Mating behavior in eight rotifer species: using cross-mating tests to study species boundaries

We characterized the mating behavior of eight freshwater rotifer species from five different families of Monogononts (Asplanchnidae, Brachionidae, Euchlanidae, Lecanidae, and Trichocercidae). Were corded the percentages of male-female encounters resulting in mating attempts and the number of completed copulations. The characterization of mating behavior also included data on: (1) duration of copulation, (2) female and male swimming speed, (3) sites of initial mating attempts, (4) sites of copulation, and (5) sizes of males and females. In the five families investigated, cross-mating tests may be used to assess the ability of males to discriminate conspecifics, establishing limits to gene flow. We also present data on two families, Brachionidae and Lecanidae where we used cross-mating tests to compare discrimination between conspecific females and those of other species. Brachionus calyciflorus males attempted mating with females of the closely related genus Plationus, but did not attempt mating with Keratella Americana females. Males of other three Brachionidae species only attempted mating with nonspecific females. Lecane quadridentata males attempted to mate with females of two different Lecane species besides their own. Percentages of mating attempts and completed copulations were quantified in all crosses. Lower percentages of copulation after a mating attempt were found among brachionids than among non-brachionids. These data demonstrate that male discrimination of females is an effective pre-mating reproductive barrier in several species of Monogonont rotifers. These results, further suggest that investigations of mating behavior are useful for determining species boundaries in rotifers and perhaps other zooplankters. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.