The central question addressed by most studies of sperm competition is: 'what determines which male's are used at fertilization?' Empirical and theoretical that address this have traditionally focused on adaptations enhance male fertilization success while treating the female as a receptacle in is played out. Here we provide evidence suggests genotype strongly influences outcome competition. When two males proportion offspring fathered second to mate (P2) was found be highly repeatable only...

The extent to which mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation is involved in adaptive evolutionary change currently being reevaluated. In particular, emerging evidence suggests that mtDNA genes coevolve with the nuclear they interact form energy producing enzyme complexes mitochondria. This intergenomic epistasis between and may affect whole-organism metabolic phenotypes. Here, we use crossed combinations of lineages seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus assay rate under two different temperature...

Abstract The outcome of post‐copulatory sexual selection is determined by a complex set interactions between the primary reproductive traits two or more males and their with female. Recently, number studies have shown both females express phenotypic plasticity in response to thermal environment experienced during ontogeny. However, how these affects dynamics sperm competition remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate testes size, size developmental temperature bruchid beetle...

Abstract Drosophila suzukii is a pest of soft and stone fruits that attracted to yeast volatile metabolites. has distinct summer winter morphs which are found in different habitats. Complex communities yeasts likely differ between habitats thus we hypothesized their attraction volatiles from species combinations species. We presented D. with isolation combinations, as either post-culture mixes or co-cultured, measured activity the flies laboratory choice tests Locomotor Activity Monitor...

Postcopulatory sexual selection theory has come a long way since the evolutionary implications of sperm competition were first spelled out by Parker (1970). However, one most enduring questions remains: why do females copulate with multiple males? Here we show that copulating males lay more eggs than those repeatedly same male. We also egg-to-adult survival to be variable when multiply different and less they This supports notion may depend on genetic compatibility females. pre-adult was...

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

Antagonistic sexual coevolution stems from the notion that male and female interests over reproduction are in conflict. Such conflicts appear to be particularly obvious when genital armature inflicts damage reproductive tract resulting reduced longevity. However, studies of mating frequency, longevity difficult interpret because females not only sustain more damage, but also receive seminal fluid they engage multiple copulations. Here, we attempt disentangle effects transfer on beetle...

Abstract Here we test the hypothesis that relationship between egg mass at oviposition (IEM) and incubation period ( I p ) is a function of taxonomic relatedness bird reptile species. Allometric relationships IEM were examined for 1525 species 201 reptilian Treating as independent data revealed allometric exponent linking to be 0.234 birds 0.138 reptiles. However, ANCOVA within both reptiles elevation slope regression lines dependent on order studied, indicating exponents confounded by...

The evolutionary factors affecting testis size are well documented, with sperm competition being of major importance. However, the length not understood; there no clear theoretical predictions and empirical evidence is inconsistent. Recently, maternal effects have been implicated in variation, a finding that may offer insights into its evolution. We investigated potential proximate microevolutionary influencing bruchid beetle Callosobruchus maculatus using combined approach an artificial...

Abstract. By examining potential sources of intraspecific variation in sperm precedence, the underlying mechanisms competition Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae) were investigated. The extent precedence was not related to either copulatory behaviour or body size (male and female). increased during egg‐laying period, suggesting that stratification within spermatheca is mechanism precedence. Direct removal from female's reproductive tract observed. Four other (not mutually...

Conflicts of interest between mates can promote the evolution male traits that reduce female fitness and drive coevolution sexes. The rate adaptation depends on intensity selection its efficiency, which drift genetic variability. This leads to largely untested prediction coevolutionary adaptations such as those driven by sexual conflict should evolve faster in large populations. We tested this using bruchid beetle Callosobruchus maculatus, a species where harm inflicted males is well...

Abstract Drosophila suzukii flies cause economic losses to fruit crops globally. Previous work shows various species are attracted volatile metabolites produced by individual associated yeast isolates, but fruits naturally harbour a rich diversity of species. Here, we report the relative attractiveness D. yeasts presented individually or in combinations using laboratory preference tests and field trapping data. Laboratory trials revealed four 12 single isolates were attractive , which...

Abstract Prezygotic reproductive isolation has traditionally been studied from a precopulatory perspective even though postcopulatory events have known to influence success at fertilization. Postcopulatory, prezygotic (gametic isolation) received relatively little attention mainly because the focus of research on that occur either earlier (pre‐mating) or later (postzygotic) in chain lead successful reproduction. However, recent evidence an array taxa sea urchins beetles reveals...

Sexual conflict over reproductive investment can lead to sexually antagonistic coevolution and isolation. It has been suggested that, unlike most models of allopatric speciation, the evolution isolation through will occur faster in large populations as these harbour greater levels standing genetic variation, receive larger numbers mutations experience more intense sexual selection. We tested this bruchid beetle (Callosobruchus maculatus) by manipulating population size variability replicated...

Choice feeding is often used to investigate an animal's nutritional requirements and dietary preferences. A problem with this approach that animals long gut transit times, such as the horse, may find it difficult associate a chosen food its consequence when alternative foods are presented simultaneously. One solution present singly for period of time before simultaneous choice session allow development learned associations. This method was determine if horse's voluntary intake behavior...

Males harm females during mating in a range of species. This is thought to evolve because it directly or indirectly beneficial the male, despite being costly his mate. The resulting sexually antagonistic selection can cause sexual arms races. For co-evolution occur, there must be genetic variation for traits involved female harming and susceptibility harm, but even then intersexual correlations could facilitate impede co-evolution. Male Callosobruchus maculatus their mates copulation by...

Conspecific sperm precedence (CSP) has been identified as an important post-copulatory, pre-zygotic mechanism that can act to reduce gene flow between populations. The evolution of CSP is thought have arisen a by-product male and female coevolution in response intraspecific post-copulatory sexual selection. However, little known about the mechanisms generate CSP. When Callosobruchus subinnotatus females copulate with both C. maculatus males, regardless mating order, majority eggs are...

Abstract Acoustic telemetry was used to investigate the longitudinal and lateral movements distribution of adult common bream, Abramis brama (L.), over 43 months in a heavily modified lowland river eastern England. A positive relationship between activity temperature found, with bream moving greater cumulative distances during warmer distributed proportion main channel. The occupancy tributaries related temperature, entering shallow rising temperatures spring, whilst deeper, slow‐flowing...

Abstract In both plants and animals, male gametogenesis is particularly sensitive to heat stress, the extent that a single hot or cold day can compromise crop productivity population persistence. stress during development impact male's ability secure copulations and/or his post‐copulatory fertility. Despite such observations, relatively few studies have examined consequences of developmental temperature on reproductive behaviour physiology individuals. Here, we report for first time effects...