Mating behaviour and postcopulatory fertilization patterns in the southern blue-ringed octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa

Morse, Peter; Huffard, Christine L.; Meekan, Mark G.; McCormick, Mark I.; Zenger, Kyall R.

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.12.004

“…Likewise, the potential for paternal effects on offspring should also be investigated, as this is known to be an influential factor in other animal groups (for review, see Rando, 2012 ) but, to our knowledge, has not yet been investigated in cephalopods. Finally, reproduction in cephalopods is further complicated by the existence of polyandry (e.g., Naud et al, 2005 ; Squires et al, 2012 , 2014 ; Morse et al, 2018 ), sperm competition (e.g., Hanlon et al, 1999 ; Wada et al, 2005 ) and multiple male mating strategies that exist in several species of cephalopods ( Hanlon et al, 2005 ; Iwata et al, 2011 ). A better understanding of these dynamics could potentially enable higher fertilization rates and reduce the number of injuries related to male-male competition for females.…”

Section: Human Impacts On and Interactions With Cephalopodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Current State of Cephalopod Science and Perspectives on the Most Critical Challenges Ahead From Three Early-Career Researchers

O’Brien

¹

,

Roumbedakis

²

,

Winkelmann

³

2018

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Here, three researchers who have recently embarked on careers in cephalopod biology discuss the current state of the field and offer their hopes for the future. Seven major topics are explored: genetics, aquaculture, climate change, welfare, behavior, cognition, and neurobiology. Recent developments in each of these fields are reviewed and the potential of emerging technologies to address specific gaps in knowledge about cephalopods are discussed. Throughout, the authors highlight specific challenges that merit particular focus in the near-term. This review and prospectus is also intended to suggest some concrete near-term goals to cephalopod researchers and inspire those working outside the field to consider the revelatory potential of these remarkable creatures.

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“…Within the Cephalopoda, sperm competition has been observed in a variety of squid and cuttlefish species in the form of mate guarding, sneaker males, sperm flushing and increased sperm allocation (Wada et al, 2010; Squires et al, 2015; Naud et al, 2016). In octopuses, sperm competition is believed to occur due to the presence of multiple mating, two oviducts in which to store sperm, and long-term sperm storage capabilities (Birkhead & Møller, 1998; Hanlon & Messenger, 1998; Wigby & Chapman, 2004; Morse et al, 2018). Yet, mate guarding and sneaker behavior has been described in few species (Cigliano, 1995; Tsuchiya & Uzu, 1997; Huffard, Caldwell & Boneka, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In nature, some animals show first male sperm precedence (Tennessen & Zamudio, 2003), where the first males to inseminate a female produce the most fertilized gametes, while others exhibit a “last in, first out” strategy (Birkhead & Møller, 1998). Among octopus, evidence of sperm precedence has only been reported in the southern blue-ringed octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa (Morse et al, 2015; Morse et al, 2018) and an unnamed species of pygmy octopus in which the mechanism of sperm competition remains unknown (Cigliano, 1995). For both species, males spent more time mating with a female that had previously mated.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A behavioral and genetic study of multiple paternity in a polygamous marine invertebrate, Octopus oliveri

Ylitalo

¹

,

Oliver

²

,

Fernández-Silva

³

et al. 2019

PeerJ

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Octopus oliveri is a widespread and common rocky intertidal cephalopod that mates readily in the laboratory, but for which mating behavior has not been reported previously. Four sets of behavioral experiments were recorded wherein three males, small, medium & large in varying order, were introduced to each of six females, for a total of 24 individual females and 12 individual males utilized in the experiments. Video analysis shows that successful mating occurred in each of the mount, reach and beak-to-beak positions. Mating was observed for all males, regardless of size relative to the female, or order of introduction. Females showed preference for the first male to which they were introduced in experimental pairings rather than any specific male trait, and mating time increased significantly with increasing female size. Five novel microsatellite markers were developed and used to test paternity in the eleven broods resulting from these experimental pairings. We found skewed paternity in each brood, with early male precedence and male size being the best predictors of parentage. Multiple paternity was observed in every experimental cross but was estimated to be comparatively low in the field, suggesting that sperm limitation might be common in this species. We saw no evidence of direct sperm competition in Octopus oliveri, but larger males produced significantly more offspring. This study contributes to the growing research on cephalopod mating systems and indicates that octopus mating dynamics might be more variable and complex than thought previously.

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“…Within the Cephalopoda, sperm competition has been observed in a variety of squid and cuttlefish species in the form of mate guarding, sneaker males, sperm flushing and increased sperm allocation (Wada et al 2010;Squires et al 2015;Naud et al 2016). In octopuses, sperm competition is believed to occur due to the presence of multiple mating, two oviducts in which to store sperm, and long-term sperm storage capabilities (Birkhead and Møller 1998;Hanlon and Messenger 1998;Wigby and Chapman 2004;Morse et al 2018). Yet, mate guarding and sneaker behavior has been described in few species (Cigliano 1995;Tsuchiya and Uzu 1997;Huffard et al 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among octopus, evidence of sperm precedence has only been reported in the southern blueringed octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa (Morse et al 2015;Morse et al 2018) and an unnamed…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Peer Review #1 of "A behavioral and genetic study of multiple paternity in a polygamous marine invertebrate, Octopus oliveri (v0.1)"

Cosmo¹

2019

0

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Octopus oliveri is a widespread and common rocky intertidal cephalopod that mates readily in the laboratory, but for which mating behavior has not been reported previously. Four sets of behavioral experiments were recorded wherein three males, small, medium & large in varying order, were introduced to each of six females, for a total of 24 individual females and 12 individual males utilized in the experiments. Video analysis shows that successful mating occurred in each of the mount, reach and beak-to-beak positions. Mating was observed for all males, regardless of size relative to the female, or order of introduction. Females showed preference for the first male to which they were introduced in experimental pairings rather than any specific male trait, and mating time increased significantly with increasing female size. Five novel microsatellite markers were developed and used to test paternity in the eleven broods resulting from these experimental pairings. We found skewed paternity in each brood, with early male precedence and male size being the best predictors of parentage. Multiple paternity was observed in every experimental cross but was estimated to be comparatively low in the field, suggesting that sperm limitation might be common in this species. We saw no evidence of direct sperm competition in Octopus oliveri, but larger males produced significantly more offspring. This study contributes to the growing research on cephalopod mating systems and indicates that octopus mating dynamics might be more variable and complex than thought previously.

show abstract

Mating behaviour and postcopulatory fertilization patterns in the southern blue-ringed octopus, Hapalochlaena maculosa

Cited by 15 publications

References 65 publications

The Current State of Cephalopod Science and Perspectives on the Most Critical Challenges Ahead From Three Early-Career Researchers

The Current State of Cephalopod Science and Perspectives on the Most Critical Challenges Ahead From Three Early-Career Researchers

A behavioral and genetic study of multiple paternity in a polygamous marine invertebrate, Octopus oliveri

Peer Review #1 of "A behavioral and genetic study of multiple paternity in a polygamous marine invertebrate, Octopus oliveri (v0.1)"

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