Effect of density on the reproductive behaviour of the territorial male demoiselle Chromis dispilus (Pisces: Pomacentridae)

Synopsis Characteristics of nest sites and reproductive behaviour of territorial male demoiselles Chromis dispilus were examined at sites of low, medium and high population density in northeastern New Zealand, by use of SCUBA diving and a remote underwater video system. Nest territories were closer together at high density (relative to areas of low population density) and this was accompanied by an increase in the frequency of spawning sequences and territorial defence against conspecifics. Territorial males were more aggressive during periods of display and spawning than during egg guarding. Fish from areas of low density spent more time on courtship display (signal jumps) and territorial defence against fish of other species, than demoiselles from areas of high population density. Territories and nest sizes tended to be largest in areas of medium population density. As in other damselfishes, population density is a major determinant of the frequency and intensity of reproductive behaviours.     

Species boundaries and evolutionary lineages in the blue green damselfishes Chromis viridis and Chromis atripectoralis (Pomacentridae)

The blue green damselfishes were described as a complex of two species ( Chromis viridis and Chromis atripectoralis ), mainly based on the colouration of the pectoral fin base. In this study, the authors analysed the mitochondrial control region of 88 blue green damselfishes from Indonesia, the Philippines, Red Sea and the Great Barrier Reef. The phylogenetic analysis revealed four major monophyletic clades. Two clades included specimens of C. atripectoralis from the Great Barrier Reef and individuals of C. viridis from the Red Sea, respectively. The remaining individuals of C. viridis from Indonesia and the Philippines were grouped into two clades without phylogeographic structure. The obtained results (1) verified that C. viridis and C. atripectoralis are distinct species and (2) revealed three deep evolutionary lineages of C. viridis in the Indo-Malay Archipelago and the Red Sea.     

A review of damsel fishes (Pisces: Pomacentridae) of the genus Chromis from the central and eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean

The specific status of the damsel fish Chromis chromis (L) is discussed and it is suggested that Chromis chromis is retained for Mediterranean specimens and that Chromis lirnbatus is re-introduced for the East Atlantic form. Behavioural and morphological differences which distinguish these two species are given. A key to these and other East Atlantic Chromis is provided, the species are described and their geographical range discussed.     

Reproductive behavior and spawning success of female Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster (Pisces: Pomacentridae) from the Red Sea

The reproductive behavior of female whitebelly damselfish, Amblyglyphidodon leucogaster, was investigated in the Gulf of Aqaba, Red Sea over two breeding seasons. Females were promiscuous, mating with 7–10 different males throughout the season. Females lay eggs in distinct batches, defined as the total number of eggs laid in a day. Generally females deposit a batch of eggs with one male (87.2%) and are capable of laying a new batch every other day. Egg batch size averaged 4009 eggs and females laid from 2 to 22 egg batches per season. The variation in spawning success was not correlated to body size. Females preferred to deposit eggs in nests that already contained early stage eggs (0–2 days old). Within a nest, females chose to lay eggs contiguous to the youngest egg batch, regardless if the nest contained either a single batch or multiple batches of different ages. Female within-nest spawning patterns appear to be a consequence of between nest preferences for nests with young eggs. It is proposed that the strong within-nest preference is a consequence of mate selection where females may use new egg batches as a visual cue as part of a copying style. Such a style may reduce the risk of predation and increase feeding opportunities, because less time is expended in mate selection, which would provide additional resources for egg production and ultimately increase female spawning success over the breeding season. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ontogeny of Spectral Transmission in the Eye of the Tropical Damselfish, Dascyllus albisella (Pomacentridae), and Possible Effects on UV Vision

