The evolution of sperm-allocation strategies and the degree of sperm competition

The prevailing viewpoint in the study of sperm competition is that male sperm-allocation strategies evolve in response to the degree of sperm competition an ejaculate can expect to experience within a given mating. If males cannot assess the degree of sperm competition their ejaculate will face and/or they are unable to facultatively adjust sperm investment in response to perceived levels of competition, high sperm allocation (per mating) is predicted to evolve in the context of high sperm competition. An implicit assumption of the framework used to derive this result is that the degree of sperm competition is unaffected by changes in sperm-allocation strategies. We present theory based on an alternative perspective, in which the degree of sperm competition and the sperm-allocation strategy are coupled traits that coevolve together. Our rationale is that the pattern of sperm allocation in the population will, in part, determine the level of sperm competition by affecting the number of ejaculates per female in the population. In this setting, evolution in sperm-allocation strategies is driven by changes in underlying environmental parameters that influence both the degree of sperm competition and sperm allocation. This change in perspective leads to predictions that are qualitatively different from those of previous theory.     

Sperm competition and the coevolution of pre‐ and postcopulatory traits: Weapons evolve faster than testes among onthophagine dung beetles

Reproductive competition generates episodes of both pre‐ and postcopulatory sexual selection. Theoretical models of sperm competition predict that as the fitness gains from expenditure on the weapons of male combat increase, males should increase their expenditure on weapons and decrease their expenditure on traits that contribute to competitive fertilization success. Although traits subject to sexual selection are known to have accelerated evolutionary rates of phenotypic divergence, it is not known whether the competing demands of investment into pre‐ and postcopulatory traits affect their relative rates of evolutionary divergence. We use a comparative approach to estimate the rates of divergence in pre‐ and postcopulatory traits among onthophagine dung beetles. Weapons evolved faster than body size while testes mass and sperm length evolved more slowly than body size, suggesting that precopulatory competition is the stronger episode of sexual selection acting on these beetles. Although horns evolved faster than testes, evolutionary increases in horn length were not associated with evolutionary reductions in testes mass. Our data for onthophagines support the notion that in taxa where males are unable to monopolize paternity, expenditure on both weapons and testes should both be favored.     

Sperm competition and the evolution of testes size in birds

Comparative analyses suggest that a variety of ecological and behavioural factors contribute to the tremendous variability in extrapair mating among birds. In an analysis of 1010 species of birds, we examined several ecological and behavioural factors in relation to testes size; an index of sperm competition and the extent of extrapair mating. In univariate and multivariate analyses, testes size was significantly larger in species that breed colonially than in species that breed solitarily, suggesting that higher breeding density is associated with greater sperm competition. After controlling for phylogenetic effects and other ecological variables, testes size was also larger in taxa that did not participate in feeding their offspring. In analyses of both the raw species data and phylogenetically independent contrasts, monogamous taxa had smaller testes than taxa with multiple social mates, and testes size tended to increase with clutch size, which suggests that sperm depletion may play a role in the evolution of testes size. Our results suggest that traditional ecological and behavioural variables, such as social mating system, breeding density and male parental care can account for a significant portion of the variation in sperm competition in birds.     

小翅稻蝗的精子竞争及交配行为的适应意义

许多昆虫有多次交配行为 ,因多次交配而引起不同雄虫的精子竞争 ,提供雌虫一种有效的性选择方式。小翅稻蝗 (Oxyayezoensis Shiraki)具多次交配行为 ,雌雄交配时间长 ,且交配后常伴有长时间的抱对行为。利用近缘种的种间交配 ,对小翅稻蝗的精子竞争、交配后抱对行为的适应意义进行了探讨。结果表明 ,小翅稻蝗的 P2 值 (最后交配雄虫子代的比例 )达 94 .3%±5 .3% ,说明最后交配雄虫的精子优先用于卵子的受精 ,交配时存在着精子置换。长时间的交配后抱对行为是为了阻止雌虫与不同雄虫个体的再交配 ,保护精子免被置换。     

Sperm competition in Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae): a comparison of two methods used to estimate paternity

Abstract.

