1
|
Hooper AK, Bonduriansky R. Effects of genetic vs. environmental quality on condition-dependent morphological and life history traits in a neriid fly. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:803-816. [PMID: 35514040 PMCID: PMC9325454 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Condition is assumed to reflect both genes and environment, enabling condition‐dependent signals to reveal genetic quality. However, because the phenotypic effects of variation in genetic quality could be masked by environmental heterogeneity, the contribution of genetic quality to phenotypic variation in fitness‐related traits and condition‐dependent signals remains unclear. We compared effects of ecologically relevant manipulations of environmental quality (nutrient dilution in the larval diet) and genetic quality (one generation of inbreeding) on male and female morphology, life history and reproductive performance in the neriid fly Telostylinus angusticollis. We found that larval diet quality had strong, positive effects on male and female body size, male secondary sexual traits, and aspects of male and female reproductive performance. By contrast, inbreeding had weak effects on most traits, and no trait showed clear and consistent effects of both environmental and genetic quality. Indeed, inbreeding effects on body size and male competitive performance were of opposite sign in rich vs. poor larval diet treatment groups. Our results suggest that environmental quality strongly affects condition, but the effects of genetic quality are subtle and environment‐dependent in this species. These findings raise questions about the genetic architecture of condition and the potential for condition‐dependent traits to function as signals of genetic quality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amy K Hooper
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Pham HT, Elgar MA, van Lieshout E, McNamara KB. Experimental immune challenges reduce the quality of male antennae and female pheromone output. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3578. [PMID: 35246550 PMCID: PMC8897396 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-07100-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual signalling is a key feature of reproductive investment, yet the effects of immune system activation on investment into chemical signalling, and especially signal receiver traits such as antennae, are poorly understood. We explore how upregulation of juvenile immunity affects male antennal functional morphology and female pheromone attractiveness in the gumleaf skeletonizer moth, Uraba lugens. We injected final-instar larvae with a high or low dose of an immune elicitor or a control solution and measured male antennal morphological traits, gonad investment and female pheromone attractiveness. Immune activation affected male and female signalling investment: immune challenged males had a lower density of antennal sensilla, and the pheromone of immune-challenged females was less attractive to males than their unchallenged counterparts. Immune challenge affected female investment into ovary development but not in a linear, dose-dependent manner. While there was no effect of immune challenge on testes size, there was a trade-off between male pre- and post-copulatory investment: male antennal length was negatively correlated with testes size. Our study highlights the costs of elaborate antennae and pheromone production and demonstrates the capacity for honest signalling in species where the costs of pheromone production were presumed to be trivial.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hieu T Pham
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agronomy, Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Mark A Elgar
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Emile van Lieshout
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Kathryn B McNamara
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Macartney EL, Zeender V, Meena A, De Nardo AN, Bonduriansky R, Lüpold S. Sperm depletion in relation to developmental nutrition and genotype in Drosophila melanogaster. Evolution 2021; 75:2830-2841. [PMID: 34617270 PMCID: PMC9297908 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Nutrient limitation during development can restrict the ability of adults to invest in costly fitness traits, and genotypes can vary in their sensitivity to developmental nutrition. However, little is known about how genotype and nutrition affect male ability to maintain ejaculate allocation and achieve fertilization across successive matings. Using 17 isogenic lines of Drosophila melanogaster, we investigated how variation in developmental nutrition affects males' abilities to mate, transfer sperm, and sire offspring when presented with successive virgin females. We found that, with each successive mating, males required longer to initiate copulation, transferred fewer sperm, and sired fewer offspring. Males reared on a low-nutrient diet transferred fewer sperm than those reared on nutritionally superior diets, but the rate at which males depleted their sperm, as well as their reproductive performance, was largely independent of diet. Genotype and the genotype × diet interaction explained little of the variation in these male reproductive traits. Our results show that sperm depletion can occur rapidly and impose substantial fitness costs for D. melanogaster males across multiple genotypes and developmental environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.,Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Valérian Zeender
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Abhishek Meena
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland.,Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Mohali, Mohali, 140306, India
| | - Alessio N De Nardo
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Stefan Lüpold
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Zurich, CH-8057, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Frequent mating reduces male mating rate but not offspring quality or quantity in a neriid fly. Evol Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s10682-020-10076-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
|
5
|
Wylde Z, Adler L, Crean A, Bonduriansky R. Perceived dominance status affects chemical signalling in the neriid fly Telostylinus angusticollis. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
|
6
|
Effects of condition and sperm competition risk on sperm allocation and storage in neriid flies. Behav Ecol 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arz178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractEjaculate traits can be sexually selected and often exhibit heightened condition-dependence. However, the influence of sperm competition risk in tandem with condition-dependent ejaculate allocation strategies is relatively unstudied. Because ejaculates are costly to produce, high-condition males may be expected to invest more in ejaculates when sperm competition risk is greater. We examined the condition-dependence of ejaculate size by manipulating nutrient concentration in the juvenile (larval) diet of the neriid fly Telostylinus angusticollis. Using a fully factorial design we also examined the effects of perceived sperm competition risk (manipulated by allowing males to mate first or second) on the quantity of ejaculate transferred and stored in the three spermathecae of the female reproductive tract. To differentiate male ejaculates, we fed males nontoxic rhodamine fluorophores (which bind to proteins in the body) prior to mating, labeling their sperm red or green. We found that high-condition males initiated mating more quickly and, when mating second, transferred more ejaculate to both of the female’s posterior spermathecae. This suggests that males allocate ejaculates strategically, with high-condition males elevating their ejaculate investment only when facing sperm competition. More broadly, our findings suggest that ejaculate allocation strategies can incorporate variation in both condition and perceived risk of sperm competition.