The visual ecology of fishes places changing demands on their visual system during development. Study of changes in the eye can suggest possible changes in behavioral ecology. The spectral transmission of the pre-retinal ocular media controls the wavelength of light that reaches the retina and is a simply measured indication of their potential visual capabilities. Dascyllus albisella is a coral reef planktivore known to have UV-sensitive retinal cone cells. UV vision probably aids in detection of zooplankton. As a juvenile it is very closely associated with branching coral heads or, more rarely, sea anemones. As it matures, it ventures farther from its coral, above the reef, and eventually assumes a more vagile life style, moving farther and more frequently afield. Their eyes contain short-wavelength blocking compounds in the lens, cornea and humors. As they age, both the lens and the cornea accumulate blocking compounds that increase the 50% transmission cutoff of the whole eye from ca. 330nm in 2–3cm juveniles to ca. 360nm in the largest adults. The cornea increases its cutoff wavelength faster than the lens and becomes the primary filter in large adults. The cutoff of the aqueous and vitreous humors combined does not change with size. The slope of the transmission cutoff curve increases with the size of the fish. The increased blocking of UV radiation is likely not an adaptation to protect the eye from short-wavelength induced damage. Instead it probably reduces the image degradation effects of short-wavelength light in the largest eyes and still allows sufficient penetration of UV radiation to permit functional UV vision.     

Male emergence timing and mating success in the funnel-web spider,Agelena limbata (Araneae: Agelenidae)

Field observations on the relationship between male mating success and emergence timing in the funnel-web spider,Agelena limbata, were conducted.Agelena limbata is an annual species and adult males appear slightly earlier than adult females in July. As males deposit a copulatory plug at the female epigynum after copulation, copulation with virgin females is important to males. The number of copulations in males with virgin females, which strongly correlates with the longevity of males and the number of females that males courted, did not correlate with the emergence timing of males. Early emerged males and females were significantly larger in size than later ones, but the correlation coefficient between the emerged date and the cephalothorax width was not strong. Males that emerged earlier did not have any advantage in copulating with larger and more fecund females. Furthermore, virgin females first copulated on average 7.9 days after their final molt and the mortality rate of adult males increased after the final molt. These factors may favor the smaller degree of protandry in male emergence timing inA. limbata.     

Aggregations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plectropomus areolatus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Epinephelus fuscoguttatus</Emphasis> (groupers,Serranidae) in the Komodo National Park,Indonesia: Monitoring and Implications for Management

Synopsis We identify fishery management implications from a long-term monitoring program focusing on spawning aggregations of high valued reef fish in Komodo National Park (KNP), Eastern Indonesia. Management objectives of KNP are not only to protect biodiversity, but also to conserve spawning stocks of high-valued commercial species for the replenishment of surrounding fishing grounds. We monitored two sites twice monthly over five years for two species of grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus and Plectropomus areolatus. One site had an aggregation of both E. fuscoguttatus and P. areolatus, whereas the other site contained an aggregation of P. areolatus only. Over the five years monitoring period, aggregations typically formed during each full moon between September and February. Additionally, P. areolatus occasionally aggregated during new moons between April and July. We observed spawning only once, but because formation of aggregations were correlated to a higher incidence of behavior and signs indicative of reproduction and because most fish present were adults, it is likely that the formation of aggregations was associated with spawning. Over the five years monitoring period there was a reduction in mean fish size of up to 8 cm for P. areolatus, and a reduction in numbers of aggregating E. fuscoguttatus. Despite limited protection initiated in 2001, both sites are still heavily fished by local artisanal fishers. Because the observed reductions in size and in numbers could be caused by fishing pressure, managers should follow the precautionary principle by putting additional protective management in place. Since both species are relatively long-lived, at least five years of continued monitoring may be necessary to determine the outcome of management intervention. The variability in timing of aggregation in respect to season and moon phase in P. areolatus indicates that long-term monitoring must cover the entire year and both moon phases.     

Starvation and the Mating Success of Wild Male Mediterranean Fruit Flies (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Recent evidence suggests that the nutritional state of male Mediterranean fruit flies, Ceratitis capitata (Wied.) (medfly), is an important influence on various components of their reproductive biology, including mating success. The objective of the present study was to examine experimentally the effect of temporary starvation on the mating success of wild male C. capitata. Males were maintained on protein–sugar or sugar-only diets, and for each diet we compared the mating success of continuously fed males versus males starved for 18 or 24 h immediately before testing. In trials conducted on field-caged, host trees, males starved for 24 h obtained only about half as many matings as fed males for both diets. However, when the starvation period was 18 h, starved males reared on the protein–sugar diet mated significantly less frequently than fed males, whereas starved males reared on sugar mated as often as fed males. Measurements of male pheromone calling and female attraction revealed that reduced mating success likely reflected the decreased signaling activity of starved males.     

