潮汕蝾螈的求偶行为

潮汕蝾螈(Cynops orphicus)是我国特有的濒危有尾两栖类,繁殖季节始于5月中旬。对其求偶行为观察发现,该螈求偶模式表现出与东方蝾螈(C.orientalis)相似的特点,但雄性扇尾和潜行时间(25~37 s)较东方蝾螈(10~20 s)更长;雄性在一次求偶中多次排精,雌性亦可多次纳精,精子囊形态与东方蝾螈类同;雌性纳精后,雄性反转咬住其腹部,被咬雌性呈现植物态。纳精过后,雌性出现暂时的冷漠或恐惧,不再接受雄性求偶。该螈成功纳精在累次求偶行为中占比不高(2.7%),但较东方蝾螈(1.1%)成功率高。雄性之间存在求偶过程中的竞争和干扰行为。     

同种雄性竞争对手的存在对星豹蛛雄蛛求偶和交配行为的影响

越来越多的研究发现,雄性产生精子(精液)也需付出代价。雄性除了依据配偶质量和竞争对手的竞争强度适应性调整生殖投入外,雄性在求偶和交配行为上也相应产生适应性反应,求偶和交配行为具有可塑性。目前雄性求偶和交配行为可塑性研究主要集中于雌性多次交配的类群中,在雌性单次交配的类群中研究甚少。以雌蛛一生只交配一次而雄蛛可多次交配的星豹蛛为研究对象,比较:(1)前一雄性拖丝上信息物质对后续雄蛛求偶和交配行为的影响,(2)雌雄不同性比对雄蛛求偶和交配行为的影响。研究结果表明,星豹蛛前一雄蛛拖丝上的信息物质对后续雄蛛求偶潜伏期、求偶持续时间和交配持续时间都没有显著影响,但前一雄蛛拖丝上的信息物质对后续雄蛛求偶强度有显著抑制作用。同时,性比对星豹蛛雄蛛求偶和交配行为都没有显著影响。可见,星豹蛛雄蛛对同种雄性拖丝上的化学信息可产生求偶行为的适应性调整,而对性比不产生适应性反应。     

云南新平哀牢山红瘰疣螈的陆地求偶交配行为模式

红瘰疣螈Tylototriton shanjing为云南山地环境中典型的有尾两栖类,其求偶交配行为模式尚未被系统研究。2013—2014年对云南省新平县哀牢山繁殖期红瘰疣螈在陆地环境中的求偶交配模式进行了观察。研究结果显示,红瘰疣螈的求偶交配行为是按照一定时序进行的,整个过程由定位、静止展示、劝导展示和精子转移4个阶段组成。在求偶交配中雄性个体行为包括:警戒、追逐、阻拦、蹑行、嗅探、轻推、诱导、扇尾、侧行和产精包等类型。雌性个体的行为包括离开、静止、跟随、纳精包等类型。雄性行为较雌性复杂,雄性在求偶交配行为过程中占据主动。雌雄的识别主要以视觉为主,整个求偶交配过程中无抱握行为,雄性尾部的运动也比较单一,这些行为的变化可能是对在陆地求偶交配的适应。     

动物行为学知识简介(二)——性、双亲行为和婚配制度

1.性冲突和性进化动物生殖细胞的大小有很大区别。雄性的生殖细胞——精子小而多,雌性的生殖细胞——卵子大且营养丰富,数量比精子少得多。所以在生殖过程的初始,两性的生殖投资即相差甚远,然而收获却相等——下一代身上雄雌两性的基因含量永远是相等的。雌雄动物的繁殖策略(最大可能地繁殖下一代)也相应地不同:雄性动物是通过与更多的雌性交配;而雌性动物则通过更快地产卵或幼仔。出于交配的需要引起的同性(往往是雄性)     

昆虫在多次交配与精子竞争格局中的雌雄对策

绝大多数昆虫雌性一生中不但与不同雄性交配许多次,而且在其特殊器官中还可长期贮藏雄性精子,因此来自不同雄性的的精子在与雌性卵子受精时发生激烈的精子竞争。本文综述了昆虫在多次交配与精子竞争格局中的雌雄对策。雄性对策表现在对自身与配偶身体质量状况的正确评估、精子竞争风险预测、精子异型及延长交配时程和配后保护等,雌性对策则表现在对雄性质量状况的正确评估、对精液的主动操纵及精子偏向性等,从而很好地适因多次交配和精子竞争而带来的强烈自然选择和性选择压力。     

