The Effect of Behavior and Ecology on Male Mating Success in Overwintering Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus)

Solensky, Michelle J.

doi:10.1023/b:joir.0000048985.58159.0d

Cited by 16 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Danainae), is famous for its late summer/autumn southward migration from the United States and southern Canada to Mexico, and northward return in spring, which occurs over the lifespan of three to four generations of the butterfly [ 18 ]. In addition to this migration, D .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in the Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus (L.), a Migrating Bio-Indicator

et al. 2015

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Reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is a powerful technique to quantify gene expression. To facilitate gene expression study and obtain accurate results, normalization relative to stably expressed reference genes is crucial. The monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus (L.), is one of the most recognized insect species for its spectacular annual migration across North America. Besides its great voyages, D. plexippus has drawn attention to its role as a bio-indicator, ranging from genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to natural ecosystems. In this study, nine reference genes from D. plexippus genome were selected as the candidate reference genes. The expression profiles of these candidates under various biotic and abiotic conditions were evaluated using the four readily available computational programs, BestKeeper, Normfinder, geNorm, and ΔCt method, respectively. Moreover, RefFinder, a web-based computational platform integrating the four above mentioned algorisms, provided a comprehensive ranking of the stability of these reference genes. As a result, a suite of reference genes were recommended for each experimental condition. Specifically, elongation factor 1α (EF1A) and ribosomal protein 49 (RP49) were the most stable reference genes, respectively, under biotic (development, tissue, and sex) and abiotic (photoperiod, temperature, and dietary RNAi) conditions. With the recent release of a 273-million base pair draft genome, results from this study allow us to establish a standardized RT-qPCR analysis and lay a foundation for the subsequent genomic and functional genomic research in D. plexippus, a major bio-indicator and an emerging model for migratory animals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selection of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in the Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus (L.), a Migrating Bio-Indicator

et al. 2015

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“…Males of a monandrous species (under the condition of high synchrony in receptivity patterns among individual females) are expected to allocate resources to other traits that improve reproductive success, such as development rate, pheromone production, and flight muscles. Fast development leading to males emerging before females (protandry) is advantageous in precopulatory male competition, whereas male sex pheromones facilitate efficient signalling of partners (e.g., in species that form male leks [26]) flight muscles improve flight ability and thus the capability of pursuing and catching females (e.g., in Papilionidae: [27] and in Nymphalidae [28]). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Cost of Mating: Influences of Life History Traits and Mating Strategies on Lifespan in Two Closely RelatedYponomeutaSpecies

Bakker

Louçã

Roessingh

et al. 2011

International Journal of Zoology

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Theory predicts that in monandrous butterfly species males should not invest in a long lifespan because receptive females quickly disappear from the mating population. In polyandrous species, however, it pays for males to invest in longevity, which increases the number of mating opportunities and thus reproductive fitness. We tested an extension of this idea and compared male and female lifespan of two closely related Yponomeuta species with different degree of polyandry. Our results confirmed the theoretical prediction that male lifespan is fine-tuned to female receptive lifespan; once-mated males and females of both polyandrous species had an equal lifespan. However, the degree of polyandry was not reflected in male relative to female lifespan. The observed similar female and male lifespan could largely be attributed to a dramatic reduction of female lifespan after mating.

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“…Consequently, coercive mating has been proposed as a third mechanism of sexual selection (Andersson, 1994) and probably drives the evolution of male traits in many organisms (Clutton‐Brock & Parker, 1995). It is the primary mating tactic in many animals (Clutton‐Brock & Parker, 1995), including monarch butterflies (Solensky, 2004), water striders (Arnqvist & Rowe, 1995), garter snakes (Shine & Mason, 2005), bush crickets (Vahed, 2002), and macaques (Cooper & Bernstein, 2000). Coercive mating often is used as an alternative mating strategy (Gross, 1996) in organisms with pronounced male size polymorphism (Zimmerer & Kallman, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors influencing male mating behaviour in Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard) with a coercive mating system

Deaton

2008

Journal of Fish Biology

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The effects of male and female body size, and correlated characteristics, on male mating behaviour were investigated in the western mosquitofish Gambusia affinis. Because larger females typically have larger broods in Gambusia sp., it was predicted that males would attempt more copulations with larger females. Two-way ANOVA showed that female body size was a significant predictor of male mating behaviour but male size was not. The effects of a suite of additional traits (both male and female) on male mating attempts were also tested. In a stepwise multiple regression, female standard length (L S ), size of the female gravid spot and male testes mass were significant predictors of male mating attempts, accounting for c. 27% of variation in male mating. Path analysis showed that differences between male and female L S , male body condition and male testes mass were significant predictors of male mating attempts, and also accounted for 27% of the variation in male mating attempts. The two statistical models were very similar in their predictive power, but differed slightly in significant predictor variables. Results confirm that factors other than female size are important predictors of male mating behaviour in the western mosquitofish.

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The Effect of Behavior and Ecology on Male Mating Success in Overwintering Monarch Butterflies (Danaus plexippus)

Cited by 16 publications

References 2 publications

Selection of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in the Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus (L.), a Migrating Bio-Indicator

Selection of Reference Genes for RT-qPCR Analysis in the Monarch Butterfly, Danaus plexippus (L.), a Migrating Bio-Indicator

The Cost of Mating: Influences of Life History Traits and Mating Strategies on Lifespan in Two Closely RelatedYponomeutaSpecies

Factors influencing male mating behaviour in Gambusia affinis (Baird & Girard) with a coercive mating system

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