Sperm viability in the male accessory testes and female spermathecae of the bumblebee Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Greeff, Michael; Schmid‐Hempel, Paul

doi:10.14411/eje.2008.112

Cited by 12 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…Our study demonstrates for the first time that the number of spermatozoa and their viability in solitary bees O . cornuta are considerably lower compared to eusocial honeybees and bumblebees [19–22,27,70]. This suggests a reduced investment in sperm by O .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…cornuta males (60–71%) is clearly lower than in male eusocial bees (e.g. honeybee drones, >90%; bumblebee males, ~97%; S2 Table) [27,28]. Moreover, O .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, most bumblebee ( Bombus ) and stingless bee species display monandry [25,26]. Despite the lack of post-copulatory sperm competition in Bombus terrestris due to monandry, as well as male survival post-copulation, sperm viability values in this species are similar to those observed in honeybees [20,27,28]. This is most likely due to females relying on large sperm numbers to successfully establish sufficiently large colonies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

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Not every sperm counts: Male fertility in solitary bees, Osmia cornuta

et al. 2019

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Reproductive strategies can act as strong selective forces on reproductive traits of male insects, resulting in species-specific variation in sperm quantity and viability. For solitary bees, basic measures of sperm quantity and viability are scarce. Here we evaluated for the first time quantity and viability of sperm in male Osmia cornuta solitary bees at different times after emergence, and how they were affected by male body mass and environmental condition (laboratory or semi-field arena). Sperm viability immediately after adult emergence showed no significant difference compared to four day old individuals, suggesting that O . cornuta males are capable of mating immediately post emergence. However, sperm counts were significantly higher in four day old individuals from the semi-field arena when compared to newly emerged males. This might reflect a final phase of sperm maturation. Regardless of individual male age and body mass differences, O . cornuta males produced on average ~175’000 spermatozoa that were ~65% viable, which are both significantly lower compared to eusocial honeybees and bumblebees. Moreover, sperm quantity, but not viability, was positively correlated with male body mass four days after emergence, while no such relationship was detected immediately after emergence. Even though individuals maintained in semi-field conditions exhibited a significantly greater loss of body mass, experimental arena had no significant effect on male survival, sperm quality or total living sperm produced. This suggests that the proposed laboratory design provides a cost-efficient and simple experimental approach to assess sperm traits in solitary bees. In conclusion, our data suggest a reduced investment in both sperm quantity and quality by male O . cornuta , which appears to be adaptive in light of the life history of this solitary bee.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…cornuta males (60–71%) is clearly lower than in male eusocial bees (e.g. honeybee drones, >90%; bumblebee males, ~97%; S2 Table) [27,28]. Moreover, O .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

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Not every sperm counts: Male fertility in solitary bees, Osmia cornuta

et al. 2019

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“…In honeybees, the activity of sperm in ejaculated semen is usually higher than that of sperm stored in the spermathecae, which benefit from the proteins in the semen [114]. Greeff found that the proportion of dead sperm in the testes of bumblebee drones was significantly lower than that in the spermathecae of newly mated queens and old queens [115]. The higher sperm viability might result from the components of the semen.…”

Section: Gland Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The semen is so effective at keeping sperm alive that the positive effects can last up to 24 h cannot be replicated by ordinary protein substitutes Apis mellifera Bombus terrestris [115,116,125] Contribution to sperm transfer and storage…”

Section: Accessory Gland In Malementioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Influencing the Reproductive Ability of Male Bees: Current Knowledge and Further Directions

Zhao

Mashilingi

Liu

et al. 2021

Insects

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Bumblebees and honeybees are very important pollinators and play a vital role in agricultural and natural ecosystems. The quality of their colonies is determined by the queens and the reproductive drones of mother colonies, and mated drones transmit semen, including half of the genetic materials, to queens and enhance their fertility. Therefore, factors affecting drone fecundity will also directly affect progeny at the colony level. Here, we review environmental and bee-related factors that are closely related to drone reproductive ability. The environmental factors that mainly affect the sperm count and the viability of males include temperature, nutrients and pesticides. In addition, the inherent characteristics of male bees, such as body size, weight, age, seminal fluid proteins and proteins of the spermathecal fluid, contribute to mating success, sperm quality during long-term storage in the spermathecae and the reproductive behaviors of queens. Based on the results of previous studies, we also suggest that the effects of somatotype dimorphism in bumblebee males on sperm quality and queen fecundity and the indispensable and exploitable function of gland proteins in the fecundity of males and queens should be given more attention in further studies.

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