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1.
Sperm motility and longevity in the giant cuttlefish, Sepia apama (Mollusca: Cephalopoda) 总被引:1,自引:1,他引:1
The sperm kinetics and fertilisation literature in marine invertebrates is heavily biased toward free-spawning species. Nonetheless,
many species (e.g. cephalopods) transfer and/or fertilise gametes in confined external spaces or internally, creating very
different selective pressures on sperm storage, sperm longevity and hence sperm competition. Here we report the results of
an investigation into the effects of sperm age, water temperature and sperm concentration on sperm motility in the giant cuttlefish
(Sepia apama). Significant positive correlations were found between percent motility and sperm concentration, and between sperm motile
speed and sperm concentration. Mean percent motility of cuttlefish sperm suspension was still 9% eight hours after being released
from the spermatophore and diluted into filtered seawater at 12°C (ambient field temperature during the spawning season).
Sperm resuspended from spermatangia taken from (mated) females in the field were motile for up to 100 hours. When spermatophores
were stored at 4°C motility was still observed in resuspended sperm after two months. Our results show that spermatangia and
spermatophores can retain and release live sperm for long periods. The observed longevity of sperm in S. apama greatly increases the potential for sperm competition in this species. 相似文献
2.
Contrary to vertebrates, sperm production in insects may bear considerable costs for males. This is especially true in species
that donate spermatophores containing sperm and nutrient-rich accessory gland products like in butterflies. Hence, spermatophores
at first and subsequent copulations can differ in a quantitative and qualitative way. Such effects have particularly been
shown in polyandrous species providing large spermatophores. Here we experimentally tested the effect of male mating status
(virgin male vs recently mated male) on copulation duration, spermatophore size and females’ fitness components in a monandrous
butterfly Pararge aegeria that typically donates small spermatophores. Copulations with non-virgin males lasted on average five times longer than that
with virgin males and resulted in a spermatophore which was on average three times smaller. Number of eggs laid and female
life span were not affected by the mating status treatment, but there was a significant effect on the number of living caterpillars
a female produced, as copulations with virgin males resulted in higher numbers of larval offspring. Interestingly, the difference
in spermatophore mass at the first and the second copulation increased with male body size. This suggests differential spermatophore
allocation decisions among males of different size. Consequences for females and potential mechanisms influencing female fitness
components are discussed. Given the small absolute size of spermatophores in P. aegeria, components other than consumable nutrients (perhaps hormones) should cause the observed effects. 相似文献
3.
In many animal species, male and female interests often differ when it comes to decisions over mating and fertilization. However, it is intrinsically difficult to determine the degree to which males and females exert control over the various processes that determine the outcome of reproductive interactions, and thus to predict how such conflicts will be resolved. For example, in species where sperm are transferred to females via a spermatophore or other external sperm packaging device, it is unclear which sex determines subsequent sperm transfer dynamics to the female reproductive tract. To address this question, we used a reciprocal cross experimental design in a bushcricket species (Poecilimon veluchianus) comprising two subspecies differing in the dynamics of sperm transfer. The reciprocal crosses show that in these bushcrickets the timing of sperm transfer in inter-subspecies crosses closely resemble those typical of the subspecies of the male partner, indicating that it is the properties of the spermatophore rather than its handling by the female that determine sperm transfer dynamics. There was neither a significant female influence nor any indication of an interaction between males and females with regard to the number of sperm transferred after a set interval. Our study suggests that males rather than females appear to control the timing of the insemination process in this species. 相似文献
4.
The evolution of a mating system, and specifically mating frequency, is dependent on the costs and benefits to both sexes of mating once or several times. In butterflies, males transfer a spermatophore that contains both sperm and accessory gland products. Accessory gland substances contain nutrients which, in some species, females use to increase their reproductive output and longevity. Nutrients contained in these packaged ejaculates represent investment by males in reproduction. Consequently, the nutritional composition of spermatophores may vary depending on the mating system. There are two lines of arguments concerning the evolution of the nutrient content of ejaculates. One hypothesis argues that male nuptial gifts evolved in the context of certainty of paternity and ease of finding mates; thus spermatophores of polyandrous males (with lower certainty of paternity and greater ease of finding mates) should contain less protein than those of monandrous males, since more spermatophores are produced on average. The other hypothesis argues that polyandry evolved in the context of maximization of male transfer of nutrients to females, and hence spermatophores of polyandrous males should contain more protein than those of monandrous males. In an attempt to distinguish between these two hypotheses, we determined how protein content of ejaculates varied with the degree of polyandry in nine species of pierid and two species of satyrid butterflies. We found that both relative ejaculate mass and protein content increased with the degree of polyandry. Hence our results are consistent with the view that polyandry has evolved in the context of male transfer of nutrients to females, and provides another example of a male adaptation to multiple mating in butterflies. 相似文献
5.
