1
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Chung MHJ, Fox RJ, Jennions MD. Male allocation to ejaculation and mating effort imposes different life history trade-offs. PLoS Biol 2024; 22:e3002519. [PMID: 38787858 PMCID: PMC11156437 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
When males compete, sexual selection favors reproductive traits that increase their mating or fertilization success (pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection). It is assumed that males face a trade-off between these 2 types of sexual traits because they both draw from the same pool of resources. Consequently, allocation into mate acquisition or ejaculation should create similar trade-offs with other key life history traits. Tests of these assumptions are exceedingly rare. Males only ejaculate after they mate, and the costs of ejaculation are therefore highly confounded with those of mating effort. Consequently, little is known about how each component of reproductive allocation affects a male's future performance. Here, we ran an experiment using a novel technique to distinguish the life history costs of mating effort and ejaculation for mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). We compared manipulated males (mate without ejaculation), control males (mate and ejaculate), and naïve males (neither mate nor ejaculate) continuously housed with a female and 2 rival males. We assessed their growth, somatic maintenance, mating and fighting behavior, and sperm traits after 8 and 16 weeks. Past mating effort significantly lowered a male's future mating effort and growth, but not his sperm production, while past sperm release significantly lowered a male's future ejaculate quantity, but not his mating effort. Immune response was the only trait impacted by both past mating effort and past ejaculation. These findings challenge the assumption that male reproductive allocation draws from a common pool of resources to generate similar life history costs later in life. Instead, we provide clear evidence that allocation into traits under pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection have different trait-specific effects on subsequent male reproductive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Han Joseph Chung
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Rebecca J. Fox
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Michael D. Jennions
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), Wallenberg Research Centre at Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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2
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Chung MHJ, Head ML, Fox RJ, Jennions MD. Effects of past mating behavior versus past ejaculation on male mate choice and male attractiveness. Behav Ecol 2024; 35:arae002. [PMID: 38273897 PMCID: PMC10807976 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Past reproductive effort allows males to assess their ability to acquire mates, but it also consumes resources that can reduce their future competitive ability. Few studies have examined how a male's reproductive history affects his subsequent mate choice, and, to date, no study has determined the relative contribution of past mating behavior and past ejaculate production because these two forms of investment are naturally highly correlated. Here, we disentangled the relative effects of past mating behavior and past ejaculate production in mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) by experimentally preventing some males from ejaculating when trying to mate. We assessed the effect of mating behavior on mate choice by comparing males that had previously been with or without access to females and male rivals for 8 and 16 weeks and assessed the effect of ejaculation on mate choice by comparing males that either could or could not ejaculate when they had access to females for 16 weeks. Reproductive treatment did not affect male attractiveness, but it did affect male mate choice. Somewhat surprisingly, in five of the six treatment-by-age at testing combinations, males preferred a female in the vicinity of a male rival over a solitary female. This preference was marginally stronger for males that had previously engaged in mating behavior but were unaffected by past ejaculate production. We discuss the potential benefits to males of associating with another male when seeking mates. This is the first study to quantify the relative influence of pre- and post-copulatory reproductive investment on male mate choice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Han Joseph Chung
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2600, Australia
| | - Megan L Head
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2600, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Fox
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2600, Australia
| | - Michael D Jennions
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 46 Sullivans Creek Road, Acton, Australian Capital Territory 2600, Australia
- Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS), Wallenberg Centre, 10 Marais Street, Stellenbosch 7600, South Africa
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3
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Baur J, Zwoinska M, Koppik M, Snook RR, Berger D. Heat stress reveals a fertility debt owing to postcopulatory sexual selection. Evol Lett 2024; 8:101-113. [PMID: 38370539 PMCID: PMC10872150 DOI: 10.1093/evlett/qrad007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Climates are changing rapidly, demanding equally rapid adaptation of natural populations. Whether sexual selection can aid such adaptation is under debate; while sexual selection should promote adaptation when individuals with high mating success are also best adapted to their local surroundings, the expression of sexually selected traits can incur costs. Here we asked what the demographic consequences of such costs may be once climates change to become harsher and the strength of natural selection increases. We first adopted a classic life history theory framework, incorporating a trade-off between reproduction and maintenance, and applied it to the male germline to generate formalized predictions for how an evolutionary history of strong postcopulatory sexual selection (sperm competition) may affect male fertility under acute adult heat stress. We then tested these predictions by assessing the thermal sensitivity of fertility (TSF) in replicated lineages