestman Leiobunum vittatum (Arachnida: Opiliones): from premating struggles to solicitous tactile engagement

Behaviour ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 151 (12-13) ◽  
pp. 1663-1686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasey D. Fowler-Finn ◽  
Emilia Triana ◽  
Owen G. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Traits ◽  
Nuptial Gift ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Male Size ◽  
Mechanical Advantage ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Mutual Mate Choice ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Study ◽  
Multiple Stages

When mating interactions are influenced by multiple sources of selection, they may involve multiple stages of mate assessment. At each stage, a different set of morphological and behavioural traits may be important in determining the outcome of the interaction. Here, we test the potential for multiple sources of selection to shape mating interactions in Leiobunum vittatum harvestmen, commonly known as ‘daddy longlegs’. We provide a qualitative and quantitative study of mating interactions, and investigate the influence of multiple morphological traits on each of several distinct stages of their mating interactions. Mating interactions start with a struggle between males and females during which the male attempts to secure the females in a mating embrace. Success at this stage depends on the length of the male’s clasping pedipalps: those with shorter pedipalps (and thus greater mechanical advantage) were more successful. Male size relative to the female determines how quickly males achieve this embrace. Mating interactions then proceed to tactile exchanges between males and females, indicating the potential for mutual mate choice and/or peri- and post-copulatory selection. We found no morphological predictors of the timing of these later stages of the mating interactions, and suggest that the exchange of a nuptial gift is important for the dynamics of these stages. Overall, our results highlight L. vittatum as a potentially highly informative group for studying how traits involved in mating are shaped by the interaction of selection across multiple stages in mating interactions.

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