Sperm are disseminated in vermetid gastropods by spermatophores released freely into the ocean. Spermatophores from 7 species of vermetids, including 3 genera, were obtained from reproductively active males or offshore plankton tows or both. Each vermetid spermatophore consists of a sperm mass containing highly ordered eupyrene and apyrene sperm enveloped concentrically by 3 transparent capsules. Generic and specific differences occur in the size, shape and composition of the sperm mass and capsule. The complexly layered spermatophore is assembled in the male reproductive tract, which includes and elaborate set of pallial reproductive glands for capsule production. Spermatophores are liberated by males into the seawater, and there dispersed by water movements. Some of these drifting spermatophores become entangled in the mucous feeding nets of female vermetids and are then activated by feeding movements. Activation of the complex ejaculatory apparatus appears to result from an interplay of osmotic and mechanical mechanisms. Spermatophores remain viable in the laboratory for 12 to 20 h after release from the male; after 20 h, the sperm mass breaks down and the sperm become immotile. Plankton tows capture some spermatophores with motile sperm and others in which sperm are no longer active. Evolutionary implications of the relationship between production of pelagic spermatophores, sessile mode of life and other aspects of vermetid biology are discussed. 相似文献
6.
Lesley Vande Velde Pauline Silvestre David Damiens Hans Van Dyck 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》2012,66(3):347-359
Male reproductive investment may signify a considerable cost to male insects that produce sperm packages or spermatophores.
Male butterflies allocate much of their active time budget to mate location, and they may adopt different behavioural strategies
to do so. In the speckled wood butterfly (Pararge aegeria L.), males adopt either a territorial wait-and-fight strategy (territorial perching) or a fly-and-search strategy in wider
areas (patrolling). In this study, we analysed the impact of male age, male size and male behaviour (i.e. behavioural strategies
and levels of activity) on spermatophore investment (i.e. spermatophore mass, number of eupyrene sperm bundles). As predicted,
reproductive investment increased with male age and size. Nevertheless, the increase of spermatophore mass with age and the
number of eupyrene sperm bundles (i.e. fertile sperm) was stronger in low-activity males compared to active flying males.
This suggests that flight activity has a negative impact on male reproductive investment. However, males that were forced
to fly in the laboratory produced more eupyrene sperm bundles than resting males. We discuss the potential effects of male–male
competition and predation risk on current versus future male reproduction. Males adopting different mate-locating strategies
(perching and patrolling) in outdoor cages did not differ in spermatophore traits as was predicted from their very different
flight performances. Copulations of territorial perching males took somewhat longer than copulations with non-perching males.
There was a significant family effect of spermatophore size and of the expression of male mate-locating strategies suggesting
heritable variation. Female traits (i.e. age and size) did not strongly affect spermatophore production. We discuss the results
relative to both ultimate and proximate explanations of the complex relationships between butterfly activity, behavioural
strategies, age and spermatophore production. 相似文献
7.
Kathryn B. McNamara Therésa M. Jones Mark A. Elgar 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》2007,61(8):1177-1184
Male copulation experience may have a profound impact on female reproductive success if male reproductive investment declines
over consecutive copulations and if females are unlikely to re-mate. Male reproductive investment is particularly interesting
in lepidopterans because males produce dimorphic sperm: a fertilizing (eupyrene) and a non-fertilising (apyrene) sperm. In
two experiments, we explored the lifetime reproductive investment of male almond moths, Cadra cautella (also known as Ephestia cautella) and examined its influence on female reproductive success. In the almond moth, females re-mate infrequently and males transfer
sperm in a spermatophore. Attached to the spermatophore is a large chitinous process, the function of which is unknown. One
group of males were permitted consecutive copulations with virgin females and the amount of sperm and size of the spermatophore
transferred were compared for all females. We found that the number of both eupyrene and apyrene sperm per ejaculate decreased
with his increased mating frequency, while the size of the spermatophore process decreased dramatically after the male’s first
copulation. In a second experiment, we allowed males to mate with females throughout their lives and then compared female
fecundity and fertilisation success. We found no obvious decrease in female fecundity and fertilisation success with increased
male copulation experience, despite the likely reduction in male gametic investment. We discuss potential explanations for
the development of this enlarged and elaborate first spermatophore of male almond moths given that it confers no clear fitness
advantage to females. 相似文献
8.
