共查询到20条相似文献,搜索用时 15 毫秒
1.
Ectoparasites of house sparrows (Passer domesticus): an experimental test of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis and a new model 总被引:2,自引:0,他引:2
Conspicuous secondary sexual traits may have evolved as handicap-revealing signals or as badges of status. We present results
of an experiment using males of the sexually dimorphic house sparrow (Passer domesticus), that support the idea that the male-specific bib can be both a handicap-revealing signal and a reliable badge indicating
the physical condition of the bird. In a test of the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis, wild-caught adult male house sparrows
were studied in captivity. Birds implanted with elevated doses of testosterone were more dominant, had higher circulating
levels of both testosterone and corticosterone and they also harboured relatively larger ectoparasite loads. Higher parasite
loads were also associated with individuals showing lower immunocompetence and larger changes in bib size. A new model for
immunocompetence effects in sexual selection is introduced, integrating actions that the hypothalamopituitary axis exerts
on gonads, adrenals and the thyroid gland. The ”integrated immunocompetence model” synthesizes both the ”handicap” (i.e. survival-decreasing)
and ”badge of status” (i.e. survival- enhancing) models for evolution of secondary sexual traits.
Received: 15 May 1999 / Received in revised form: 2 November 1999 / Accepted: 6 November 1999 相似文献
2.
The effects of testosterone on antibody production and plumage coloration in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus) 总被引:9,自引:3,他引:6
Many bird species have patches of colour in their plumage, contrasting with their basic coloration, which are used to display
and signal status to conspecifics. These are called ’badges of status’, because they are believed to be low-cost signals of
social status. For a signalling system to be evolutionarily stable, cheating must be controlled. The conventional view is
that there is frequent testing, which uncovers cheats. Recently, the immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) suggested
that signals may be dependent on testosterone for their development, with a cost being imposed through immune suppression.
We report experiments on house sparrows (Passer domesticus) which show that testosterone significantly influences the size of the bib (a ’badge of status’). The ultimate effect of
the testosterone manipulation was to impair antibody production, as predicted by the ICHH. However, testosterone manipulations
also changed the levels of the ’stress hormone’ corticosterone. The level of corticosterone was also related to the degree
of immunosuppression. After controlling for the effect of corticosterone, testosterone enhanced the birds’ ability to produce
antibodies, counter to the ICHH. The hypothesis therefore must be modified. We suggest that testosterone has a dual effect:
it leads to immunosuppression through a mechanism involving corticosterone but, conversely, leads to increased immunocompetence
probably via dominance influencing access to resources.
Received: 5 March 1999 / Received in revised form: 1 October 1999 / Accepted: 16 October 1999 相似文献
3.
Sexual ornamentation,condition, and immune defence in the house sparrow Passer domesticus 总被引:5,自引:1,他引:5
Female mate preferences for extreme male ornaments may arise and be maintained because males signal their ability to raise
an immune defence against parasites by the size of their ornaments. The bursa of Fabricius is an organ involved in antibody
synthesis in young birds, but regresses before sexual maturity. The relationship between badge size, condition, and immune
defence was investigated in male house sparrows, Passer domesticus, which have a bib of black feathers under their beak, a secondary sexual character currently subject to a directional female
mate preference. The size of the bursa of Fabricius decreased during the first year of life in house sparrows. Males with
large secondary sexual characters had a smaller bursa than males with small badges. Individuals with a large directional asymmetry
in relative testis size had a larger bursa. The abundance of one parasite (a mallophagan) was positively related to bursa
size. There was a positive relationship between relative volume of bursa of Fabricius and the number of fault bars on feathers,
which is a measure of body condition. These results suggest that males with large badges have lower current levels of immune
response than males with small badges, and that males in good body condition, as evidenced from the absence of fault bars,
had a relatively small bursa of Fabricius.
Received: 6 October 1995/Accepted after revision: 2 June 1996 相似文献
4.
