Sperm Competition and the Evolution of Multiple Mating

Curtsinger, James W.

doi:10.1086/285206

Cited by 109 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Finally, this study serves as a prospective analysis of quantitative genetic variation in ejaculate traits, which is required for addressing hypotheses proposing that females benefit indirectly from polyandry by producing sons that inherit genes that improve their prospects during sperm competition (Curtsinger, 1991;Yasui, 1997). These so-called 'good-sperm' and 'sexy-sperm' models predict that by mating with multiple males, the ensuing contest among rival male ejaculates ensures that fertilization will favour individuals that transmit genes for improved sperm performance to their male offspring (Sivinski, 1984;Harvey and May, 1989;Curtsinger, 1991;Keller and Reeve, 1995;Yasui, 1997).…”

Section: Jp Evansmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These so-called 'good-sperm' and 'sexy-sperm' models predict that by mating with multiple males, the ensuing contest among rival male ejaculates ensures that fertilization will favour individuals that transmit genes for improved sperm performance to their male offspring (Sivinski, 1984;Harvey and May, 1989;Curtsinger, 1991;Keller and Reeve, 1995;Yasui, 1997). Both models therefore, share the prediction that there must be sufficient additive genetic variance attributable to sires underlying the expression of functionally important ejaculate traits .…”

Section: Jp Evansmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Patterns of genetic variation and covariation in ejaculate traits reveal potential evolutionary constraints in guppies

Evans

2010

Heredity

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Ejaculates comprise multiple and potentially interacting traits that determine male fertility and sperm competitiveness. Consequently, selection on these traits is likely to be intense, but the efficacy of selection will depend critically on patterns of genetic variation and covariation underlying their expression. In this study, I provide a prospective quantitative genetic analysis of ejaculate traits in the guppy Poecilia reticulata, a highly promiscuous livebearing fish. I used a standard paternal half-sibling breeding design to characterize patterns of genetic (co)variation in components of sperm length and in vitro sperm performance. All traits exhibited high levels of phenotypic and additive genetic variation, and in several cases, patterns of genetic variation was consistent with Y-linkage. There were also highly significant negative genetic correlations between the various measures of sperm length and sperm performance. In particular, the length of the sperm's midpiece was strongly, negatively and genetically correlated with sperm's swimming velocity-an important determinant of sperm competitiveness in this and other species. Other components of sperm length, including the flagellum and head, were independently and negatively genetically correlated with the proportion of live sperm in the ejaculate (sperm viability). Whether these relationships represent evolutionary trade-offs depends on the precise relationships between these traits and competitive fertilization rates, which have yet to be fully resolved in this (and indeed most) species. Nevertheless, these prospective analyses point to potential constraints on ejaculate evolution and may explain the high level of phenotypic variability in ejaculate traits in this species.

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Section: Jp Evansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Jp Evansmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns of genetic variation and covariation in ejaculate traits reveal potential evolutionary constraints in guppies

Evans

2010

Heredity

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“…The sons of multiply-mated females produce competitively superior spermatozoa or ejaculates Harvey & Bennett (1985), Keller & Reeve (1995), The 'Offspring diversity' hypothesis Higher offspring genetic variability enhances female fitness by reducing sibling competition or by serving as a hedge against environmental uncertainty Ridley (1993) The 'Genetic incompatibility avoidance' hypothesis Females minimise risks associated with immunological feto -maternal incompatibility or maternal vs paternal genomic conflict Zeh & Zeh (2001) The 'Good sperm' or 'Good genes' hypothesis Females ensure their eggs are fertilised by the best sperm, so that offspring fitness is maximised Curtsinger (1991), Yasui (1997) Sperm selection and quality 529 the present context, we regard such clinical abnormalities as exceptions and concentrate upon looking for clues about more subtle types of heterogeneity.…”

Section: Hypothesis Proposed Benefit To Female Referencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Concepts in sperm heterogeneity, sperm selection and sperm competition as biological foundations for laboratory tests of semen quality

Holt

Look²

2004

Reproduction

157

122

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Stringent selection mechanisms, in both internal and external fertilisation systems, reject all but a significant minority of the spermatozoa released at ejaculation. Sperm competition theory provides circumstantial evidence that the selection process involves mechanisms by which the quality of the fertilising spermatozoon is controlled, thereby ensuring that females and their offspring receive high quality genetic material. In this review we examine some of these selection processes to see whether they could be exploited for the improvement of laboratory tests of sperm quality. Such tests are not only required for clinical and agricultural purposes, but are increasingly needed in fields such as reproductive and environmental toxicology where the species requirement is much broader. Despite many years of research, sperm quality assessment methods continue to provide imprecise data about fertility; here we suggest that this may be a consequence of using tests that focus on the spermatozoa that would normally be unable to fertilise under natural conditions. To achieve fertilisation a spermatozoon must be capable of responding appropriately to external signalling stimuli; those involving protein kinase-regulated flagellar function seem especially influential in governing effects ranging from non-Mendelian inheritance in mammals to sperm chemotaxis in sea urchins. Examination of the elicited responses reveals considerable heterogeneity in all species. Here we propose that this level of heterogeneity is meaningful both in terms of understanding how spermatozoa from some individuals possess fertility advantages over spermatozoa from their rivals in sperm competition, and in that the heterogeneity should be exploitable in the development of more accurate laboratory tests.

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“…Female multiple mating may also yield indirect, genetic benefits. For example, genes enhancing offspring fitness can be acquired through the adaptive consequences of sperm competition (Curtsinger, 1991;Keller and Reeve, 1995;Yasui, 1997). Similarly, multiple mating may reduce genetic incompatibilities and the costs of inbreeding (eg Zeh and Zeh, 1997;Yasui, 1998;Tregenza and Wedell, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

No detectable genetic correlation between male and female mating frequency in the stalk-eyed fly Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni

et al. 2005

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There is much interest in explaining why female insects mate multiply. Females of the stalk-eyed fly Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni can mate several times each day in a lifetime which may span several months. There are many adaptive explanations, but one hypothesis that has received little rigorous empirical attention is that female multiple mating has evolved for nonadaptive reasons as a correlated response to selection for high male mating frequency rather than because of direct or indirect benefits accruing to females. We tested this hypothesis in stalk-eyed flies by measuring the mating frequency of females from lines that exhibited a direct response in males to artificial selection for increased ('high') and decreased ('low') male mating frequency. We found that the mating frequency of high-line females did not differ from that of low-line females. Hence, there was no support for a genetic correlation between male and female mating frequency in this species. Our study suggests that the genes which influence remating may not be the same in the sexes, and that females remate frequently in this species to gain as yet unidentified benefits. Heredity (2005) 95, 444-448.

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Sperm Competition and the Evolution of Multiple Mating

Cited by 109 publications

References 7 publications

Patterns of genetic variation and covariation in ejaculate traits reveal potential evolutionary constraints in guppies

Patterns of genetic variation and covariation in ejaculate traits reveal potential evolutionary constraints in guppies

Concepts in sperm heterogeneity, sperm selection and sperm competition as biological foundations for laboratory tests of semen quality

No detectable genetic correlation between male and female mating frequency in the stalk-eyed fly Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni

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