of seed beetles maintained for 68 generations under three alternative mating regimes manipulating the opportunity for sexual and natural selection. In line with the theoretical predictions, we find that males evolving under strong sexual selection suffer from increased TSF. Interestingly, females from the regime under strong sexual selection, who experienced relaxed selection on their own reproductive effort, had high fertility in benign settings but suffered increased TSF, like their brothers. This implies that female fertility and TSF evolved through genetic correlation with reproductive traits sexually selected in males. Paternal but not maternal heat stress reduced offspring fertility with no evidence for adaptive transgenerational plasticity among heat-exposed offspring, indicating that the observed effects may compound over generations. Our results suggest that trade-offs between fertility and traits increasing success in postcopulatory sexual selection can be revealed in harsh environments. This can put polyandrous species under immediate risk during extreme heat waves expected under future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Baur
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Division of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Martyna Zwoinska
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Division of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mareike Koppik
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Division of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Animal Ecology, Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Rhonda R Snook
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - David Berger
- Department of Ecology and Genetics, Division of Animal Ecology, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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4
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Khanal S, Jaiswal A, Chowdanayaka R, Puente N, Turner K, Assefa KY, Nawras M, Back ED, Royfman A, Burkett JP, Cheong SH, Fisher HS, Sindhwani P, Gray J, Ramachandra NB, Avidor-Reiss T. The evolution of centriole degradation in mouse sperm. Nat Commun 2024; 15:117. [PMID: 38168044 PMCID: PMC10761967 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44411-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Centrioles are subcellular organelles found at the cilia base with an evolutionarily conserved structure and a shock absorber-like function. In sperm, centrioles are found at the flagellum base and are essential for embryo development in basal animals. Yet, sperm centrioles have evolved diverse forms, sometimes acting like a transmission system, as in cattle, and sometimes becoming dispensable, as in house mice. How the essential sperm centriole evolved to become dispensable in some organisms is unclear. Here, we test the hypothesis that this transition occurred through a cascade of evolutionary changes to the proteins, structure, and function of sperm centrioles and was possibly driven by sperm competition. We found that the final steps in this cascade are associated with a change in the primary structure of the centriolar inner scaffold protein FAM161A in rodents. This information provides the first insight into the molecular mechanisms and adaptive evolution underlying a major evolutionary transition within the internal structure of the mammalian sperm neck.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushil Khanal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ankit Jaiswal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Rajanikanth Chowdanayaka
- Department of Studies in Genetics and Genomics, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysuru, India
| | - Nahshon Puente
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Katerina Turner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | | | - Mohamad Nawras
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ezekiel David Back
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Abigail Royfman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - James P Burkett
- Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Soon Hon Cheong
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Heidi S Fisher
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Puneet Sindhwani
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - John Gray
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | | | - Tomer Avidor-Reiss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
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5
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Rodríguez-Pena E, Suárez D, Estévez-Pérez G, Verísimo P, Barreira N, Fernández L, González-Tizón A, Martínez-Lage A. Influence of Storage Time on the DNA Integrity and Viability of Spermatozoa of the Spider Crab Maja brachydactyla. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3555. [PMID: 38003172 PMCID: PMC10668756 DOI: 10.3390/ani13223555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural populations of the spider crab Maja brachydactyla constitute a fishery resource of great economic importance in many countries. As in the rest of eubrachyurans, the females of this species have ventral-type seminal receptacles where they store sperm from copulations. Sperm can be stored in these structures for months and even years before egg fertilisation, with the consequent degradation of the sperm cells during the time. In this work, we analyse the viability and the possible genetic damage in sperm accumulated in the seminal receptacles of M. brachydactyla females as a function of the storage time (from 0 to 14 months) using the comet assay technique. On one hand, we developed an algorithm for comet image analysis that improves the comet segmentation compared with the free software Open comet v1.3.1 (97% vs. 76% of detection). In addition, our software allows the manual modification of the contours wrongly delimited via the automatic tool. On the other hand, our data show a sharp decline in sperm viability and DNA integrity in the first four months of storage, which could lead to a decrease in the fecundity rate and/or viability of the embryos or larvae from the second and third clutches of the annual cycle if the repair capacity in these gametic cells is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elba Rodríguez-Pena
- CICA (Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía), University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain; (E.R.-P.); (A.G.-T.)