Is avian humoral immunocompetence suppressed by testosterone? 总被引:2,自引:2,他引:0
Dennis Hasselquist James A. Marsh Paul W. Sherman John C. Wingfield 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1999,45(3-4):167-175
A key issue in sexual selection theory is how a correlation between male secondary sexual characters and male genetic quality
can be maintained. The immunocompetence-handicap hypothesis proposes that testosterone-dependent male characters remain honest
signals because of the immunosuppressive effect of elevated steroid hormone levels. The hypothesis requires that physiological
levels of testosterone depress immune system function. We quantified testosterone titers and humoral immunocompetence of captive
male and female red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) at three points in the annual cycle (autumn, prebreeding, and breeding). We also conducted an implant experiment on the
males to assess the effects of prolonged, above-normal testosterone titers on humoral immune responses. Humoral immunocompetence
was measured as secondary antibody production to a non-pathogenic protein antigen, keyhole limpet hemocyanin, using an enzyme-linked
immunosorbent assay we developed for A. phoeniceus. Secondary antibody responses of individuals were highly repeatable between sampling periods. Neither physiological nor above-normal
levels of plasma testosterone suppressed secondary antibody production. In paired tests of the same individuals between prebreeding
and breeding, and between breeding and implant, plasma testosterone increased significantly but secondary antibody responses
were unaffected. We are confident in these results because with 80% power, an 11–14% difference in antibody titers would have
been detected. There was no relationship between plasma testosterone levels and humoral immunocompetence in free-ranging males
tested at the peak of breeding. These results cast doubt on a key assumption of the immunocompetence-handicap hypothesis.
Received: 13 April 1998 / Accepted after revision: 7 October 1998 相似文献
5.
The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (ICHH) suggests that dominance signals are costly because their development is controlled by testosterone, which is immunosuppressive. Signal control therefore links an increased disease risk with a high quality signal. The chest bib of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus, is a signal known to be related to dominance and under control of testosterone levels. We experimentally manipulated testosterone in male sparrows during the breeding season and again independently during the post-breeding period to test whether variation in levels of testosterone could cause variation in levels of immunocompetence. There was no effect of testosterone manipulation on the cell-mediated response of birds to phytohaemagglutinin injection, nor did testosterone levels appear to affect either white blood cell ratios or red blood cell counts. In contrast, both breeding season and post-breeding season testosterone levels had significant effects upon the humoral response of the birds to sheep red blood cell injections. However, whilst testosterone during the breeding season appeared to act immunosuppressively, the role of post-breeding levels is less clear. In concordance with a previous study, there was an indication that corticosterone is involved in mediating the immunosuppressive effects of testosterone. The strength of the secondary humoral response and the cell-mediated response were negatively related suggesting the possibility of a trade-off between the different arms of the immune system. These results provide some support for the ICHH as a mechanism promoting the evolution of costly badges of status, although the results question whether the immunosuppressive cost can be mediated by testosterone at the time of badge development.Communicated by W.A.Searcy 相似文献
6.
Badge size in the house sparrow Passer domesticus 总被引:6,自引:0,他引:6
Anders Pape M//oller 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1988,22(5):373-378
Summary I studied female mate choice in house sparrows Passer domesticus in relation to the size of the black throat patch of males (badge size), which is a signal of dominance status, and to territory quality. Males with large badges obtained a mate earlier in spring than males with small badges. Males which remained unmated during the entire breeding season had smaller badges than mated males, even when controlling for the effect of other morphological traits and age. Largebadged males had territories with more breeding sites than small-badged males. Territories defended by males with large badges primarily had hole nest sites, which were safe from predators, and nestlings rarely fell from hole nests. Females were implanted with estradiol to induce copulation solicitation displays. Females responded more strongly to a male taxidermic mount and song than to song alone, and they responded more strongly and frequently to male mounts with large badges. Female house sparrows chose mates on the basis of male badges and perhaps on the basis of the quality of the nesting territories offered. 相似文献
7.
Ben C. Sheldon Pete Davidson Gabriella Lindgren 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1999,46(3):141-148
There is increasing evidence that sexual selection may be intense even in socially monogamous birds, resulting from both
mate choice and sperm competition. We studied these two modes of sexual selection experimentally by removing paired male collared
flycatchers, Ficedula albicollis, from their mates for 2 days and investigating the factors that influenced the likelihood of a replacement male appearing
and how the removals influenced paternity. Replacement males (usually neighbouring males) appeared at 81% (n = 37) of nests where males were removed. The likelihood of this appearance was unaffected by the probable reproductive value
of the female's clutch to the replacing male. A replacement was, however, less likely when the original male had a large forehead
patch, a trait previously shown to be subject to sexual selection in this population. Experimental removal of males increased
the level of sperm competition: 74% of experimental broods were multiply sired, compared to 29% of unmanipulated broods in
a previous study. Only two factors predicted how paternity was shared between males: removed males fathered more young if
removed closer to laying, and if they had larger forehead patches. The former result is consistent with last-male sperm precedence
determining paternity, whereas the latter adds to other evidence that forehead patch size is the target of female preference
in this species. Our results suggest that females exert some control over male replacement, and also that they may influence
the fertilisation success of males by behavioural means.
Received: 15 July 1998 / Received in revised form: 16 March 1999 / Accepted: 28 March 1999 相似文献
8.
José P. Veiga 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1996,39(5):345-352
In many bird species the cryptic winter plumage is due to the presence of light feather tips that conceal conspicuous colorations.