蜀柏毒蛾生殖行为及性信息素产生与释放节律

为了探索蜀柏毒蛾Parocneria orienta Chao性信息素产生和释放规律, 为利用性信息素监测和防治蜀柏毒蛾奠定基础, 本研究在野外及室内温度22±1℃、 相对湿度75%~80%、 光周期14L∶10D条件下观察研究了蜀柏毒蛾成虫的羽化、 求偶、 交尾、 产卵行为, 触角电位反应测定处女雌蛾性信息素产生与释放的时辰节律。结果表明： 蜀柏毒蛾羽化行为全天可见, 主要集中在1:00-5:00, 占总羽化量的44.94%, 7:30-11:00进行婚飞和交尾, 交尾高峰期出现在8:30左右, 交配时间少则2 h, 多则8 h, 求偶、 交配均发生在光期。随着日龄的增加, 召唤时间前移并且延长, 1日龄的处女雌蛾交尾时间较短; 雌蛾羽化当天就可交尾, 2日龄雌蛾交尾率最高, 达36.67%。雌蛾分多处产卵, 雌蛾一生最高产卵量达402粒, 最低产卵量为78粒。羽化当天的雌蛾体内性信息素含量较低, 第2天最高, 以后逐日下降; 2日龄蜀柏毒蛾处女雌蛾性信息素的产生量从7:00起逐渐增加, 8:30-9:30时最高, 9:30后逐渐减小。雄蛾对处女雌蛾腺体提取物的触角电位反应在8:30-9:00最强, 说明8:30-9:00是雌蛾产生和释放性信息素的高峰期。蜀柏毒蛾的羽化、 求偶、 交尾及性信息素的产生与释放存在一定的时辰节律, 野外处女雌蛾诱蛾试验证实了性信息素释放与交配行为在时辰节律上的一致性。     

Genetics of behavioural and morphological differences between parapatric subspecies of Chorthippus parallelus (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

The grasshoppers Chorthippus parallelus parallelus and C. p. erythropus form a narrow hybrid zone in the Pyrenees. They differ in several characters of the pattern and structure of male stridulation and in the morphology of the stridulatory file. These characters are considered to be involved in the species' mate recognition system.
Crosses have been made between a Pyrenean C. p. erythropus population and two C. p. parallelus populations, one in the Pyrenees and one in the Massif Central. Reciprocal Fls and backcrosses have been examined for a set of stridulation and associated morphological characters. The crosses confirm that the subspecific differences have a genetic basis and suggest that they are polygenically determined. However the mode of inheritance is not simple. There is evidence for dominance and epistatic effects and for sex-linkage or maternal effects. Genetic correlations exist between some pairs of characters in the backcrosses.
These results are discussed in the context of the hybrid zone and in relation to the general problem of the evolutionary divergence of mate recognition systems.     

Sex in a cyclical parthenogen: mating behaviour of Chydorus sphaericus (Crustacea; Branchiopoda; Anomopoda)

1. We describe the interactions during mating in Chydorus sphaericus, a cyclical parthenogenetic anomopod. Mating behaviour is more complex than previously assumed, with evidence for a diffusible chemical to which males react at the onset of mating, for reproductive isolation, and for postcopulatory mate guarding. 2. During mating, the male and female form a ‘mating cross’ that may be maintained for several hours, while copulation itself typically lasts less than a minute. Furthermore, males invariably attach to the right valve of females. Copulation involves intromission of the postabdomen between the valves, so that the gonopores approach the left ovarium. 3. This behaviour is reflected in the morphology of both sexes: males have a specialised anterior valve margin, postabdomen, first limb and rostrum, under selective pressure for successful mate guarding and copulation, while gamogenetic females have asymmetric ovaries, and a species‐specific setulation of the valves. Males of the structurally related Chydorus ovalis react to the presence of C. sphaericus, but fail to dock to females, suggesting a lock‐antilock element in the reproductive isolation of both species. 4. The morphological and ethological adaptations in C. sphaericus suggest that there is a strong selective pressure on mating behaviour in this cyclical parthenogen and specifically towards the formation of the ‘mating cross’.     