L. W. Simmons R. J. Teale M. Maier R. J. Standish W. J. Bailey P. C. Withers 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1992,31(1):57-62
Summary The cost of reproductive effort is known to result in a trade-off between current and future reproduction. Similarly, trade-offs in energy allocation may occur between components of reproductive effort, mating and parental effort, within a single reproductive episode. We investigated the energy allocated to mating effort (calling to attract females) and parental effort (donation of spermatophore nutrients at mating) by male bushcrickets, Requena verticalis, under two dietary regimes. Males provided with a low quality diet reduced the daily energy allocated to calling activity while maintaining their investment in spermatophores. Males provided with a high quality diet did not allocate more resources per day to their spermatophores but stored excess energy for future reproduction. Thus, on a per day basis, males appear to hold constant their investment in the spermatophore at the cost of reduced mating effort when resources are limited. Males on both diets, however, increased the size of their spermatophore donations when the interval between female encounters was increased. One explanation for this pattern could be a frequency-dependent optimization of spermatophore size.
Correspondence to: L.W. Simmons 相似文献
9.
Kathryn B. McNamara Mark A. Elgar Therésa M. Jones 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》2008,62(9):1433-1440
Species where most but not all females mate monandrously can provide insight into the potential factors both promoting and
restricting polyandry. Polyandry is typically explained by direct and/or indirect benefits models; however, polyandry may
also confer costs via sexually antagonistic processes. The fitness of polyandrous and monandrous females may also vary with
environmental conditions, such as availability of water. For some lepidopterans, water is a vital resource that increases
fecundity and may be a direct benefit of multiple mating. Male lepidopterans transfer large spermatophores that may be an
important water source for females, particularly for species living in water-depauperate environments. In such species, multiple-mating
females may increase their reproductive output. We examined the fitness consequences of multiple mating in the almond moth,
Cadra cautella. Males transfer substantial spermatophores; these have a large chitinous process attached, which decrease female longevity.
To assess the impact of female mating treatment and water availability on female fitness, females mated once or twice, either
with the same or different males, with half the females in each treatment receiving water. Water-fed females had dramatically
increased fecundity, but we found no fitness benefits of multiple mating. Male longevity decreased with increased mating frequency
and potentially his level of reproductive investment. Water-deprived females that mated twice died sooner than once-mated
females, while multiple-mating females that received water lived longer than their water-deprived counterparts. It is interesting
to note that the male’s spermatophore process did not affect female fitness or longevity. Why polyandry is maintained in this
species is discussed. 相似文献
10.
Spermatophore characteristics in bushcrickets vary with parasitism and remating interval 总被引:4,自引:0,他引:4
Male bushcrickets provide females with a nuptial gift, a spermatophore, which is transferred to females at mating. The spermatophore
consists of a gelatinous mass, the spermatophylax, and the sperm-containing ampulla. Male spermatophore size is positively
correlated with insemination rate and female refractory period and therefore with male reproductive success. In this study,
we examined spermatophylax weight, ampulla weight and sperm number in males of Poecilimon mariannae parasitized by the acoustically orienting fly Therobia leonidei. We show that in parasitized males, spermatophylax weight decreases with the level of parasitism. In line with the hypothesis
that parasitism is a cost to reproduction, we found that spermatophylax weight was reduced at remating. In contrast, the replenishment
of the spermatophylax in unparasitized males was complete after 2 days and was increased no further after 3 days. Both sperm
number and ampulla weight showed an increase over time since last mating and sperm production was estimated at a constant
rate of 500,000 per day in all individuals, regardless of parasitism. The allocation of investment in components of the spermatophore
varies greatly with parasitism and remating. Both factors had rather independent effects on spermatophore constitution, revealing
functional constraints acting on spermatophore characteristics in bushcrickets, which are important for understanding the
selection pressures working on its components.