The gradual abrasion of these tips that makes sexual traits visible has been interpreted as a strategy to improve mating success
(here referred as the permanent exhibition hypothesis). However, under some circumstances, the maintenance of a full plumage
that facultatively enables the bird to exhibit or cover aggression-inducing traits has proved to be advantageous (the coverable
badge hypothesis). In a population of house sparrows where black throat patches (here called badges) are used in intrasexual
competition, the degree of abrasion of dull feather tips that conceal bright colour early in the breeding season correlated
neither with badge size nor with traits indicating morphology and body condition. These results are only in accordance with
predictions of the coverable badge hypothesis. In 1992 experimental clipping of badge feather tips, which forced permanent
exposure of badges, negatively affected birds with the largest badges in terms of nest acquisition, but an opposite trend
was indicated for birds with the smallest badges. In 1993, when more novel birds in the study area were competing for nesting
sites than in 1992, only badge size, but not the experimental manipulation, affected nesting success. These results suggest
that the loss of the ability to conceal badges was disadvantageous, and more so if most competing individuals had already
been resident in the colony in previous years and the larger their badges were. There is a striking contrast between the results
reported for this study population, where badges mainly signal fighting ability, and those reported for another house sparrow
population, where badges are mainly used in mate choice. In this last population, tip abrasion is advantageous for dominant
individuals showing the largest badges. This suggests that the trade-off between conserving versus wearing off the feathers
that conceal ornaments could have different optimal resolutions depending on the relative importance of inter and intrasexual
selection on indicator traits.
Received: 29 September 1995/Accepted after revision: 14 July 1996 相似文献
9.
Sexual signalling and viability in a wolf spider (Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata): measurements under laboratory and field conditions 总被引:4,自引:0,他引:4
Janne S. Kotiaho Rauno V. Alatalo Johanna Mappes Silja Parri 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1999,46(2):123-128
This study examined the crucial prediction of the conditional-handicap theory, the relationship between male sexual trait
size and male viability, in the wolf spider Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata. In this species, males court females by drumming dry leaves with their abdomen, and males with the highest drumming rate
enjoy highest mating success. We determined male drumming rate, body mass, and mobility, which reflects mate-searching activity,
in relation to male survival. Because it is often difficult to know how results obtained from laboratory studies reflect the
natural world, particularly when the measured variable is survival, we repeated our study in both laboratory and field conditions.
Males drumming at the highest rate survived better than males drumming at a lower rate in both laboratory and field conditions.
These results are in accordance with the predictions of conditional-handicap models of sexual selection. Survival was independent
of male body mass and there was no significant correlation between male drumming activity and body mass. However, large males
moved further than smaller males, and males moving longer distances lost less mass than those moving shorter distances. These
results suggest that, moving, and consequently mate-searching activity, may be a condition-dependent trait and that there
may be a advantage for large males in mate searching.
Received: 22 October 1998 / Received in revised form: 28 January 1999 / Accepted: 14 February 1999 相似文献
10.
Thomas Artiss Wesley M. Hochachka Kathy Martin 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1999,46(6):429-434
For several species of birds, high rates of male vigilance are correlated with high rates of female foraging. This relationship
is thought to ultimately result in higher reproductive success for females paired with highly vigilant males. However, previous
research has not examined the behavioural mechanism that produces the correlation between male vigilance and rates of female
foraging. Foraging females may take advantage of vigilance that males are using for other purposes. Alternatively, the purpose
of male vigilance may be to increase females' ability to forage. We examined these alternatives by testing whether vigilance
preceded or followed bouts of female foraging more often than would occur by chance alone, using simultaneous behaviour observations
of pre-incubation pairs of white-tailed ptarmigan (Lagopus leucurus). Our results indicate that each member of a pair may influence the behaviour of the other. Females were more likely to initiate
foraging bouts after males became vigilant than if their mate remained non-vigilant. Moreover, non-vigilant males were more
likely to become vigilant if their mate was foraging than if she was engaged in some other activity. Despite the possibility
that a sexual conflict exists as each member of a pair attempts to maximize its fitness, both sexes behave as though a major
role of male vigilance is to enhance female foraging opportunities.
Received: 3 May 1999 / Received in revised form: 14 June 1999 / Accepted: 16 June 1999 相似文献
11.