| | - Diego Suárez
- Department of Computer Science, University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain; (D.S.); (N.B.)
| | | | - Patricia Verísimo
- Centro Oceanográfico de Santander (IEO-CSIC), 39004 Santander, Spain;
| | - Noelia Barreira
- Department of Computer Science, University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain; (D.S.); (N.B.)
- CITIC (Research Center of Information and Communication Technologies), University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Luis Fernández
- Department of Biology, University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain;
| | - Ana González-Tizón
- CICA (Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía), University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain; (E.R.-P.); (A.G.-T.)
- Department of Biology, University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain;
| | - Andrés Martínez-Lage
- CICA (Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía), University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain; (E.R.-P.); (A.G.-T.)
- Department of Biology, University of A Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain;
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6
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Morbiato E, Cattelan S, Pilastro A, Grapputo A. Sperm production is negatively associated with muscle and sperm telomere length in a species subjected to strong sperm competition. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:5812-5822. [PMID: 37792396 DOI: 10.1111/mec.17158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Life-history theory suggests that ageing is one of the costs of reproduction. Accordingly, a higher reproductive allocation is expected to increase the deterioration of both the somatic and the germinal lines through enhanced telomere attrition. In most species, males' reproductive allocation mainly regards traits that increase mating and fertilization success, that is sexually selected traits. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a higher investment in sexually selected traits is associated with a reduced relative telomere length (RTL) in the guppy (Poecilia reticulata), an ectotherm species characterized by strong pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection. We first measured telomere length in both the soma and the sperm over guppies' lifespan to see whether there was any variation in telomere length associated with age. Second, we investigated whether a greater investment in pre- and postcopulatory sexually selected traits is linked to shorter telomere length in both the somatic and the sperm germinal lines, and in young and old males. We found that telomeres lengthened with age in the somatic tissue, but there was no age-dependent variation in telomere length in the sperm cells. Telomere length in guppies was significantly and negatively correlated with sperm production in both tissues and life stages considered in this study. Our findings indicate that telomere length in male guppies is strongly associated with their reproductive investment (sperm production), suggesting that a trade-off between reproduction and maintenance is occurring at each stage of males' life in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Morbiato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Cattelan
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Fritz Lipmann Institute - Leibniz Institute on Aging, Jena, Germany
| | - Andrea Pilastro
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
| | - Alessandro Grapputo
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo, Italy
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7
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Chapman EG, Pilkington JG, Pemberton JM. Correlates of early reproduction and apparent fitness consequences in male Soay sheep. Ecol Evol 2023; 13:e10058. [PMID: 37168987 PMCID: PMC10164647 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.10058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Life history trade-offs are ubiquitous across species and place constraints on the timing of life history events, including the optimal age at first reproduction. However, studies on lifetime breeding success of male mammals are rare due to sex-biased dispersal and the requirement for genetic paternity inferences. We studied the correlates and apparent fitness consequences of early life reproduction among males in a free-living population of Soay sheep (Ovis aries) on St Kilda, Scotland. We investigated the factors associated with early breeding success and the apparent consequences of early success for survival and future reproduction. We used genetic paternity inferences, population data, and individual morphology measurements collected over 30 years. We found that individuals born in years with low-density population size had the highest early life breeding success and singletons were more likely to be successful than twins. Individuals that bred successfully at 7 months were more likely to survive their first winter. For individuals that survived their first winter, early breeding success was not associated with later breeding success. As individual heterogeneity affects breeding success, we believe that variation in individual quality masks the costs of early reproduction in this population. Our findings provide no evidence for selection for delayed age at reproduction in male Soay sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth G. Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Jill G. Pilkington
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Josephine M. Pemberton
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Ecology and EvolutionUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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8
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Fricke C, Sanghvi K, Emery M, Lindenbaum I, Wigby S, Ramm SA, Sepil I. Timeless or tainted? The effects of male ageing on seminal fluid. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1066022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproductive ageing can occur due to the deterioration of both the soma and germline. In males, it has mostly been studied with respect to age-related changes in sperm. However, the somatic component of the ejaculate, seminal fluid, is also essential for maintaining reproductive function. Whilst we know that seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are required for male reproductive success across diverse taxa, age-related changes in SFP quantity and composition are little understood. Additionally, only few studies have explored the reproductive ageing of the tissues that produce SFPs, and the resulting reproductive outcomes. Here we provide a systematic review of studies addressing how advancing male age affects the production and properties of seminal fluid, in particular SFPs and oxidative stress, highlighting many open questions and generating new hypotheses for further research. We additionally discuss how declines in function of different components of seminal fluid, such as SFPs and antioxidants, could contribute to age-related loss of reproductive ability. Overall, we find evidence that ageing results in increased oxidative stress in seminal fluid and a decrease in the abundance of various SFPs. These results suggest that seminal fluid contributes towards important age-related changes influencing male reproduction. Thus, it is essential to study this mostly ignored component of the ejaculate to understand male reproductive ageing, and its consequences for sexual selection and paternal age effects on offspring.