• 1 This study investigates sperm competition in Cullosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae), and is the first study to make a direct, controlled comparison of the sterile male and genetic marker techniques to estimate sperm precedence.
• 2 P₂ values (the proportion of offspring fathered by the second male) obtained from the two methods were similar: P₂ (sterile male) = 0.82, P₂ (genetic marker) = 0.85. Both methods are therefore suitable for studying sperm precedence if the appropriate correction factors are applied.
• 3 The importance of general fertilization ability, differential fertilizing capacity and differential zygote mortality are examined and discussed.

     

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.     

Sperm competition mechanisms,confidence of paternity,and the evolution of paternal care in the golden egg bug (Phyllomorpha laciniata)

Theoretical models predict how paternal effort should vary depending on confidence of paternity and on the trade-offs between present and future reproduction. In this study we examine patterns of sperm precedence in Phyllomorpha laciniata and how confidence of paternity influences the willingness of males to carry eggs. Female golden egg bugs show a flexible pattern of oviposition behavior, which results in some eggs being carried by adults (mainly males) and some being laid on plants, where mortality rates are very high. Adults are more vulnerable to predators when carrying eggs; thus, it has been suggested that males should only accept eggs if there are chances that at least some of the eggs will be their true genetic offspring. We determined the confidence of paternity for naturally occurring individuals and its variation with the time. Paternity of eggs fertilized by the last males to mate with females previously mated in the field has been determined using amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). The exclusion probability was 98%, showing that AFLP markers are suitable for paternity assignment. Sperm mixing seems the most likely mechanism of sperm competition, because the last male to copulate with field females sires an average of 43% of the eggs laid during the next five days. More importantly, the proportion of eggs sired does not change significantly during that period. We argue that intermediate levels of paternity can select for paternal care in this system because: (1) benefits of care in terms of offspring survival are very high; (2) males have nothing to gain from decreasing their parental effort in a given reproductive event because sperm mixing makes it difficult for males to reach high paternity levels and males are left with no cues to assess paternity; (3) males cannot chose to care for their offspring exclusively because they can neither discriminate their own eggs, nor can they predict when their own eggs will be produced; and (4) males suffer no loss of further matings with other females when they carry eggs. Thus, our findings do not support the traditional view that paternal investment is expected to arise only in species where confidence of paternity is high. The results suggest that females maximize the chances that several males will accept eggs at different times by promoting a mechanism of sperm mixing that ensures that all males that have copulated with a female have some chance of fathering offspring, that this probability remains constant with time, and that males have no cues as to when their own offspring will be produced.     

Sperm competition in a fish with external fertilization: the contribution of sperm number, speed and length

The role of sperm number and quality in male competitiveness was investigated using in vitro fertilization experiments with bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Bluegill males use one of three mating tactics: 'sneakers', which streak spawn; 'satellites', which mimic females; and 'parentals', which are territorial. The in vitro experiments mimicked natural spawning by incorporating these males' mean proximity to eggs and timing of sperm release. Using a maximum-likelihood algorithm, raffle equations were fit to paternity data, which revealed a strong effect of sperm number on male competitiveness. There was no difference in sperm flagellum length, curvilinear swim speed or path linearity among the three male mating types, and these traits did not explain any additional variation in male competitiveness. It was estimated that, given closer proximity to eggs, satellites need release only 0.34 times as many sperm as parentals to obtain equal paternity. Despite being farther from the eggs and releasing sperm about half a second after parentals, sneakers need only release 0.58 times as many sperm as parentals to obtain equal paternity. Thus, the increased competitiveness of sneakers' sperm must come from a component of sperm quality other than speed or length.     