人工模拟产卵环境中青海湖裸鲤的繁殖行为

研究通过人工产卵环境模拟, 成功诱导青海湖裸鲤(Gymnocypris przewalskii)自然产卵受精, 通过标志跟踪和视频监控等方法对青海湖裸鲤的繁殖行为进行了研究。结果表明, 青海湖裸鲤的繁殖过程包含了追逐、伴游、潜尾、溅戏和交尾等典型行为。其中溅戏行为(单尾雌鱼或雄鱼背鳍露出水面并用尾部拍击水面)首次被观察确认, 常被误认为是交配行为。追逐、伴游、潜尾和溅戏等繁殖行为平均频次分别为: 5.7、14.7、9.3和3.5 次/d。通过采用不同性比重复配对实验发现, 在观测到的34次交配行为中, 32次(94.1%)均为1雌和1雄配对交配。研究还发现性成熟的雌性青海湖裸鲤为一次产卵类型, 短时间内多次交尾排卵, 雌雄交配(排卵授精)行为约每天3—9次, 每次排卵耗时约4—9s, 每次平均排卵量131粒(范围15—376), 每尾雌鱼可连续交配产卵3—7d。观测到34次的交配行为中, 31次(91.1%)均发生在夜间(23: 00—次日2: 00), 3次(8.9%)发生在白天(早晨6:00—7:00)。研究首次基于人工模拟产卵环境观察描述了青海湖裸鲤的繁殖行为特征, 可为青海湖裸鲤人工产卵场构建、自然繁殖监测和产卵场保护提供科学依据。     

成虫体型大小驱动六斑月瓢虫性间相互选择(英文)

【目的】配偶选择是性选择的中心过程,当繁殖成本发生波动和配偶质量存在差异时,传统的性别作用也随之不同。为了验证在某些条件下雄性也可以像雌性一样进行选择,我们研究了雄性和雌性六斑月瓢虫Menochilus sexmaculatus(Fabricius)的交配成功率与作为适合度指标的成虫体型大小之间的关系。【方法】从初始种群中随机选择体型小和体型大的两性成虫,进行雄性和雌性配偶选择试验。并对成功交配的各个配对组的后代也进行配偶选择试验,测试其交配成功率。【结果】配偶选择试验结果表明,在雄性和雌性交配试验中交配的成功取决于体型大小。雄性根据其品质即体型大小这一繁殖力指标对雌性进行区分。同样,在雌性交配试验中体型大的雄虫比体型小的雄虫交配成功率高。无论亲本体型如何,体型大的雌虫都比体型小的雌虫产卵量高;不过,体型大小不影响卵的存活力。体型大的亲本的后代比体型小的亲本的后代发育更快,寿命更长,但是将其与来自初始种群的后代进行配偶选择时,它们在性合意(sexual desirability)或竞争力方面没有表现任何优势。【结论】六斑月瓢虫中存在以体型大小为目的性状的相互配偶选择。     

多次交配对松褐天牛精子数量消耗、产卵量和孵化率的影响

通过解剖松褐天牛雌虫受精囊和室内饲养观察,研究了多次交配对松褐天牛雌虫受精囊内精子数量消耗、产卵量、卵孵化率、产卵历期和寿命的影响,并对松褐天牛雌性生殖系统、精子形态及精子在雌性生殖系统中的分布动态进行了详细的描述,其结果表明:多次交配的松褐天牛雌虫受精囊内的精子数量长期保持在12万个左右,而只交配一次的松褐天牛雌虫受精囊内精子数量不断消耗,交配16天后降到5万个以下。多次交配的雌虫产卵量(167·0870粒)和卵孵化率(94·38%)都显著大于单次交配雌虫的产卵量(113·5217粒)和卵孵化率(83·79%);但是多次交配的雌虫与单次交配的雌虫相比较,产卵历期和寿命差异都不显著。     

多次交配对松褐天牛精子数量消耗、产卵量和孵化率的影响

通过解剖松褐天牛雌虫受精囊和室内饲养观察，研究了多次交配对松褐天牛雌虫受精囊内精子数量消耗、产卵量、卵孵化率、产卵历期和寿命的影响，并对松褐天牛雌性生殖系统、精子形态及精子在雌性生殖系统中的分布动态进行了详细的描述，其结果表明：多次交配的松褐天牛雌虫受精囊内的精子数量长期保持在12万个左右，而只交配一次的松褐天牛雌虫受精囊内精子数量不断消耗，交配16天后降到5万个以下。多次交配的雌虫产卵量(167.087 0粒)和卵孵化率(94.38%)都显著大于单次交配雌虫的产卵量(113.521 7粒)和卵孵化率(83.79%)；但是多次交配的雌虫与单次交配的雌虫相比较，产卵历期和寿命差异都不显著。     