Received: 13 September 1999 / Received in revised form: 4 February 2000 / Accepted: 13 March 2000 相似文献
11.
Summary During mating the males of the bushcricket Poecilimon veluchianus transfer a large spermatophore of about a quarter of their body weight to the female. Such nuptial feeding is often thought to function as paternal investment by increasing the fitness of the male's offspring. According to an alternative, though not mutually exclusive, hypothesis, the size of the spermatophore is maintained because of its function as a sperm protection device. In this case the cost to the male should be classified as mating effort. To discriminate between these two hypotheses we measured the duration of sperm transfer into the female spermatheca and the time taken for spermatophore consumption. A comparison of durations revealed that spermatophore consumption interferes with the process of sperm transfer (Fig. 4). There was no significant effect of spermatophore consumption on number of eggs laid, weight of eggs or absolute weight of hatched larvae. The relative dry weight of hatched larvae, however, was increased as a result of spermatophore consumption (Table 1). Thus spermatophylax size is adjusted in accordance with a sperm protection function and the spermatophylax therefore represents mating effort. The increase in relative dry weight indicates that there may also be a paternal investment effect of the spermatophylax, if the offspring that benefit from spermatophylax materials are fathered by the donating male.
Correspondence to: K. Reinhold 相似文献
12.
When females mate with more than one male, the ensuing sperm competition leads to the evolution of male mechanisms that skew
paternity. Males of the yellow mealworm beetle (Tenebrio molitor) transfer a spermatophore to females during copulation, but sperm release and storage occur later. We investigated how the
interval between two matings with different males affects sperm precedence by varying the interval between the copulations
so that the second mating was either: (1) before sperm release from the first spermatophore (<5 min); (2) after sperm release
but before spermatophore ejection (15–20 min); (3) after spermatophore ejection but before sperm storage (4 h), or (4) after
complete sperm storage (24 h). We collected offspring over a period of 2 weeks and determined paternity by protein electrophoresis.
There was second-male sperm precedence in all treatments, but when the interval was <5 min, the second male usually (86% of
cases) had complete sperm precedence (i.e., P
2=1). Investigations into the mechanism of second-male sperm precedence during <5-min mating intervals indicate that sperm
release from the first spermatophore is inhibited, a phenomenon which has not been previously documented.
Received: 31 January 2000 / Revised: 9 June 2000 / Accepted: 26 August 2000 相似文献
13.
Sperm economy and limitation in spiny lobsters 总被引:5,自引:0,他引:5
Sperm limitation, when female fertilisation success is constrained by the supply of sperm, is generally perceived to be an
uncommon feature of reproduction in species which directly transfer gametes during copulation. Male size, previous copulations,
and the balance of expected reproductive return and future mating opportunity may, however, limit the amount of sperm males
transfer to females. We used laboratory experiments where mate size could be manipulated and its consequences on spermatophore
size and clutch size determined, to show that in two genera of spiny lobsters (Crustacea: Palinuridae) male reproductive output
limits the size of clutches brooded by females. In Panulirus argus from the Florida Keys, we show that while male size affects spermatophore area, males also vary the amount of ejaculate positively
with female size. Furthermore, the area of the spermatophore has a greater influence than female size on subsequent clutch
weight. In Jasus edwardsii from New Zealand, female size, male size and mate order all affect clutch weight. In both species, clutches fertilised by
small males in the laboratory are significantly smaller than clutches fertilised by large males. These results suggest that
to ensure they receive sufficient sperm, females should either mate several times prior to oviposition, mate as early as possible
in the reproductive season, or choose large, preferably unmated males as partners and thus compete with other females for
preferred males. Sperm-limited female fecundity has the potential to limit the egg production of fished populations where
large males are typically rare.
Received: 18 May 1998 / Received in revised form: 20 November 1998 / Accepted: 30 November 1998 相似文献
14.