Sperm storage and use in polyandrous females of the globally invasive fruitfly, Ceratitis capitata

The medfly, Ceratitis capitata, is an invasive species in which polyandry, associated with sperm precedence, is a common behaviour in the wild. In this species, characterized by internal fertilization, we disclose how the sperm from two males are stored in the female storage organs and how they are used in terms of paternity outcome. The experiments were designed to furnish comparable and unbiased estimates of sperm numbers and progeny in twice-mated females. Results are incorporated in a model through which it is possible to relate the amount of stored sperm with the progeny of twice-mated females. The results show that polyandrous medfly females conserve equal amounts of sperm from the two males to fertilize their eggs. However, we observed a clear advantage of the second male's sperm in siring progeny, which interestingly decreases in favor of the first male as ovipositions progress. The results enable us to exclude differential sperm mortality and suggest that it is the mechanics governing the storage organs which causes the initial, but decreasing second male sperm precedence during the female reproductive life. These outcomes allow us to correlate sperm use in polyandrous females with the mating strategies and invasiveness of this fly.     

Synthesis, structure and properties of TTF-carboxylate bridged paddlewheel dirhodium complexes, Rh2(BuCO2)3(TTFCO2) and Rh2(BuCO2)2(TTFCO2)2

Reaction of tetrathiafulvalene carboxylic acid (TTFCO₂H) with paddlewheel dirhodium complex Rh₂(Bu^tCO₂)₄ yielded TTFCO₂-bridged complexes Rh₂(Bu^tCO₂)₃(TTFCO₂) (1) and cis- and trans-Rh₂(Bu^tCO₂)₂(TTFCO₂)₂ (cis- and trans-2). Their triethylamine adducts [1(NEt₃)₂] and cis-[2(NEt₃)₂] were purified and isolated with chromatographic separation, and characterized with single crystal X-ray analysis. Trans-[2(NEt₃)₂] is not completely separated from a mixture of cis- and trans-[2(NEt₃)₂], but its single crystals were obtained from a solution of the mixture. A three-step quasi-reversible oxidation process was observed for 1 in MeCN. The first two steps correspond to the oxidation of the TTFCO₂ moiety and the last one is the oxidation of the Rh₂ core. The oxidation of cis-2 is observed as a two-step process with very similar E_1/2 values to those of the first two processes for 1. Both 1⁺ and cis-2²⁺ in MeCN at room temperature show isotropic ESR spectra with a g value of 2.008 and a_H = 0.135 mT for two equivalent H atoms and a_H = 0.068 mT for one H atom. The redox and ESR data of cis-2 suggest that the intramolecular interaction between the TTF moieties is very small.     

Cobalt(II) and nickel(II) coordination polymers constructed from P,P′-diphenylmethylenediphosphinic acid (H2pcp) and 4,4′-bipyridine (bipy): Structural isomerism in [Co(pcp)(bipy)0.5(H2O)2]

The P,P′diphenylmethylenediphosphinic acid (H₂pcp) reacts with Co(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O and 4,4′-bipyridine to give a mixture of two polymeric isomers of formula [Co(pcp)(bipy)_0.5(H₂O)₂], {red (1) and pink (2)} and the new violet hybrid [Co(Hpcp)₂] (3). The pure red and violet species have been obtained by the reaction of H₂pcp with Co(CH₃COO)₂ · 4H₂O and bipy or with Co(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O, respectively. The analogous reaction of Ni(CH₃COO)₂ · 4H₂O or Ni(ClO₄)₂ · 6H₂O with H₂pcp and bipy affords only the [Ni(pcp)(bipy)_0.5(H₂O)₂] species (4). The two cobalt isomers present different structural arrangements. Whereas the red isomer (1) shows an undulated 2D layered structure, the pink one (2) forms an infinite monodimensional strand. Both the architectures extend to higher dimensions through hydrogen bonding interactions. The nickel derivative is isomorphous with the red cobalt isomer. The violet [Co(Hpcp)₂] (3), which is isomorphous with the complexes of the reported series [M(Hpcp)₂], M = Ca(II), Mg(II), presents a monodimensional polymeric structure. Compounds 1 and 4 show a very similar thermal behaviour, the two water molecules being lost in the temperature range 25-150 and 160-320 °C, respectively. Temperature dependent X-ray powder diffractometry (TDXD) has been performed on compound 1 in order to follow the structural transformations that occur during the heating process.     