父方投资与性角色逆转现象: 螽斯类昆虫的婚礼食物及对性选择方向的影响

大多数动物在繁殖过程中,雌性在繁殖过程中要比雄性付出更大投资,如相对于精子较大的卵子细胞,较长的育幼时间等,因而在交配过程中,雌性具有选择权,而雄性之间相互竞争以取得与雌性的交配权。然而自然世界中并不总是竞争的雄性（competitive male）-选择的雌性（selective female）这种婚配形式。在螽斯类昆虫中,雄性同样具有较大的父方投资。在繁殖期间,雄性螽斯争相鸣叫,求偶,且在交配后要给予雌性特殊的营养物质-精包,供雌性取食。因此在特定情况下,雌性之间将进行竞争以获取雄性配偶,雄性变得更具有选择性。影响这种性角色逆转的主要因素是可获得资源的紧缺。父方投资理论和性选择理论预测雄性显著地对后代投资时,雌性将表现出典型的雄性特征,她们竞争追求性活跃的雄性,而雄性将表现出典型的雌性特征,对配偶具有选择性。螽斯类昆虫中这种特殊的性角色逆转现象符合性选择理论和父方投资理论的预测。     

Body Size and Multiple Copulations in a Neotropical Grasshopper with an Extraordinary Mate-Guarding Duration

After copulation, male grasshoppers of Sphenarium purpurascens (Orthoptera: Pyrgomorphidae) remain in a postinsemination association with their mate. A male can spend as many as 17 days mounted on a female. Guarding duration is related to both male and female body size and the female's mating history. Longest guarding durations were recorded at the middle of the reproductive season, when the probability of encounter between the sexes (sex ratio and population density) was decreasing, at the beginning of the associated dry season. These guardings were associated with large individuals of both sexes and with females that had more previous partners. Moreover, a positive association was found among guarding duration, female and male body size and age, and number of copulations performed by the males. Maybe males invest time and sperm in females as a function of the probability of sperm competition. Nevertheless, guarding may provide benefits to both sexes. Males may reduce the possibility of sperm competition, and females may obtain nutritional benefit for themselves or their offspring as a result of multiple copulations. Changes in male investment in guarding duration and number of copulations may be the result of physiological constraints related to seminal and/or sperm production. Moreover, guarding duration could be constrained by ecological factors such as a reduction of food availability associated with the beginning of the dry season.     

Sperm displacement behavior of the cuttlefish Sepia esculenta (Cephalopoda: Sepiidae)

Sperm displacement behavior of cuttlefish (Sepia esculenta) was observed in a tank. Before ejaculation, male cuttlefish used their arms III to scrape out sperm masses attached to the buccal membranes of females. The removed sperm mass debris was directly visible and countable. Active sperm were present within the removed sperm debris, implying that the aim of this behavior is to remove competing male sperm. However, many sperm masses remained on the female buccal membrane even after the removal behavior, showing that sperm removal in S. esculenta is incomplete. The duration of sperm removal (an indicator of male investment in that process) was unaffected by the body sizes of mated pair, the duration of spermatangia placement at the current mating (for the hypothesis that the sperm removal serves to creat attachment space of spermatophores), or the estimated amount of sperm masses deposited from previous matings. Moreover, male S. esculenta performed sperm removal regardless of whether the last male to mate with the partner was himself, suggesting males remove not only the sperm of rivals but also their own. Although the number of removed sperm masses increased with the time spent on removal of sperm, male cuttlefish may shorten the duration of sperm removal to avoid the risk of mating interruption. We conclude that this time restriction would likely influence the degree of partial sperm removal in S. esculenta. A digital video image relating to the article is available at .This revised version was published online in April 2005 with corrections in the abstract.     

The adaptiveness of intense contact mate guarding by males of the emerald damselfly,Lestes sponsa (Odonata, Lestidae): The male’s perspective

We studied the mating system of the emerald damselflyLestes sponsa. All males showed intense contact mate guarding by holding the female in tendem during the entire oviposition period. Our findings support the predictions made by Alcock (1994) about the occurrence of intense mate guarding: (1) a high female receptivity after copulation, (2) a high male capacity to resist takeovers, (3) sperm precedence, (4) a high operational sex ratio, (5) a high male density, (6) high access by rivals to mated females, (7) low energy expenditure, (8) a low risk of guarding, and (9) a short interval between copula and oviposition. This indicates a positive cost-benefit balance for this behavior, at least in males. A comparison within the genusLestes suggests that the male-biased sex ratios and the ease with which mated females are detected have been strong selection pressures in the evolution of intense contact mate guarding.     

