Dynamics of sperm storage in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans |
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Authors: | M D LÓPEZ-LEÓN M C PARDO J CABRERO J P M CAMACHO |
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Institution: | Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Granada, Spain |
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Abstract: | Abstract. Sperm storage duration in the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans Charpentier (Orthoptera, Acrididae) was found to be 58.5 days but with a wide between-female variation (from 26 to 113 days). One copulation was enough to fertilize two to eight egg-pods and to produce 130 eggs (28–313) and 119 embryos (28–290), on average. Sperm availability, however, decreased progressively with time, so that the majority of females spent a long final period of their lives without laying any pod. Finally, sperm storage duration was positively correlated with clutch size and total production of eggs and embryos. |
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Keywords: | Sperm storage duration multiple mating clutch size grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans |
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