T. Subramoniam 《Marine Biology》1977,43(4):369-377
Male Emerita asiatica Milne Edwards are smaller than females. The secondary sexual characters of males and females are described in detail. Applying the method of Wenner (1972), sex ratio is calculated. The overlap in size range between males and females is too wide to suggest sex reversal. An analysis of secondary sexual characters in post-larval juveniles during megalopa settlement corroborates the view that males and females develop separately from the megalopa. The males acquire their sexual maturity soon after metamorphosis from the megalopa stage, whereas the females attain their sexual maturity only after considerable body growth. the males continue to grow to attain a maximum carapace length of 11 mm; they do not show any tendency towards changing their sex. This is evidenced by the fact that the weight increase of the gonadal apparatus is directly related to the increase in the male carapace length (CL) and body weight. On the other hand, retention of larval characters such as short eye stalk, toothless chelae of the fifth leg (in males up to 5 mm CL), together with the very small size suggest that the males are neotenic. Only males up to 5 mm CL were found to take part in mating. During mating, as many as 5 tiny males deposit their spermatophores in the pleopodal region of one female. This type of mating assures effective transfer of spermatophores in the turbulent environment inhabited. Spermatophores are pedunculate and embedded in a gelatinous matrix to form a long ribbon. There are two types of spermatophores in the ribbon, and they differ in detail from those of other anomuran species. The spermatozoa are rod-like, with a club-shaped acrosomal head. Five spines originate from the junction between head and body. The mode of sperm release from the spermatophores is described; oviducal secretion may be responsible for opening the spermatophore. 相似文献
15.
Sperm transfer and storage in relation to sperm competition in Callosobruchus maculatus 总被引:2,自引:0,他引:2
Paul Eady 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1994,35(2):123-129
This paper examines the underlying mechanisms of sperm competition in the beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Bruchidae). Recently developed mathematical models of sperm competition are combined with an empirical investigation of the processes of sperm transfer and storage. During a single insemination virgin males transfer approximately 46000 sperm, 85% more sperm than females can effectively store in their spermathecae. Many of these sperm remain in the bursa copulatrix where they are apparently rapidly degraded and can therefore play no role in fertilization. The spermatheca (primary site of sperm storage) is filled by a single insemination and sperm are lost from this organ at a constant rate. This rate of sperm loss from the spermatheca is insufficient for sperm mixing (without displacement) or sperm stratification to account for the degree of last male sperm precedence measured as P
2; the proportion of offspring fathered by the second male to mate reported for this species (P
2 = 0.83, when two inseminations are separated by 24 h). Models of sperm displacement correctly predict high levels of sperm precedence although the precision of these predictions is limited because the proportion of sperm entering the spermatheca cannot be accurately determined. The results suggested that last male sperm precedence in C. maculatus the result of sperm displacement, although the exact mechanism of displacement (sperm-for-sperm or fluid displacement) remains unknown. Possible constraints imposed by female genital anatomy on sperm displacement are discussed. 相似文献
16.
Klaus Reinhold 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1999,45(3-4):293-299
In most bushcrickets, males transfer a large spermatophore during copulation that is afterwards consumed by the female. In
some species this nuptial gift enhances offspring fitness and is therefore believed to function as paternal investment. To
determine whether this is the case, I examined whether a male's own offspring benefit from spermatophore consumption in the
bushcricket Poecilimon veluchianus. Females that consumed a spermatophore produced offspring with increased residuals of dry weight compared to females that
were prevented from feeding on the spermatophore. This beneficial effect of spermatophore consumption occurred within the
first 4 days after copulation. An increased dry weight indicates higher energy reserves because offspring dry weight correlates
significantly with the lifespan of starved larvae and because spermatophore consumption increased the lifespan of starved
offspring. During egg-laying, females apply a liquid substance to the soil that hardens and probably serves as protection
for the egg clutch. The amount of this substance correlated with the number of eggs laid but did not differ between spermatophore
treatments. In P. veluchianus, females mate frequently and there is last-male sperm precedence. The spermatophore thus only constitutes paternal investment
when offspring produced before female remating benefit from spermatophore consumption. The dry weight of offspring increased
during the first 4 days after spermatophore consumption and thus within the natural remating interval. This shows that the
spermatophore has a paternal investment function in addition to its already known sperm protection function.
Received: 15 May 1998 / Accepted after revision: 11 October 1998 相似文献
17.
Gregory I. Holwell Claire Winnick Tom Tregenza Marie E. Herberstein 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》2010,64(4):617-625
The rapid divergence of male genitalia is a widely observed evolutionary phenomenon. Although sexual selection is currently
regarded as providing the most likely driving force behind genital diversification, the mechanisms responsible are still debated.