Mate guarding behaviour in the supralittoral isopod,Ligia dentipes (Oniscidea) from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Precopulatory mate guarding is a characteristic feature in the mating behaviour of many Malacostraca, and a necessary prerequisite for those species in which female receptivity for males is restricted to a short period of time after the pubertal/reproductive moult. This study deals with the pre-mate guarding behaviour of the semi-terrestrial isopod Ligia dentipes living in the crevices of coral boulders and rocks in the supralittoral region of the Andaman Islands. As in other isopods, moulting in L. dentipes is biphasic, in which the posterior body part invariably moults first. The guarding male aids the female partner in the removal of the moulted exoskeleton. Mating occurs immediately after the posterior body exuviates. The male leaves the female after copulation and goes in search of another receptive female, demonstrating a polygamous mating system in these isopods. The mated females also re-mate with several other males without mate guarding. Females that had mated several times produced more young, compared to females mated only once in the laboratory. Female receptivity ceases following moulting of the anterior half. Intrasexual encounters among males lead to the large males acquiring receptive females. This study reveals interesting deviations from the general pattern of mate guarding already reported in other isopods and decapods. The evolutionary and ecological significances of mate guarding, intrasexual and intersexual conflicts, found in these semi-terrestrial isopods, are discussed.     

The adaptive significance of mate guarding in the soapberry bug,Jadera Haematoloma (Hemiptera: Rhopalidae)

Male soapberry bugs (Jadera haematoloma)face severe mating competition at the northern edge of their range due to male-biased adult sex ratios. Copulations lasting up to 11 days may serve a mate guarding function (encompassing four or more ovipositions), but copulation duration is highly variable, with some pairings lasting as little as 10 min. Data were gathered to describe factors that influence the reproductive costs and benefits of prolonged copulation. Estimated copulation durations (mean ± SD) were 20 ± 23 h in the lab and 50 ± 8 h in the field and were only weakly affected by sex ratio. Females mated for 5 min produced as many fertile eggs as those mated for 600 min laid; they became depleted of fertile sperm after about 25 days. In twicemated females, the first male's paternity was reduced by about 60%, and all females (N = 13) whose mates were removed experimentally mated again within an average of 6 min. The outcome of sperm competition on a perclutch basis was not highly predictable. The possibility of increased sperm displacement in longer copulations was not tested. Males often guarded females during oviposition and successfully defended them from intruding single males by recopulating. Such intrusions occurred in the majority of oviposition attempts observed in nature. Even though most females mated promiscuously, in a focal aggregation with a mean sex ratio of 2.2 ± 0.4 males/female, the interval between matings by males was commonly several days. Males appeared to respond facultatively to several aspects of the distribution and availability of females. The intensities of mating competition and sperm competition indicate that monogamous mate guarding should be favored over nonguarding in nature. Unpredicted brief. pairings may result from assessment by males of female reproductive value or of their own physical condition, or from female resistance.     

Mate choice by males of the hermit crab Pagurus filholi: Do males assess ripeness and/or fecundity of females?

Males of the hermit crab, Pagurusfilholi, often grasp the edges of shells occupied by females and drag them during the mating season. This behavior was experimentally confirmed to be a precopulatory guarding behavior displayed by males for ripe females, and males were found to recognize females which were within about 5 days of spawning. Most theoretical models for mating preference assume the choosing sex (the male in the present case) has complete reproductive information about potential mates, and predict that males will preferably choose more fecund females and/or females that will require less guarding time (i.e. that will spawn sooner) as partners. Several male-choice experiments between two ripe females, both previously guarded by other males, were carried out to examine the above predictions. Males did not prefer females of larger size, higher fecundity or with less time remaining until spawning. These results suggest that males may not have complete information about potential partners, rather that male hermit crabs may adopt a mating strategy of pairing with the first ripe female they encounter. Even with such incomplete mate assessment, males may enhance their reproductive success by recognizing ripe females that will spawn within a given time (about 5 days in the present case).     