Effect of host‐cocoon mass on adult size in the secondary hyperparasitoid wasp,Pteromalus semotus (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)

Abstract Parasitoids have long proven to be model organisms in studying resource‐related constraints on immature development. Here we examine the relationship between host cocoon (= pupal) size in the gregarious endoparasitoid wasp, Cotesia glomerata, and development time and adult size in the solitary idiobiont hyperparasitoid, Pteromalus semotus. Little is known about the biology or ecology of this ecto‐hyperparasitoid species, although it is one of the major secondary hyperparasitoids of C. glomerata. The size of the adult wasp covaried with the size of the host cocoon at parasitism. Moreover, female wasps were larger than male wasps for a given cocoon size. Adult wasps have remarkably long life‐spans, 3 months on average. Longevity did not significantly differ with sex. We also examined how larvae of P. semotus exclude other potential competitors. P. semotus is protandrous, with females taking significantly longer to complete their development than males. In experiments where several eggs of P. semotus were placed on individual pupae of C. glomerata, newly hatched hyperparasitoid larvae moved rapidly over the surface of the host and destroyed the eggs of any conspecifics by biting them before they would initiate feeding on host tissues. Our results are discussed in relation to those with other studies with solitary ichneumonid idiobiont hyperparasitoids of C. glomerata.     

Supramolecular assemblies of new 2-D complexes: Syntheses, crystal structures, spectroscopic and magnetic properties of {[MnAu2(CN)4(NITpPy)2(H2O)2]}n and {[Co(N(CN)2)2(NITpPy)2(H2O)2]}n

Two new complexes, {[MnAu₂(CN)₄(NITpPy)₂(H₂O)₂]}_n (1) and {[Co(N(CN)₂)₂(NITpPy)₂(H₂O)₂]}_n (2), have been synthesized and characterized. The single-crystal X-ray analysis for the complexes 1 and 2 demonstrates that each M(II) (M = Mn or Co) ion assumes a distorted octahedral MN₄O₂ coordination polyhedron. Four nitrogen atoms come from the cyanide groups and the pyridyl rings in a common plane, and two oxygen atoms come from the H₂O molecules in trans-positions. The structures of complexes 1 and 2 illustrate that aurophilicity and/or hydrogen bonding interactions play important roles in increasing dimensionality. Magnetic investigations on complexes 1 and 2 show the presence of weak antiferromagnetic interactions.     

Last-Male Sperm Priority and the Mating System of the Haplogyne Spider Tetragnatha extensa (Araneae: Tetragnathidae)

Austad (1984) proposed a relation between female spermathecal anatomy and sperm priority, such that in a haplogyne spider with cul-de-sac spermathecae a last-male sperm priority was expected. A laboratory experiment using both normal and irradiated males (sterile-male technique) confirmed this prediction; last males fertilized ca. 70% of eggs in the first egg sac of double-mated females. Mating series with up to four males indicate an antichronological order of male success. Thus, when females laid multiple egg sacs, earlier males fertilized an increasing proportion of eggs in successive sacs. In nature this effect may be counteracted by the fact that females remate between sacs. These statistical patterns emerged in spite of considerable randomness in paternity order. Field observations showed that males survived as long as females (constant sex ratio throughout the breeding season), an unusual feature for a spider population. Mating frequency could not be determined in the field, but laboratory trials indicated that encounters between the sexes usually resulted in immediate copulation. No guarding of females or serious fights between males were observed. Males were observed to steal prey from females and to prey on subadult females. High feeding rates and lack of aggressiveness in males are tactics that secure survival into the egg-laying period. However males also mated frequently early in the maturity season; this is seen as a tactic to maximize the total amount of sperm surviving to the time of fertilization. Thus, survival and multiple matings are the key factors for male success.     