Here, we investigate the relationship between male genital morphology and sperm transfer in the praying mantid Ciulfina klassi using geometric morphometrics. The shape of male genitalia in C. klassi influenced sperm transfer duration and the number and proportion of sperm transferred, suggesting that genital morphology
is under sexual selection in this species. Genital size however was not correlated with any aspect of sperm transfer. Intriguingly,
two of the major genital shape components correlated positively with the number of sperm transferred, but negatively with
sperm transfer duration. Hence, males that most effectively transfer sperm to the female spermatheca do so in a relatively
short period of time. A direct negative relationship was also found between sperm transfer duration and sperm transfer success.
Overall, our study suggests that the variable genital shape of Ciulfina may have been selected for more efficient sperm transfer. 相似文献
18.
The effects of gregarine parasites,body size,and time of day on spermatophore production and sexual selection in field crickets 总被引:3,自引:0,他引:3
Marlene Zuk 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1987,21(1):65-72
Summary In laboratory experiments measuring the rate of spermatophore production in the field crickets Gryllus veletis and G. pennsylvanicus by confining single males with a conspecific female, 0–10 spermatophores were produced by each male within 24 h. The number of spermatophores produced was unrelated to a male's body size, but was significantly negatively correlated with the natural levels of gregarines, a protozoan gut parasite, in the males. Spermatophore production in the laboratory peaked between 0600 and 1000 h, as did the proportion of courtship songs given by male crickets in the field, suggesting that mating may occur more frequently in the morning. When single males were placed in jars with two conspecific females, 49% transferred spermatophores to both females, whereas 51% of males only gave spermatophores to one of the females. The results support the hypothesis that parasites are important in sexual selection, and are used to propose a new interpretation of post-copulatory guarding in crickets. 相似文献
19.
Summary Mating in the bushcricket Metaplastes ornatus Ramme 1931 entails a number of peculiar genital couplings that precede the transfer of the large spermatophore. During these phase-I couplings, the male introduces his specially structured subgenital plate into the female's genital chamber, performs back-and-forth movements, and turns her genital chamber inside out when he withdraws, whereupon the female carefully cleans her everted genital chamber with her mouthparts. During the last coupling (phase II) the male's subgenital plate is not introduced but the large spermatophore, which averages 22% of a male's body weight, is transferred. Counts of sperm in the spermathecae of females suggested that the phase-I couplings, which occur prior to spermatophore transfer, function to remove, or at least to reduce, the sperm of a female's previous mates. The form of the keel of the male's subgenital plate, its position within the female's genital tract during phase-I couplings, and the back-and-forth movements suggest that the male may stimulate release of sperm from the female's spermatheca by a mechanism similar to fertilization as eggs pass through the genital chamber during oviposition. 相似文献
20.
Summary Evidence suggests that males incur costs in producing ejaculates. Therefore some discrimination should be expected with respect to their pattern of allocating ejaculates. In a laboratory study, males of the European swallowtail butterfly Papilio machaon were mated with conspecific virgin females up to six times. The weight of the spermatophore and of the accessory substances delivered by males, the duration of mating, and the number of sperm in ejaculates were measured. The weight of the first spermatophore was related to male weight but that of accessory substances was not. The weight of the spermatophore delivered by males upon remating was always less than that of the first spermatophore. Second spermatophores Produced by males were smallest when delivered on the day after the first mating and increased asymptotically to about half the initial size with time elapsed since the first mating. Copula duration was highest for males remating on the day after the first mating but decreased to the duration of the first mating for males that were remated on the third day after the first mating or later. The weight of accessory substances delivered by males and the number of sperm in ejaculates were also higher in first matings compared to all subsequent matings. Both of two males that were handpaired on three consecutive days after the first mating produced a cumulative ejaculate mass equalling that transferred at the first mating. Thus the fact that males delivered smaller ejaculates upon remating on the third day after the first mating or later requires explanation, especially in view of the fact that copulations were not prolonged. We argue that the male ejaculate delivery strategy in mildly polyandrous species should be to mate for the first time with virgin females, when a maximum size ejaculate should be delivered, and then to maximize the number of matings. The rationale behind the male shift towards smaller ejaculate sizes delivered at subsequent matings is that: (1) the size of the ejaculate that can be produced is dependent on the time elapsed since the last mating; (2) the abundance of virgin females decreases as the flight season proceeds; and (3) there is an inverse relationship between the size and number of ejaculates that a male can produce in his life-time. 相似文献