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Burns-Dunn S, Mortys T, House CM, Mitchell C, Duffield KR, Foquet B, Sadd BM, Sakaluk SK, Hunt J. Sexually antagonistic coevolution of the male nuptial gift and female feeding behaviour in decorated crickets. Proc Biol Sci 2024; 291:20240804. [PMID: 38955230 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2024.0804] [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: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The evolution of nuptial gifts has traditionally been considered a harmonious affair, providing benefits to both mating partners. There is growing evidence, however, that receiving a nuptial gift can be actively detrimental to the female. In decorated crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus), males produce a gelatinous spermatophylax that enhances sperm transfer but provides little nutritional benefit and hinders female post-copulatory mate choice. Here, we examine the sexually antagonistic coevolution of the spermatophylax and the female feeding response to this gift in G. sigillatus maintained in experimental populations with either a male-biased or female-biased adult sex ratio. After 25 generations, males evolving in male-biased populations produced heavier spermatophylaxes with a more manipulative combination of free amino acids than those evolving in female-biased populations. Moreover, when the spermatophylax originated from the same selection regime, females evolving in male-biased populations always had shorter feeding durations than those evolving in female-biased populations, indicating the evolution of greater resistance. Across populations, female feeding duration increased with the mass and manipulative combination of free amino acids in the spermatophylax, suggesting sexually antagonistic coevolution. Collectively, our work demonstrates a key role for interlocus sexual conflict and sexually antagonistic coevolution in the mating system of G. sigillatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Burns-Dunn
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
| | - Tassie Mortys
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
| | - Clarissa M House
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
| | - Christopher Mitchell
- Centre for Ecology & Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn TR10 9EZ, UK
| | - Kristin R Duffield
- Crop BioProtection Research Unit, Agricultural Research Services, United States Department of Agriculture, National Centre for Agricultural Utilization Research, Peoria, IL, USA
| | - Bert Foquet
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4120, USA
| | - Ben M Sadd
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4120, USA
| | - Scott K Sakaluk
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4120, USA
| | - John Hunt
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
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Duffield KR, Foquet B, Stasko JA, Hunt J, Sadd BM, Sakaluk SK, Ramirez JL. Induction of Multiple Immune Signaling Pathways in Gryllodes sigillatus Crickets during Overt Viral Infections. Viruses 2022; 14:v14122712. [PMID: 36560716 PMCID: PMC9786821 DOI: 10.3390/v14122712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite decades of focus on crickets (family: Gryllidae) as a popular commodity and model organism, we still know very little about their immune responses to microbial pathogens. Previous studies have measured downstream immune effects (e.g., encapsulation response, circulating hemocytes) following an immune challenge in crickets, but almost none have identified and quantified the expression of immune genes during an active pathogenic infection. Furthermore, the prevalence of covert (i.e., asymptomatic) infections within insect populations is becoming increasingly apparent, yet we do not fully understand the mechanisms that maintain low viral loads. In the present study, we measured the expression of several genes across multiple immune pathways in Gryllodes sigillatus crickets with an overt or covert infection of cricket iridovirus (CrIV). Crickets with overt infections had higher relative expression of key pathway component genes across the Toll, Imd, Jak/STAT, and RNAi pathways. These results suggests that crickets can tolerate low viral infections but can mount a robust immune response during an overt CrIV infection. Moreover, this study provides insight into the immune strategy of crickets following viral infection and will aid future studies looking to quantify immune investment and improve resistance to pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin R. Duffield
- National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Crop BioProtection Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Bert Foquet
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61761, USA
| | - Judith A. Stasko
- Microscopy Services Laboratory, National Animal Disease Center, USDA-ARS, Ames, IA 50010, USA
| | - John Hunt
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Hawkesbury Campus, Richmond, NSW 2753, Australia
| | - Ben M. Sadd
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61761, USA
| | - Scott K. Sakaluk
- School of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61761, USA
| | - José L. Ramirez
- National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Crop BioProtection Research Unit, USDA-ARS, 1815 N. University St., Peoria, IL 61604, USA
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