Collapse
|
7
|
Davies LR, Schou MF, Kristensen TN, Loeschcke V. Fluctuations in nutrient composition affect male reproductive output in Drosophila melanogaster. JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 118:103940. [PMID: 31493390 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Insects are known to selectively balance their intake of protein and carbohydrate to optimize reproduction and survival. For insects who feed on decomposing fruit, fluctuations in macronutrient composition occur as fruits ripe and decomposition progresses which may challenge optimal resource allocation. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we tested the effect of macronutrient fluctuations and the variability of these fluctuations on starvation resistance and components of reproductive output; traits known to be sensitive to different protein to carbohydrate (P:C) ratios in the diet. For 8 days, flies were fed the same protein to carbohydrate (P:C) ratio (constant feeding), or fed diets with fluctuations in P:C ratio on each day; these fluctuations being regular (predictably fluctuating) or irregular (unpredictably fluctuating). The three feeding regimes yielded the same average P:C ratio across the duration of the experiment. We found no difference in starvation resistance across the feeding regimes. Interestingly, there was a sexual dimorphism in the effect on reproductive output with males performing worst in the unpredictable feeding regime, and with no effect of feeding regime on female performance. Our study provides evidence for means of adapting to fluctuating macronutrient composition and suggests females are more tactful than males in storing and allocating resources for reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mads F Schou
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Torsten N Kristensen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; Department of Chemistry and Bioscience, Aalborg University, DK-9220 Aalborg East, Denmark
| | - Volker Loeschcke
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Macartney EL, Crean AJ, Nakagawa S, Bonduriansky R. Effects of nutrient limitation on sperm and seminal fluid: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2019; 94:1722-1739. [PMID: 31215758 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 05/01/2019] [Accepted: 05/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Theory predicts that costly sexual traits should be reduced when individuals are in poor condition (i.e. traits should exhibit condition-dependent expression). It is therefore widely expected that male ejaculate traits, such as sperm and seminal fluid, will exhibit reduced quantity and quality when dietary nutrients are limited. However, reported patterns of ejaculate condition dependence are highly variable, and there has been no comprehensive synthesis of underlying sources of such variation in condition-dependent responses. In particular, it remains unclear whether all ejaculate traits are equally sensitive to nutrient intake, and whether such traits are particularly sensitive to certain dietary nutrients, respond more strongly to nutrients during specific life stages, or respond more strongly in some taxonomic groups. We systematically reviewed these potential sources of variation through a meta-analysis across 50 species of arthropods and vertebrates (from 71 papers and 348 effect sizes). We found that overall, ejaculate traits are moderately reduced when dietary nutrients are limited, but we also detected substantial variation in responses. Seminal fluid quantity was strongly and consistently condition dependent, while sperm quantity was moderately condition dependent. By contrast, aspects of sperm quality (particularly sperm viability and morphology) were less consistently reduced under nutrient limitation. Ejaculate traits tended to respond in a condition-dependent manner to a wide range of dietary manipulations, especially to caloric and protein restriction. Finally, while all major taxa for which sufficient data exist (i.e. arthropods, mammals, fish) showed condition dependence of ejaculate traits, we detected some taxonomic differences in the life stage that is most sensitive to nutrient limitation, and in the degree of condition dependence of specific ejaculate traits. Together, these biologically relevant factors accounted for nearly 20% of the total variance in ejaculate responses to nutrient limitation. Interestingly, body size showed considerably stronger condition-dependent responses compared to ejaculate traits, suggesting that ejaculate trait expression may be strongly canalised to protect important reproductive functions, or that the cost of producing an ejaculate is relatively low. Taken together, our findings show that condition-dependence of ejaculate traits is taxonomically widespread, but there are also many interesting, biologically relevant sources of variation that require further investigation. In particular, further research is needed to understand the differences in selective pressures that result in differential patterns of ejaculate condition dependence across taxa and ejaculate traits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Angela J Crean
- Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Shinichi Nakagawa