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9
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Míčková K, Tomášek O, Jelínek V, Šulc M, Pazdera L, Albrechtová J, Albrecht T. Age-related changes in sperm traits and evidence for aging costs of sperm production in a sexually promiscuous passerine. Front Ecol Evol 2023. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2023.1105596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In many animal species, organismal performance declines with age in a process known as aging or senescence. Senescence typically leads to a deterioration of physiological functionality and can impact the development of primary sexual phenotypes. Sperm production is a complex and costly process that is sensitive to changes in individual physiological state, yet remarkably little is known about age-related changes in sperm performance and aging costs of sperm production. Here we use a non-linear generalized additive mixed models (GAMM) modelling to evaluate age-related changes in postcopulatory sexual traits in the European barn swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica), a relatively short lived sexually promiscuous passerine species, where male extra-pair fertilization success has been shown to increase with age. We confirmed a positive relationship between sperm midpiece length and sperm velocity in this species. Within-male changes in sperm morphology and sperm velocity were in general absent, with only sperm length decreasing linearly with increasing age, although this change was negligible compared to the overall variation in sperm size among males. In contrast, the cloacal protuberance (CP) size changed nonlinearly with age, with an initial increase between the first and third year of life followed by a plateau. The results further indicate the existence of a trade-off between investments in sperm production and survival as males with large CP tended to have a reduced lifespan. This seems consistent with the idea of expensive sperm production and survival aging costs associated with investments in post-copulatory traits in this sexually promiscuous species.
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10
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Liu J, He XZ, Zheng X, Zhang Y, Wang Q. Juvenile socio-sexual experience determines lifetime sperm expenditure and adult survival in a polygamous moth, Ephestia kuehniella. INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 30:232-240. [PMID: 35656827 PMCID: PMC10084429 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Male animals often adjust their sperm investment in response to sperm competition environment. To date, only a few studies have investigated how juvenile sociosexual settings affect sperm production before adulthood and sperm allocation during the first mating. Yet, it is unclear whether juvenile sociosexual experience (1) determines lifetime sperm production and allocation in any animal species; (2) alters the eupyrene : apyrene sperm ratio in lifetime ejaculates of any lepidopteran insects, and (3) influences lifetime ejaculation patterns, number of matings and adult longevity. Here we used a polygamous moth, Ephestia kuehniella, to address these questions. Upon male adult emergence from juveniles reared at different density and sex ratio, we paired each male with a virgin female daily until his death. We dissected each mated female to count the sperm transferred and recorded male longevity and lifetime number of matings. We demonstrate for the first time that males ejaculated significantly more eupyrenes and apyrenes in their lifetime after their young were exposed to juvenile rivals. Adult moths continued to produce eupyrene sperm, contradicting the previous predictions for lepidopterans. The eupyrene : apyrene ratio in the lifetime ejaculates remained unchanged in all treatments, suggesting that the sperm ratio is critical for reproductive success. Male juvenile exposure to other juveniles regardless of sex ratio caused significantly shorter adult longevity and faster decline in sperm ejaculation over successive matings. However, males from all treatments achieved similar number of matings in their lifetime. This study provides insight into adaptive resource allocation by males in response to juvenile sociosexual environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Liu
- School of Agriculture and EnvironmentMassey UniversityPalmerston NorthNew Zealand
| | - Xiong Z. He
- School of Agriculture and EnvironmentMassey UniversityPalmerston NorthNew Zealand
| | - Xia‐Lin Zheng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric‐Environment and Agric‐Products SafetyNational Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi UniversityNanningChina
| | - Yujing Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Agric‐Environment and Agric‐Products SafetyNational Demonstration Center for Experimental Plant Science Education, College of Agriculture, Guangxi UniversityNanningChina
| | - Qiao Wang
- School of Agriculture and EnvironmentMassey UniversityPalmerston NorthNew Zealand
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11