Spectral properties and bio-activity of copper(II) clofibriates, part III: crystal structure of Cu(clofibriate)2(2-pyridylmethanol)2, Cu(clofibriate)2(4-pyridylmethanol)2(H2O) dihydrate, and Cu2(clofibriate)4(N,N-diethylnicotinamide)2

New copper(II) clofibriates (clof, {2-(4-chlorophenoxy)-2-methylpropionic or 2-(4-chlorophenoxy)isobutyric acid}) of composition Cu(clof)₂L₂ (where L=2-pyridylmethanol (2-pymeth) (1), N-methylnicotinamide (Menia) (4), N,N-diethylnicotinamide (Et₂nia) (5), isonicotinamide (isonia) (7) or methyl-3-pyridylcarbamate (mpc) (8)), [Cu(clof)₂(4-pymeth)₂(H₂O)] · 2H₂O (4-pymeth=4-pyridylmethanol) (2 · 2H₂O) and Cu(clof)₂L (where L=4-pymeth (3) or Et₂nia (6)) have been prepared and spectroscopically characterized. All the Cu(clof)₂L₂ compounds seem to possess distorted octahedral copper(II) stereochemistry with differing tetragonal distortions. An X-ray analysis of 1 was carried out and it featured a tetragonal-bipyramidal geometry around the copper(II) atom. X-ray analysis of 2 · 2H₂O featured a square-pyramidal geometry around copper(II) atom. Both the Cu(clof)₂L compounds seem to consist of a binuclear unit of tetracarboxylate type bridging. An X-ray analysis of 6 revealed typical binuclear paddle-wheel type structure, consisting of two copper(II) atoms in square-pyramidal geometry bridged by four carboxylate anions in the xy-plane. All complexes under study were characterized by EPR and electronic spectroscopy. The antimicrobial effects have been tested on various strains of bacteria, yeasts and filamentous fungi.     

Syntheses and characterization of the W(II) and W(III) N2 complexes, [WCl2(PMe3)3]2N2 and [WCl3(PMe3)2]2N2

Refluxing WCl₄(PMe₃)₃ under a nitrogen atmosphere in the presence of two equivalents of sodium amalgam leads to a reduction to the W(II) complex [cis,mer-WCl₂(PMe₃)₃]₂N₂ (1), which can be converted to [mer,trans-WCl₃(PMe₃)₂]₂N₂ (2) via appropriate oxidation/chlorination. Structural data have been obtained for both complexes, and demonstrate significantly increased steric crowding in 1 due to PMe₃/PMe₃ interactions. The N-N bond distances in the two compounds are similar, at 1.279(4) and 1.243(18) Å, respectively.     

Crystal structures of MoCl2(O)(O2)(OPMePh2)2 and mixtures of MoCl2(O2)(OPPh3)2 and MoCl2(O)(O2)(OPPh3)2: allylic alcohol isomerization studies using MoCl2(O)(O2)(OPMePh2)2

Adding one equivalent of H₂O₂ to compounds of stoichiometry MoCl₂(O)₂(OPR₃)₂, OPR₃ = OPMePh₂ or OPPh₃, leads to the formation of oxo-peroxo compounds MoCl₂(O)(O₂)(OPR₃)₂. The compound MoCl₂(O)(O₂)(OPMePh₂)₂ crystallized with an unequal disorder, 63%:37%, between the oxo and peroxo ligands, as verified by single-crystal X-ray diffractometry, and can be isolated in reasonable yields. MoCl₂(O)(O₂)(OPPh₃)₂, was not isolated in pure form, co-crystallized with MoCl₂(O)₂(OPPh₃)₂ in two ratios, 18%:82% and 12%:88%, respectively, and did not contain any disorder in the arrangement of the oxo and peroxo groups. These complexes accomplish the isomerization of various allylic alcohols. A mechanism of this reaction has been constructed based on ¹⁸O isotopic studies and involves exchange between the alcohol and metal bonded O atoms.