Variation in spermathecal morphology is independent of sperm competition intensity in populations of the simultaneously hermaphroditic land snail Cornu aspersum

Koemtzopoulos, Evripides; Στάικου, Αλεξάνδρα

doi:10.1016/j.zool.2006.10.001

Cited by 14 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…A number of potential mechanisms for cryptic female choice have been proposed. These include the differential storage and usage of sperm from multiple sperm storage tubules (Baur 2007; but see Koemtzopoulos and Staikou 2007), the postmating "suck" behavior of M. lignano already mentioned above (Schärer et al 2004;Vizoso et al 2010;Marie-Orleach et al 2013), and the blocking and phagocytosis of received self-sperm and certain allosperm in the oviduct, and thus preferential fertilization by allosperm from "preferred" clones in the spermcasting ascidian Diplosoma listerianum (Bishop 1996;Bishop et al 1996;Pemberton et al 2004). Sperm recipients may also retain more control of sperm uptake, and hence paternity outcomes, when transfer occurs via the external exchange of spermatophores (e.g., in the nudibranch Aeolidiella glauca) (Haase and Karlsson 2000;Karlsson and Haase 2002; see also Bishop and Pemberton 2006).…”

Section: Postmating Conflicts: Interests Of the Sperm Recipientmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Conflict in Hermaphrodites

Schärer¹,

Janicke²,

Ramm³

2014

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol

105

142

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hermaphrodites combine the male and female sex functions into a single individual, either sequentially or simultaneously. This simple fact means that they exhibit both similarities and differences in the way in which they experience, and respond to, sexual conflict compared to separate-sexed organisms. Here, we focus on clarifying how sexual conflict concepts can be adapted to apply to all anisogamous sexual systems and review unique (or especially important) aspects of sexual conflict in hermaphroditic animals. These include conflicts over the timing of sex change in sequential hermaphrodites, and in simultaneous hermaphrodites, over both sex roles and the postmating manipulation of the sperm recipient by the sperm donor. Extending and applying sexual conflict thinking to hermaphrodites can identify general evolutionary principles and help explain some of the unique reproductive diversity found among animals exhibiting this widespread but to date understudied sexual system.

show abstract

Section: Postmating Conflicts: Interests Of the Sperm Recipientmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Conflict in Hermaphrodites

Schärer¹,

Janicke²,

Ramm³

2014

Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol

105

142

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In laboratory observations of C. aspersum from several Greek populations, the snails mated on average three times (maximum seven times, with at maximum five different partners) during the reproductive period. Furthermore, mating frequency was consistent in F 1 generation snails reared in the lab (Koemtzopoulos & Staikou, 2007) providing evidence for a genetic component of this trait. In the field, snails aestivate during the dry period characterizing the Mediterranean climate (June–September) and with the first autumnal rainfalls (early October) they emerge and immediately start mating.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 71%

“…Thus, the last mate sperm precedence in our study can be explained by better survival of the third donor’s sperm because of shorter storage period, combined with its topological advantage in terms of access to the fertilization site. As in this species more than three matings frequently occur (Madec & Daguzan, 1991, 1993; Fearnley, 1996; Koemtzopoulos & Staikou, 2007), a study of paternity priority patterns in multiply mated snails would further clarify this issue.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The female part of the reproductive system includes a sperm digesting (bursa copulatrix) and a sperm storing [fertilization pouch-spermatheca complex (FPSC), Tompa, 1984] organ. Cornu aspersum copulates for variable time periods ranging from 2 to 12 h (Koemtzopoulos & Staikou, 2007) during which each snail transfers a spermatophore containing from 10 6 to 14 · 10 6 (Rogers & Chase, 2001) sperm into its partner. The spermatophore is formed in the epiphallus and flagellum which are the 'male' parts of the reproductive system.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

The outcome of sperm competition is affected by behavioural and anatomical reproductive traits in a simultaneously hermaphroditic land snail

Garefalaki

Triantafyllidis

Abatzopoulos

et al. 2010

J of Evolutionary Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sperm competition is important in species with reproductive strategies that involve multiple mating and prolonged sperm storage such as the simultaneously hermaphroditic land snail Cornu aspersum. Double mating trials in this species have revealed that mating order and courtship behaviour affect paternity success. We investigated the effect of behavioural and anatomical reproductive traits on paternity success from triple mating trials. Triple mating resulted in triple fertilization in 58% of the cases whereas zero paternity was observed in 16% of sperm donors. Third sperm donors achieved higher paternity followed by first and second sperm donors. Snails with a longer epiphallus, the spermatophore forming organ, sired more offspring regardless of their mating order. Genetic compatibility between sperm donor and recipient did not influence paternity success. The results of the present study identified mating order and epiphallus length, as traits affecting the outcome of sperm competition in this species.

show abstract

“…The paternity variation found might simply reflect each snail's ability to store sperm segregated. Spermathecal morphology is also variable in many other snail species (e.g., 4–19 tubuli in Cornu aspersum ; Koemtzopoulos and Staikou ; 3–5 tubuli in Helix pomatia ; Evanno and Madec ). Whether a more complex spermatheca can store more sperm is still unresolved; Bojat and Haase () found a positive correlation between the number of tubuli and the amount of sperm in the spermatheca of A. arbustorum , while Beese and Baur () found no relationship.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal effects on egg production and level of paternity in a natural population of a simultaneous hermaphrodite snail

Janssen

Baur

2015

Ecology and Evolution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In a seasonal environment, the suitable time window for females to reproduce is restricted by both environmental conditions and the availability of males. In simultaneous hermaphrodites, which are female and male at the same time, selection on a trait that is solely beneficial for one sexual function cannot occur independently. Therefore, it is assumed that the optimal time window for reproduction is a compromise between the two sexual functions in simultaneous hermaphrodites, mediated by environmental conditions. We examined seasonal patterns of reproduction and the resulting paternity in a natural population of the simultaneously hermaphroditic land snail Arianta arbustorum. Adult and premature individuals (snails in a short protandric phase) were collected on four occasions over the entire active season. The snails were allowed to deposit eggs after which we assessed the level of paternity in their hatched offspring. Individuals mated throughout the reproductive season, whereas egg production – the major task of the female function – was restricted to the first half of the season. Snails collected in autumn were allowed to hibernate under laboratory conditions. As a result, we found that premature individuals began to mate late in the reproductive season, but did not start to produce eggs before emerging from hibernation. Our results demonstrate a temporal shift of reproductive activities; the egg production and oviposition occur mainly in the first half of the season, while sperm production and mating occur over the entire season. In subadult and adult snails, sperm obtained from several partners in the second part of the reproductive season are stored during hibernation for the fertilization of eggs in the successive years. These results extend our understanding of the influence of both natural and sexual selection on reproductive strategies in hermaphrodites.

show abstract

Variation in spermathecal morphology is independent of sperm competition intensity in populations of the simultaneously hermaphroditic land snail Cornu aspersum

Cited by 14 publications

References 19 publications

Sexual Conflict in Hermaphrodites

Sexual Conflict in Hermaphrodites

The outcome of sperm competition is affected by behavioural and anatomical reproductive traits in a simultaneously hermaphroditic land snail

Seasonal effects on egg production and level of paternity in a natural population of a simultaneous hermaphrodite snail

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About