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Macartney EL, Nicovich PR, Bonduriansky R, Crean AJ. Developmental diet irreversibly shapes male post-copulatory traits in the neriid fly Telostylinus angusticollis. J Evol Biol 2018; 31:1894-1902. [PMID: 30267554 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Revised: 08/20/2018] [Accepted: 09/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Nutrient availability has been shown to influence investment in many fitness-related traits, including male reproductive success. Many studies have demonstrated that a reduction in nutrient availability alters male post-copulatory trait expression, with some studies demonstrating an effect of developmental nutrients and others, an effect of adult nutrients. However, few studies have manipulated both developmental and adult nutrients in the same experiment. Therefore, it is not clear what life-stage has the greatest effect on post-copulatory trait expression, and if the effects of developmental and adult nutrients can interact. Here, we investigate effects of developmental and adult nutrition on male testes and accessory gland size, sperm movement within the female reproductive tract and sperm length in the neriid fly, Telostylinus angusticollis. We found that males fed a nutrient-poor developmental diet produced sperm with a reduced tail beat frequency and had smaller testes and accessory glands compared to males fed a nutrient-rich developmental diet. In contrast, we found no effects of adult nutrition on any traits measured, although sperm length was correlated with body size and male age but unaffected by nutrition at any stage. Therefore, investment in adult post-copulatory traits is determined early on by developmental nutrients in male neriid flies, and this effect is not altered by adult nutrient availability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Philip R Nicovich
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Advanced Molecular Imaging and EMBL Australia Node in Single Molecule Science, School of Medical Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Angela J Crean
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Epigenetic paternal effects as costly, condition-dependent traits. Heredity (Edinb) 2018; 121:248-256. [PMID: 29904169 DOI: 10.1038/s41437-018-0096-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2017] [Revised: 02/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now recognized that post-copulatory traits, such as sperm and ejaculate production can impose metabolic costs, and such traits are therefore expected to exhibit condition-dependent expression, whereby, low condition individuals experience a greater marginal cost of investment compared to high condition individuals. Ejaculates are especially costly in species where males invest in offspring quality through nutrient-rich spermatophores or other seminal nuptial gifts. However, recent evidence shows that, in species where males do not provision females or offspring, males can still influence offspring development through paternal effects mediated by epigenetic factors, such as non-coding RNAs, DNA methylation and chromatin structure. Because such epigenetic paternal effects do not involve the transfer of substantial quantities of resources, such as nutrients, the costs of conferring such effects have not been considered. Here we argue that if selection favours paternal investment in offspring quality through epigenetic factors, then the epigenetic machinery required to bring about such effects may also be expected to evolve strongly condition-dependent expression. We outline indirect evidence suggesting that epigenetic paternal effects could impose substantial metabolic costs, consider the conditions under which selection may act on such effects, and suggest ways to test for differential costs and condition-dependence of these effects. Incorporating epigenetic paternal effects into condition-dependent life history theory will further our understanding of the heritability of fitness and the evolution of paternal investment strategies.
Collapse
|
11
|
Harrison SJ, Godin JGJ, Bertram SM. Influence of dietary nutrient balance on aggression and signalling in male field crickets. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
12
|
Macartney EL, Crean AJ, Bonduriansky R. Adult dietary protein has age- and context-dependent effects on male post-copulatory performance. J Evol Biol 2017; 30:1633-1643. [PMID: 28386961 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The highly conserved effect of dietary protein restriction on lifespan and ageing is observed in both sexes and across a vast range of taxa. This extension of lifespan is frequently accompanied by a reduction in female fecundity, and it has been hypothesized that individuals may reallocate resources away from reproduction and into somatic maintenance. However, effects of dietary protein restriction on male reproduction are less consistent, suggesting that these effects may depend on other environmental parameters. Using the neriid fly, Telostylinus angusticollis, we examined age-specific effects of adult dietary protein restriction on male post-copulatory reproductive performance (fecundity and offspring viability). To explore the context dependence of these effects, we simultaneously manipulated male larval diet and adult mating history. We found that protein-restricted males sired less viable offspring at young ages, but offspring viability increased with paternal age and eventually exceeded that of fully fed males. The number of eggs laid by females was not affected by male dietary protein, whereas egg hatching success was subject to a complex interaction of male adult diet, age, larval diet and mating history. These findings suggest that effects of protein restriction on male reproduction are highly context dependent and cannot be explained by a simple reallocation of resources from reproduction to somatic maintenance. Rather, these effects appear to involve changes in the scheduling of male reproductive investment with age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - A J Crean
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - R Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Plesnar-Bielak A, Woch KR, Małszycki MA, Alkhawlany ATH, Hołysz A, Assis Correia JF, Turk N, Ugrin M, Kramarz P, Prokop ZM. Larval and adult nutrition effects on reproductive traits in the red flour beetle. J Zool (1987) 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Plesnar-Bielak
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | - K. R. Woch
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | - M. A. Małszycki