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Romano A, Liker A, Bazzi G, Ambrosini R, Møller AP, Rubolini D. Annual egg productivity predicts female-biased mortality in avian species. Evolution 2022; 76:2553-2565. [PMID: 36117282 PMCID: PMC9828124 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14623] [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: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Among avian species, the differential cost entailed by either sex in competition for mates has been regarded as the main evolutionary influence on sex differences in mortality rates. However, empirical evidence suggests that sex-biased adult mortality is mainly related to differential energy investment in gamete production, with a greater annual mass devoted to egg production leading to higher female mortality. We explicitly tested the generality of this pattern in a comparative framework. Annual egg production can be relatively large in some species (up to 200% of female body mass) and annual mortality is generally biased toward females. We showed that greater annual egg productivity resulted in higher mortality rates of females relative to males. Mating system was secondarily important, with species in which males were more involved in mating competition having more equal mortality rates between the sexes. However, both traits explained only a limited fraction of the interspecific variation in female-biased mortality. Other traits, such as sexual size dimorphism and parental care, had much weaker influences on female-biased mortality. Our results suggest that both annual mass devoted to gamete production by females and mating system contribute to the evolution of the fundamental life-history trade-off between reproduction and survival in avian taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Romano
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche AmbientaliUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilan20133Italy
| | - András Liker
- ELKH‐PE Evolutionary Ecology Research GroupUniversity of PannoniaVeszprém8210Hungary,Behavioral Ecology Research Group, Center for Natural SciencesUniversity of PannoniaVeszprém8210Hungary
| | - Gaia Bazzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche AmbientaliUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilan20133Italy,Area per l'Avifauna Migratrice (BIO‐AVM)Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (ISPRA)Ozzano dell'Emilia40064Italy
| | - Roberto Ambrosini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche AmbientaliUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilan20133Italy
| | - Anders P. Møller
- Laboratoire d'Ecologie, Systématique et Evolution, CNRS UMR 8079Université Paris‐SaclayOrsay Cedex91405France
| | - Diego Rubolini
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Politiche AmbientaliUniversità degli Studi di MilanoMilan20133Italy,Istituto di Ricerca sulle AcqueIRSA‐CNRBrugherio20861Italy
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12
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Zhang S, Cheng Y, Linhartová Z, Rodinová V, Shazada NE, Wu Q, Linhart O. In vivo and in vitro aging of common carp Cyprinus carpio sperm after multiple hormonal application and stripping of males. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2022; 48:1235-1250. [PMID: 35974127 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-022-01114-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate sperm phenotypic variables during in vivo and in vitro storage following multiple sperm stripping in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Each male was injected 3 times with carp pituitary 3 days apart. Sperm was stored in vivo in the body cavity for 0.5 days (Fresh sperm) and 3 days (Old sperm) after hormonal stimulation. Then sperm was collected and diluted with a carp extender at a ratio of 1:1, and stored in vitro on ice for 0, 3, and 6 days. The phenotypic parameters, including the number of total motile spermatozoa, number of fast motile spermatozoa, number of motile spermatozoa, percentage of fast motile spermatozoa, and percentage of spermatozoa motility were the major components of principal component analysis (PCA). In general, Fresh sperm from the first stripping showed slightly better quality than Old sperm from the second and third stripping, especially in the phenotypic parameters of a number of total spermatozoa and a number of total motile spermatozoa (P < 0.05). The highest kinetic and quantitative spermatozoa variables were obtained in Fresh and Old sperm just after sperm collection (0-day storage in vitro), and then they were decreased during the period of in vitro storage up to 6 days (P < 0.05). However, the fertilization, hatching, and malformation rates from Fresh sperm were similar compared with the Old sperm. Sperm could be stripped 0.5 days post hormonal treatment and stored in vitro up to 6 days with good fertilization performance (fertility, hatching, and malformation rates were 92.5%, 91.5%, and 1.3%, respectively). Therefore, our results suggested that multiple hormonal treatments with multiple stripping could be used in artificial reproduction in common carp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Songpei Zhang
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zatisi 728/II, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Yu Cheng
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zatisi 728/II, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Linhartová
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zatisi 728/II, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Vladimíra Rodinová
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zatisi 728/II, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Nururshopa Eskander Shazada
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zatisi 728/II, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Qing Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Otomar Linhart
- Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Zatisi 728/II, 389 25, Vodnany, Czech Republic.