Reproductive costs of mating with a sibling male: sperm depletion and multiple mating in Cephalonomia hyalinipennis

Polygynous parasitoid males may be limited by the amount of sperm they can transmit to females, which in turn may become sperm limited. In this study, I tested the effect of male mating history on copula duration, female fecundity, and offspring sex ratio, and the likelihood that females will have multiple mates, in the gregarious parasitoid Cephalonomia hyalinipennis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae: Epyrinae), a likely candidate for sperm depletion due to its local mate competition system. Males were eager to mate with the seven females presented in rapid succession. Copula duration did not differ with male mating history, but latency before a first mating was significantly longer than before consecutive matings. Male mating history had no bearing on female fecundity (number of offspring), but significantly influenced offspring sex ratio. The last female to mate with a given male produced significantly more male offspring than the first one, and eventually became sperm depleted. In contrast, the offspring sex ratio of first‐mated females was female biased, denoting a high degree of sex allocation control. Once‐mated females, whether sperm‐depleted or not, accepted a second mating after a period of oviposition. Sperm‐depleted females resumed production of fertilized eggs after a second mating. Young, recently mated females also accepted a second mating, but extended in‐copula courtship was observed. Carrying out multiple matings in this species thus seems to reduce the cost of being constrained to produce only haploid males after accepting copulation with a sperm‐depleted male. I discuss the reproductive fitness costs that females experience when mating solely with their sibling males and the reproductive fitness gain of males that persist in mating, even when almost sperm‐depleted. Behavioural observations support the hypothesis that females monitor their sperm stock. It is concluded that C. hyalinipennis is a species with a partial local mating system.     

Reproductive strategies in snakes

Snakes of both sexes display remarkable flexibility and diversity in their reproductive tactics. Many features of reproduction in female snakes (such as reproductive mode and frequency, seasonality and multiple mating) allow flexible maternal control. For example, females can manipulate not only the genotypes of their offspring (through mate choice or enhanced sperm competition) but also the phenotypes of their offspring (through allocation 'decisions', behavioural and physiological thermoregulation, and nest-site selection). Reliance on stored energy ('capital') to fuel breeding results in low frequencies of female reproduction and, in extreme cases, semelparity. A sophisticated vomeronasal system not only allows male snakes to locate reproductive females by following scent trails, but also facilitates pheromonally mediated mate choice by males. Male-male rivalry takes diverse forms, including female mimicry and mate guarding; combat bouts impose strong selection for large body size in males of some species. Intraspecific (geographical) variation and phenotypic plasticity in a wide array of reproductive traits (offspring size and number; reproductive frequency; incidence of multiple mating; male tactics such as mate guarding and combat; mate choice criteria) provide exceptional opportunities for future studies.     

Male sexual ornament size is positively associated with reproductive morphology and enhanced fertility in the stalk-eyed fly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Teleopsis dalmanni</Emphasis>

Background  

Exaggerated male ornaments and displays often evolve in species where males only provide females with ejaculates during reproduction. Although "good genes" arguments are typically invoked to explain this phenomenon, a simpler alternative is possible if variation in male reproductive quality (e.g. sperm number, ejaculate content, mating rate) is an important determinant of female reproductive success. The "phenotype-linked fertility hypothesis" states that female preference for male ornaments or displays has been selected to ensure higher levels of fertility and has driven the evolution of exaggerated male traits. Females of the stalk-eyed fly Teleopsis dalmanni must mate frequently to maintain high levels of fertility and prefer to mate with males exhibiting large eyespan, a condition-dependent sexual ornament. If eyespan indicates male reproductive quality, females could directly increase their reproductive success by mating with males with large eyespan. Here we investigate whether male eyespan indicates accessory gland and testis length, and then ask whether mating with large eyespan males affects female fertility.     

Not just a chastity belt: the functional significance of mating plugs in garter snakes,revisited

During the spring emergence of red‐sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis) in Manitoba, Canada, the operational sex ratio is strongly skewed towards males, who scramble to locate and court newly emerged females. A high frequency of multiple paternity litters suggests that the females are promiscuous; the gelatinous copulatory plugs (CPs) deposited by males may confer fitness benefits via passive mate guarding. Because precopulatory female choice is limited in large mating aggregations, sexual conflict may place a premium on preventing females from ejecting male sperm. In snakes, sperm are produced in the testes and delivered through the ductus deferens, and the CP is thought to be produced by the renal sexual segment and conveyed through the ureter. We manipulated the delivery of the two fluids separately by surgically ligating the ducts. Ureter‐ligated males did not produce a CP, causing their sperm to leak out of the female's cloaca immediately after copulation. Contrary to previous suggestions, histology revealed sperm distributed throughout the CP. Thus, the CP may function as a spermatophore: the protein matrix contains the sperm, which are liberated gradually as the plug dissolves. The likelihood of a male depositing a CP fell significantly after his second mating, perhaps limiting his reproductive success. These results challenge the hypothesis that passive mate guarding is the primary function of the CP in T. sirtalis parietalis. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2013, 109 , 893–907.