6533b830fe1ef96bd1297c85
RESEARCH PRODUCT
Sperm competition accentuates selection on ejaculate attributes.
Frédéric LacroixGabriele SorciPauline VuarinYves HingratLoïc LesobreMichel Saint Jalmesubject
Male0106 biological sciencesmedia_common.quotation_subjectZoologyBiologyInsemination010603 evolutionary biology01 natural sciencesInseminationCompetition (biology)sperm competition[SDV.BDLR.RS]Life Sciences [q-bio]/Reproductive Biology/Sexual reproductionBirds03 medical and health sciencesmultiple matingHuman fertilizationAnimalssexual selectionSperm competitionSelection (genetic algorithm)030304 developmental biologymedia_commonEvolutionary Biology0303 health sciencesNatural selectionurogenital systemReproductionfertilization successnatural selectionSpermatozoaAgricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)SpermFertilizationSexual selectionFemaleGeneral Agricultural and Biological Sciencesdescription
Ejaculate attributes are important factors driving the probability of fertilizing eggs. When females mate with several males, competition between sperm to fertilize eggs should accentuate selection on ejaculate attributes. We tested this hypothesis in the North African houbara bustard ( Chlamydotis undulata undulata ) by comparing the strength of selection acting on two ejaculate attributes when sperm from single males or sperm from different males were used for insemination. In agreement with the prediction, we found that selection on ejaculate attributes was stronger when sperm of different males competed for egg fertilization. These findings provide the first direct comparison of the strength of selection acting on ejaculate attributes under competitive and non-competitive fertilizations, confirming that sperm competition is a major selective force driving the evolution of ejaculate characteristics.
| year | journal | country | edition | language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019-03-20 |