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13
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Hunt KE, Buck CL, Ferguson SH, Fernández Ajo A, Heide-Jørgensen MP, Matthews CJD. Male Bowhead Whale Reproductive Histories Inferred from Baleen Testosterone and Stable Isotopes. Integr Org Biol 2022; 4:obac014. [PMID: 35617113 PMCID: PMC9125798 DOI: 10.1093/iob/obac014] [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] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Synopsis
Male mammals of seasonally reproducing species typically have annual testosterone (T) cycles, with T usually peaking during the breeding season, but occurrence of such cycles in male mysticete whales has been difficult to confirm. Baleen, a keratinized filter-feeding apparatus of mysticetes, incorporates hormones as it grows, such that a single baleen plate can record years of endocrine history with sufficient temporal resolution to discern seasonal patterns. We analyzed patterns of T every 2 cm across the full length of baleen plates from nine male bowhead whales (Balaena mysticetus) to investigate occurrence and regularity of T cycles and potential inferences about timing of breeding season, sexual maturation, and reproductive senescence. Baleen specimens ranged from 181–330 cm in length, representing an estimated 11 years (smallest whale) to 22 years (largest whale) of continuous baleen growth, as indicated by annual cycles in stable isotopes. All baleen specimens contained regularly spaced areas of high T content (T peaks) confirmed by time series analysis to be cyclic, with periods matching annual stable isotope cycles of the same individuals. In 8 of the 9 whales, T peaks preceded putative summer isotope peaks by a mean of 2.8 months, suggesting a mating season in late winter / early spring. The only exception to this pattern was the smallest and youngest male, which had T peaks synchronous with isotope peaks. This smallest, youngest whale also did not have T peaks in the first half of the plate, suggesting initiation of T cycling during the period of baleen growth. Linear mixed effect models suggest that whale age influences T concentrations, with the two largest and oldest males exhibiting a dramatic decline in T peak concentration across the period of baleen growth. Overall, these patterns are consistent with onset of sexual maturity in younger males and possible reproductive senescence in older males. We conclude that adult male bowheads undergo annual T cycles, and that analyses of T in baleen may enable investigation of reproductive seasonality, timing of the breeding season, and life history of male whales.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen E Hunt
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation & Department of Biology, George Mason University, 1500 Remount Rd, Front Royal, VA 22630, USA
| | - C Loren Buck
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, 617 S. Beaver St., Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
| | - Steven H Ferguson
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Arctic Aquatic Research Division, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Alejandro Fernández Ajo
- Marine Mammal Institute, Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Oregon State University, Newport, OR 97365, USA
| | | | - Cory J D Matthews
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Arctic Aquatic Research Division, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N6, Canada
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14
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Bronikowski AM, Meisel RP, Biga PR, Walters J, Mank JE, Larschan E, Wilkinson GS, Valenzuela N, Conard AM, de Magalhães JP, Duan J, Elias AE, Gamble T, Graze R, Gribble KE, Kreiling JA, Riddle NC. Sex-specific aging in animals: Perspective and future directions. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13542. [PMID: 35072344 PMCID: PMC8844111 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in aging occur in many animal species, and they include sex differences in lifespan, in the onset and progression of age-associated decline, and in physiological and molecular markers of aging. Sex differences in aging vary greatly across the animal kingdom. For example, there are species with longer-lived females, species where males live longer, and species lacking sex differences in lifespan. The underlying causes of sex differences in aging remain mostly unknown. Currently, we do not understand the molecular drivers of sex differences in aging, or whether they are related to the accepted hallmarks or pillars of aging or linked to other well-characterized processes. In particular, understanding the role of sex-determination mechanisms and sex differences in aging is relatively understudied. Here, we take a comparative, interdisciplinary approach to explore various hypotheses about how sex differences in aging arise. We discuss genomic, morphological, and environmental differences between the sexes and how these relate to sex differences in aging. Finally, we present some suggestions for future research in this area and provide recommendations for promising experimental designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Bronikowski
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal BiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
| | - Richard P. Meisel
