Morphology and evolutionary implications of the annual cycle of secretion and sperm storage in spermathecae of the salamander <i>Ambystoma opacum</i> (Amphibia: Ambystomatidae)

Sever, David M.; Krenz, John D.; Johnson, K; Rania, Lisa C.

doi:10.1002/jmor.1052230106

Cited by 22 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Our data do not support the sperm replenishment hypothesis because early offspring viability (which incorporated both hatching success and the proportion of dead and unfertilized eggs) was not significantly lower in SP clutches, and MP and SP clutches were similar in count. Additionally, sperm do not start to become inviable until at least a few weeks after mating (Sever et al 1995). Our results are consistent with those of Garner & Schmidt (2003) who found that fecundity and hatching success were not different between polyandrous and monandrous female alpine newts.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

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Multiple Paternity Benefits Female Marbled Salamanders by Increasing Survival of Progeny to Metamorphosis

2017

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Multiple paternity occurs in most species and animal groups that have been studied. Because mating involves fitness costs to individual females, theory predicts that polyandrous females gain greater fitness benefits than costs, allowing the behavior to be maintained. Genetic, rather than material, benefits often occur in species where males provide females with little more than sperm and seminal fluid. We compared fitness correlates of single‐ and double‐sire clutches from female marbled salamanders (Ambystoma opacum) at the egg, hatchling, and metamorph stages of offspring development. Because clutches were collected from experimental breeding groups, strict paternity exclusion of offspring using microsatellite data allowed us to categorize each clutch as having either one or two fathers. Early offspring viability and size of hatchlings were not different between single‐ and multiple‐paternity clutches. Larvae from the two clutch types were allowed to develop together in field enclosures until metamorphosis. Although there was no difference in size at metamorphosis, survival to metamorphosis was significantly higher in multiple‐paternity clutches (44% vs. 40%) suggesting a benefit for females. The results were consistent with genetic benefits, although maternal effects could not be ruled out. The data did not support predictions of the genetic bet‐hedging and good sperm hypotheses for genetic benefits of polyandry.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Additionally, sperm do not start to become inviable until at least a few weeks after mating (Sever et al. ). Our results are consistent with those of Garner & Schmidt () who found that fecundity and hatching success were not different between polyandrous and monandrous female alpine newts.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple Paternity Benefits Female Marbled Salamanders by Increasing Survival of Progeny to Metamorphosis

2017

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“…Also, sperm aggregations have not been studied in A. maculatum , and in some salamanders with simple spermathecae, sperm aggregations differ from the sperm tangles described above. In Ambystoma opacum , also from the Ambystomatidae (Sever and Kloepfer 1993; Sever et al . 1995), Amphiuma tridactylum from the Amphiumidae (Sever et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sperm aggregations in the spermatheca of the red back salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Sever

Siegel

2006

Acta Zoologica

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 Abstract Sever, D. M. and Siegel, D. S. 2006. Sperm aggregations in the spermatheca of the red back salamander ( Plethodon cinereus ). -Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 87 : 331-340The spermatheca of Plethodon cinereus is a compound tubular gland that stores sperm from mating in early spring (March-April) to oviposition in summer (June-July). The seasonal variation of sperm storage in this species has previously been studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. In this paper, sperm aggregations, interaction of sperm with the spermathecal epithelium, and spermathecal secretions are studied using scanning electron microscopy. Within spermathecal tubules, relatively small groups of sperm are aligned along their entire lengths in parallel arrays. This pattern is similar to other plethdontids with complex spermathecae. Lumina of spermathecal tubules are filled with secretory material in April prior to the arrival of sperm, and after sperm appear, a coating of secretory material persists on the apices of the spermathecal epithelium. Sperm peripheral to the central luminal mass can become embedded in the secretory matrix or pushed deeper into the spermathecal epithelium. The spermathecal secretions may serve to attract and prolong the viability of sperm, but sperm that become enmeshed in the secretions or epithelium are phagocytized. Sperm and spermathecal secretions are largely absent after ovulation and in summer months, and new secretory vacuoles are formed in fall, although mating does not occur until spring.

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“…Besides the Rhyacotritonidae, the annual cycle of sperm storage has been studied at the ultrastructural level in representatives of five of the remaining six salamander families in which female sperm storage occurs. These studies involve two species of Plethodontidae (Sever, 1991c(Sever, , 1992a(Sever, , 1997Sever and Brunette, 1993), three Salamandridae (Brizzi et al, 1995;Sever et al, 1996aSever et al, , 1999Sever et al, , 2001, two Ambystomatidae (Sever, 1995;Sever and Kloepfer, 1993;Sever et al, 1995), one Amphiumidae (Sever et al, 1996b), and one Proteidae (Sever and Bart, 1996). Dicamptodontidae is the only family in which the spermathecal ultrastructure of a representative species has not been studied.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrastructure of the annual cycle of female sperm storage in spermathecae of the torrent salamander, Rhyacotriton variegatus (Amphibia: Rhyacotritonidae)

Sever

Tait

Diller

et al. 2004

Journal of Morphology

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This study is the first report on the ultrastructure of the sperm storage glands (spermathecae) in the salamander Rhyacotriton variegatus. The population studied is associated with cold-water, rocky streams of the redwood (Sequoia) zone in northern California. Males possess sperm in their vasa deferentia and undergo spermiation throughout the year, but mating is seasonal. Most females with large, vitellogenic follicles (2.0-3.9 mm mean dia.) collected from February-June contain sperm in their spermathecae, although some females with large follicles lack sperm. Other mature-size females collected during this period have small ovarian follicles (0.9-1.2 mm mean dia.) and lack stored sperm. All females collected from September-November have small follicles (0.6-1.6 mm mean dia.) and lack sperm, except in one instance in which a female collected in November had a small amount of degraded sperm, apparently retained from the previous breeding season. The spermathecae consist of simple tubulo-alveolar glands in which the neck tubules produce a mucoid secretory product, and the distal bulbs, where sperm are stored, contain secretory vacuoles of uniform density that stain positively for glycosaminoglycans. In specimens containing sperm, some bulbs have abundant sperm and others lack sperm, but the ultrastructure is similar in both conditions. The acini contain columnar epithelial cells with wide intercellular canaliculi, and a merocrine process releases the secretion. Spermiophagy occurs. In specimens from spring and summer with small ovarian follicles, the neck tubules are similar to those of breeding females, but the distal bulbs are reduced to cords of cells lacking a discernible lumen. Secretory activity in the distal bulbs is initiated in the fall. Spermathecae of R. variegatus are most similar to those of a stream-dwelling plethodontid, Eurycea cirrigera.

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

Cited by 22 publications

References 11 publications

Multiple Paternity Benefits Female Marbled Salamanders by Increasing Survival of Progeny to Metamorphosis

Multiple Paternity Benefits Female Marbled Salamanders by Increasing Survival of Progeny to Metamorphosis

Sperm aggregations in the spermatheca of the red back salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Ultrastructure of the annual cycle of female sperm storage in spermathecae of the torrent salamander, Rhyacotriton variegatus (Amphibia: Rhyacotritonidae)

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