Tactic-dependent plasticity in ejaculate traits in the swordtail Xiphophorus nigrensis.

Biol Lett

Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station C0930, Austin, TX 78712, USA.

Published: October 2011

AI Article Synopsis

  • In species with different mating strategies, small males that sneak copulations tend to produce larger and higher quality ejaculates than larger males defending females or nests.
  • A study on swordtails showed that small males increased their sperm swimming speed when competing against other small males, while larger males did not exhibit this change.
  • The findings indicate that sperm quality varies based on the male's mating role, with smaller males showcasing more adaptability in response to their competitors.

Article Abstract

In species with alternative reproductive tactics, males that sneak copulations often have larger, higher quality ejaculates relative to males that defend females or nest sites. Ejaculate traits can, however, exhibit substantial phenotypic plasticity depending on a male's mating role in sperm competition, which may depend on the tactic of his competitor. We tested whether exposure to males of different tactics affected sperm number and quality in the swordtail Xipophorus nigrensis, a species with small males that sneak copulations and large males that court females. Sperm swimming speed was higher when the perceived competitor was small than when the competitor was large. Plasticity, however, was only exhibited by small males. Sperm number and viability were invariant between social environments. Our results suggest sperm quality is role-dependent and that plastic responses to the social environment can differ between male reproductive tactics.

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Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3169074PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.0286DOI Listing

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