- Department of Biology and BiochemistryUniversity of HoustonHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Peggy R. Biga
- Department of BiologyThe University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
| | - James R. Walters
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyThe University of KansasLawrenceKansasUSA
| | - Judith E. Mank
- Department of ZoologyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
- Department of BioscienceUniversity of ExeterPenrynUK
| | - Erica Larschan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and BiochemistryBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | | | - Nicole Valenzuela
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal BiologyIowa State UniversityAmesIowaUSA
| | - Ashley Mae Conard
- Department of Computer ScienceCenter for Computational and Molecular BiologyBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - João Pedro de Magalhães
- Integrative Genomics of Ageing GroupInstitute of Ageing and Chronic DiseaseUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolUK
| | | | - Amy E. Elias
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and BiochemistryBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Tony Gamble
- Department of Biological SciencesMarquette UniversityMilwaukeeWisconsinUSA
- Milwaukee Public MuseumMilwaukeeWisconsinUSA
- Bell Museum of Natural HistoryUniversity of MinnesotaSaint PaulMinnesotaUSA
| | - Rita M. Graze
- Department of Biological SciencesAuburn UniversityAuburnAlabamaUSA
| | - Kristin E. Gribble
- Josephine Bay Paul Center for Comparative Molecular Biology and EvolutionMarine Biological LaboratoryWoods HoleMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jill A. Kreiling
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology and BiochemistryBrown UniversityProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Nicole C. Riddle
- Department of BiologyThe University of Alabama at BirminghamBirminghamAlabamaUSA
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15
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Macartney EL, Bonduriansky R. Does female resistance to mating select for live-fast-die-young strategies in males? A comparative analysis in the genus Drosophila. J Evol Biol 2021; 35:192-200. [PMID: 34547153 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Female promiscuity is a pervasive selective force on male reproductive traits, and the strength of sexual selection is predicted to influence the trade-off between lifespan and reproduction. In species where sexual selection is intense, males are predicted to invest in sexual strategies that shorten their lifespan, potentially resulting in female-biased sexual dimorphism in longevity. However, comparative analyses have provided contrasting results, potentially due to the use of broad mating system categories or sexual size dimorphism as a proxy for sexual selection. Here, we used female remating rate (i.e. female promiscuity) as a more direct measure of sexual selection strength and conducted a phylogenetic comparative analysis of the relationship between female remating rate and sexual dimorphism in lifespan in 29 species of Drosophila. We did not find strong evidence that female remating rate was correlated with sexual dimorphism in lifespan. However, we found that male and female lifespans are positively correlated among species and that phylogeny and residual variance (i.e. variation in non-phylogenetic factors) are important in determining female remating rate, male and female lifespans separately, and the correlation between male and female lifespan. We suggest that variation in the nature of sexual competition and variation between studies could account for some of the unexplained variation among species in the relation between female remating rate and sexual dimorphism in lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Macartney
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Russell Bonduriansky
- Evolution and Ecology Research Centre, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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16
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Aich U, Head ML, Fox RJ, Jennions MD. Male age alone predicts paternity success under sperm competition when effects of age and past mating effort are experimentally separated. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210979. [PMID: 34315259 PMCID: PMC8316792 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Older males often perform poorly under post-copulatory sexual selection. It is unclear, however, whether reproductive senescence is because of male age itself or the accumulated costs of the higher lifetime mating effort that is usually associated with male age. To date, very few studies have accounted for mating history and sperm storage when testing the effect of male age on sperm traits, and none test how age and past mating history influence paternity success under sperm competition. Here, we experimentally manipulate male mating history to tease apart its effects from that of age on ejaculate traits and paternity in the mosquitofish, Gambusia holbrooki. We found that old, naive males had more sperm than old, experienced males, while the reverse was true for young males. By contrast, neither male age nor mating history affected sperm velocity. Finally, using artificial insemination to experimentally control the number of sperm per male, we found that old males sired significantly more offspring than young males independently of their mating history. Our results highlight that the general pattern of male reproductive senescence described in many taxa may often be affected by two naturally confounding factors, male mating history and sperm age, rather than male age itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Upama Aich