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | | | - A. Hołysz
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | | | - N. Turk
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | - M. Ugrin
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | - P. Kramarz
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| | - Z. M. Prokop
- Institute of Environmental Sciences; Jagiellonian University; Kraków Poland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Vega-Trejo R, Jennions MD, Head ML. Are sexually selected traits affected by a poor environment early in life? BMC Evol Biol 2016; 16:263. [PMID: 27905874 PMCID: PMC5134236 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-016-0838-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Challenging conditions experienced early in life, such as a restricted diet, can detrimentally affect key life-history traits. Individuals can reduce these costs by delaying their sexual maturation, albeit at the price of the later onset of breeding, to eventually reach the same adult size as individuals that grow up in a benevolent environment. Delayed maturation can, however, still lead to other detrimental morphological and physiological changes that become apparent later in adulthood (e.g. shorter lifespan, faster senescence). In general, research focuses on the naturally selected costs of a poor early diet. In mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), males with limited food intake early in life delay maturation to reach a similar adult body size to their well-fed counterparts (‘catch-up growth’). Here we tested whether a poor early diet is costly due to the reduced expression of sexually selected male characters, namely genital size and ejaculate traits. Results We found that a male’s diet early in life significantly influenced his sperm reserves and sperm replenishment rate. Shortly after maturation males with a restricted early diet had significantly lower sperm reserves and slower replenishment rates than control diet males, but this dietary difference was no longer detectable in older males. Conclusions Although delaying maturation to reach the same body size as well fed juveniles can ameliorate some costs of a poor start in life, our findings suggest that costs might still arise because of sexual selection against these males. It should be noted, however, that the observed effects are modest (Hedges’ g = 0.20–0.36), and the assumption that lower sperm production translates into a decline in fitness under sperm competition remains unconfirmed. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-016-0838-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Regina Vega-Trejo
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.
| | - Michael D Jennions
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia.,Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, Wallotstraße 19, Berlin, 14193, Germany
| | - Megan L Head
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Adler MI, Telford M, Bonduriansky R. Phenotypes optimized for early‐life reproduction exhibit faster somatic deterioration with age, revealing a latent cost of high condition. J Evol Biol 2016; 29:2436-2446. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- M. I. Adler
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - M. Telford
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
- Institut de Biologia Evolutiva Universitat Pompeu Fabra Barcelona Spain
| | - R. Bonduriansky
- Evolution & Ecology Research Centre and School of Biological Earth and Environmental Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Mason JS, Rostant WG, Chapman T. Resource limitation and responses to rivals in males of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. J Evol Biol 2016; 29:2010-2021. [PMID: 27338014 PMCID: PMC5082519 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Revised: 06/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Diet has a profound direct and indirect effect on reproductive success in both sexes. Variation in diet quality and quantity can significantly alter the capacity of females to lay eggs and of males to deliver courtship. Here, we tested the effect of dietary resource limitation on the ability of male Drosophila melanogaster to respond adaptively to rivals by extending their mating duration. Previous work carried out under ad libitum diet conditions showed that males exposed to rivals prior to mating significantly extend mating duration, transfer more ejaculate proteins and achieve higher reproductive success. Such adaptive responses are predicted to occur because male ejaculate production may be limited. Hence, ejaculate resources require allocation across different reproductive bouts, to balance current vs. future reproductive success. However, when males suffer dietary limitation, and potentially have fewer reproductive resources to apportion, we expect adaptive allocation of responses to rivals to be minimized. We tested this prediction and found that males held on agar‐only diets for 5–7 days lost the ability to extend mating following exposure to rivals. Interestingly, extended mating was retained in males held on low yeast/sugar: no sugar/yeast diet treatments, but was mostly lost when males were maintained on ‘imbalanced’ diets in which there was high yeast: no sugar and vice versa. Overall, the results show that males exhibit adaptive responses to rivals according to the degree of dietary resource limitation and to the ratio of individual diet components.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J S Mason
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - W G Rostant
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
| | - T Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Teseo S, Veerus L, Mery F. Fighting experience affects fruit fly behavior in a mating context. Naturwissenschaften 2016; 103:38. [DOI: 10.1007/s00114-016-1368-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
|