Size Assortative Mating and Reproductive Success of the Funnel-Web Spider, Agelena limbata (Araneae; Agelenidae)

Field observations and laboratory experiments were conducted to assess the relation between male size and reproductive success in the funnel-web spider, Agelena limbata Thorell (Agelenidae), in 2 years. In this species, the body size of males is similar to that of females. In the field, size assortative mating occurred in both years. In 1 year, partial correlation coefficient analysis indicates that male cephalothorax width is a beter predictor of the copulated female cephalothorax width than of the date of pairing. In laboratory experiments, females tended to reject courting males that were smaller in relative body size, and males that were larger in relative body size had greater copulation success. Consequently female rejection of smaller courting males has some contribution to size assortative mating. Since larger females deposited more numerous eggs in the field, larger males are expected to have a higher reproductive success.     

First evidence of multiple paternity in the blue shark (Prionace glauca)

Multiple paternity (MP) is defined as the behaviour in which females successfully mate with multiple males leading to offspring from different sires within the same litter. MP seems to be frequent and an evolutionary advantage in elasmobranchs. Here the authors report for the first time the occurrence of MP in the cosmopolitan blue shark Prionace glauca L. The evidence, gathered via microsatellite genotyping of pregnant females and their embryos, suggests that MP is very frequent in this species. Knowledge of MP in P. glauca should help describe more precisely its reproductive biology and contribute to the management of its populations.     

Female-extended control over their reproductive investment: the role of early mating interactions on oocyte maturation in the terrestrial crustacean Armadillidium vulgare (Latreille, 1804)

Abstract

In the terrestrial crustacean Armadillidium vulgare, the prolonged presence of males along with females is known to boost female reproductive physiology, and the so-called ‘male-effect’ was best characterized by a significant shortening of the pre-parturial intermoult (PPI) during which oocyte maturation spontaneously takes place. Continuous presence of a male over that period can speed up vitellogenesis and the moulting cycle, so to reduce female PPI by 15–20 days (shortening of 30–40%, in comparison to females reared with other females or in isolation, respectively). In the last investigation on the subject, we revealed that sexual interactions may start much sooner than previously thought in this species, and suggested that the observed ‘male-effect’ may likely result from early mating stimulations. Here we tested the specific effect of controlled mating interactions (one or two mating events at different times) on female PPI. We revealed that male presence for the time (about 2 h) that allowed a single mating to occur was enough to reduce the female intermoult by about 10 days (shortening of 19%, in comparison to females reared in similar conditions but in the absence of a mating interaction). Moreover, results indicate that the earlier and longer the copulations, the stronger the ‘male-effect’. Altogether, the data support the conclusion that A. vulgare females are adjust their reproductive physiology according to the presence/absence and the intensity of male mating stimuli. We place the findings in a broader ecological context, revise the so far prevailing view on the ‘male-effect’, and stress its possible significance in relation to the occurrence of feminising bacteria in this and other terrestrial isopod species.     

Anatomy and ultrastructure of the reproductive organs in Dactylopodola typhle (Gastrotricha: Macrodasyida) and their possible functions in sperm transfer

Abstract. The reproductive anatomy of gastrotrichs is well known for several species, especially for the marine taxon Macrodasyida. However, there is little information on the reproductive organs and the modes of mating and sperm transfer in putative basal taxa, which is necessary for accurate reconstruction of the ground pattern of the Gastrotricha. We present the first detailed morphological investigation of the reproductive system of a putative basal gastrotrich, Dactylopodola typhle , using transmission and scanning electron microscopy, histology, and microscopic observations of living specimens. Dactylopodola typhle is a hermaphrodite that possesses paired female and male gonads, an unpaired uterus with an outlet channel that we call the cervix, and an additional accessory reproductive organ, the so-called caudal organ. We hypothesize that the hollow, secretory caudal organ serves for picking up autospermatozoa (self-sperm), for spermatophore formation, and finally for transferring the autospermatophore to a mating partner. The allospermatophore (foreign spermatophore) is stored within the uterus where fertilization occurs. We think that the mature and fertilized egg is released through the cervix and the dorsolateral female gonopore, and not by rupture of the body wall. Based on the morphology, we provide a plausible hypothesis for spermatophore formation and transfer in D. typhle . Preliminary phylogenetic considerations indicate that the stem species of Macrodasyida, perhaps that of all Gastrotricha, had paired ovaries and paired testes, an unpaired uterus, and only one accessory reproductive organ.