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Megan L. Head
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Rebecca J. Fox
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
| | - Michael D. Jennions
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 2601, Australia
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17
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Ritchot Y, Festa‐Bianchet M, Coltman D, Pelletier F. Determinants and long-term costs of early reproduction in males of a long-lived polygynous mammal. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:6829-6845. [PMID: 34141259 PMCID: PMC8207375 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In long-lived polygynous species, male reproductive success is often monopolized by a few mature dominant individuals. Young males are generally too small to be dominant and may employ alternative tactics; however, little is known about the determinants of reproductive success for young males. Understanding the causes and consequences of variability in early reproductive success may be crucial to assess the strength of sexual selection and possible long-term trade-offs among life-history traits. Selective pressures driven by fluctuating environmental conditions may depend on age class. We evaluated the determinants of reproduction in male bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) aged 2-4 years using 30 years of individual-level data. These young males cannot defend estrous ewes and use alternative mating tactics. We also investigated how the age of first detected reproduction was correlated to lifetime reproductive success and longevity. We found that reproductive success of males aged 3 years was positively correlated to body mass, to the proportion of males aged 2-4 years in the competitor pool, and to the number of females available per adult male. These results suggest that reproductive success depends on both competitive ability and population age-sex structure. None of these variables, however, had significant effects on the reproductive success of males aged 2 or 4 years. Known reproduction before the age of five increased lifetime reproductive success but decreased longevity, suggesting a long-term survival cost of early reproduction. Our analyses reveal that both individual-level phenotypic and population-level demographic variables influence reproductive success by young males and provide a rare assessment of fitness trade-offs in wild polygynous males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanny Ritchot
- Département de biologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQCCanada
| | | | - David Coltman
- Department of Biological SciencesUniversity of AlbertaEdmontonABCanada
| | - Fanie Pelletier
- Département de biologieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrookeQCCanada
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18
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Lemaître JF, Ronget V, Gaillard JM. Female reproductive senescence across mammals: A high diversity of patterns modulated by life history and mating traits. Mech Ageing Dev 2020; 192:111377. [PMID: 33031803 DOI: 10.1016/j.mad.2020.111377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Senescence patterns are highly variable across the animal kingdom. However, while empirical evidence of actuarial senescence in vertebrates is accumulating in the wild and life history correlates of actuarial senescence are increasingly identified, both the extent and variation of reproductive senescence across species remain poorly studied. Here, we performed the first large-scale analysis of female reproductive senescence across 101 mammalian species that encompassed a wide range of Orders. We found evidence of reproductive senescence in 68.31 % of the species, which demonstrates that reproductive senescence is pervasive in mammals. As expected from allometric rules, the onset of reproductive senescence occurs later and the rate of reproductive senescence decreases with increasing body mass and delayed age at first reproduction. Moreover, for a given pace of life, females displaying a high level of multiple mating and/or with induced ovulation senesce earlier than females displaying a low level of multiple mating and/or with spontaneous ovulation. These results suggest that both female mating behavior and reproductive physiology shape the diversity of reproductive senescence patterns across mammals. We propose future avenues of research regarding the role played by environmental conditions or reproductive features (e.g. type of placentation) on the evolution of reproductive senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-François Lemaître
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France.
| | - Victor Ronget
- Unité Eco-Anthropologie (EA), Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Université Paris Diderot, F-75016, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Michel Gaillard
- Univ Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Évolutive UMR 5558, F-69622, Villeurbanne, France
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