Parental investment, potential reproductive rates, and mating system in the strawberry dart-poison frog, Dendrobates pumilio 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
We studied the effect of relative parental investment on potential reproductive rates (PRRs) to explain sex differences in
selectivity and competition in the dart-poison frog Dendrobates pumilio. We recorded the reproductive behavior of this species in a Costa Rican lowland rainforest for almost 6 months. Females spent
more time on parental care than males, and `time out' estimates suggest that PRRs of males are much higher than than those
of females, rendering females the limiting sex in the mating process. Males defended territories that provide suitable calling
sites, space for courtship and oviposition, and prevent interference by competitors. Male mating success was highly variable,
from 0 to 12 matings, and was significantly correlated with calling activity and average perch height, but was independent
of body size and weight. Estimates of opportunity for sexual selection and variation in male mating success are given. The
mating system is polygamous: males and females mated several times with different mates. Females were more selective than
males and may sample males between matings. The discrepancy in PRRs between the sexes due to differences in parental investment
and the prolonged breeding season is sufficient to explain the observed mating pattern i.e., selective females, high variance
in male mating success, and the considerable opportunity for sexual selection.
Received: 9 June 1998 / Received in revised form: 27 March 1999 / Accepted: 3 April 1999 相似文献
12.
We studied sexual selection in the red bishop, Euplectes orix, a colonial, polygynous weaverbird widely distributed over sub-Saharan Africa. Male reproductive success measured in terms
of the number of nests accepted by females and the number of eggs and nestlings in all the nests on a male's territory varied
considerably. The standardized variance (variance/mean2) in male reproductive success ranged from 0.505 to 1.737 in different years, indicating a high potential for sexual selection
in this species. An analysis of genetic parentage for 432 nestlings by non-radioactive, multilocus DNA fingerprinting confirmed
that male reproductive success (number of young sired on the territory) in this species can be reliably estimated by the measures
introduced above. In all 4 study years there was a strong positive correlation between male mating success and the total number
of nests that males built in their territories. The number of nests built can be partitioned into the number of weeks a male
held a territory and his nest-building performance. Both factors exert a significant positive effect on male mating success
and in combination explained between 53.3 and 86.3% of the variation in male reproductive success. Male morphological characters
were found to be of no importance. Males that established a territory in the following season built more nests and held their
territories for longer than males that did not establish a territory in the following season, suggesting that these measures
might be indicators of male condition and quality. Male nest-building performance (number of nests built per week) seems to
be unrelated to male condition or quality.
Received: 8 January 1999 / Received in revised form: 7 June 1999 / Accepted: 13 June 1999 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.
Exaggerated male eye span influences contest outcome in stalk-eyed flies (Diopsidae) 总被引:3,自引:0,他引:3
Evolution of male weapons or status signals has been hypothesized to precede evolution of female mating preferences for those
traits. We used staged male fights among three species of Malaysian stalk-eyed flies (Diptera: Diopsidae) to determine if
elongated eye span, which is preferred by females in two sexually dimorphic species, influences contest outcome. Extreme sexual
dimorphism, with large males possessing longer eye span than females, is shared by Cyrtodiopsis whitei and C. dalmanni. In contrast, C. quinqueguttata exhibits a more ancestral condition – short, sexually monomorphic eye stalks. Videotape analysis of 20-min paired contests
revealed that males with larger eye span and body size won more fights in the dimorphic, but not monomorphic, species. To
determine if males from the dimorphic species use eye span directly to resolve contests, we competed male C. dalmanni from lines that had undergone artificial selection for 30 generations to increase or decrease eye span. We found that eye
span, independently of body size, determines contest outcome in selected-line males. Furthermore, in both dimorphic species,
the average encounter duration declined as the eye span difference between contestants increased, as expected if males use
eye span to assess opponent size. The number of encounters also increased with age in dimorphic, but not monomorphic, species.
Selected-line males did not differ from outbred males in either fight duration or number of encounters. We conclude that exaggerated
male eye stalks evolved to influence both competitive interactions and female mating preferences in these spectacular flies.
Received: 20 July 1998 / Received in revised form: 2 February 1999 / Accepted: 12 March 1999 相似文献
15.
Frequency and timing of extrapair fertilisation in the polyandrous red phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) 总被引:1,自引:0,他引:1
James Dale Robert Montgomerie Denise Michaud Peter Boag 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1999,46(1):50-56
In sequentially polyandrous bird species, where females mate with different males in succession during a single breeding
season, sperm stored by females can occasionally lead to extrapair fertilisations (EPFs) in clutches cared for by the second
and subsequent males. Thus, we predicted that in red phalaropes (Phalaropus fulicarius) – a sex-role-reversed, sequentially polyandrous, arctic breeding shorebird – EPFs would occur more frequently in clutches
laid later in the breeding season. We used multilocus DNA profiling to examine the frequency and timing of EPFs in a population
of red phalaropes breeding in the Canadian high arctic. Using a technique to determine parentage without maternal DNA, we
inferred that 6 of 70 chicks in 18 broods resulted from EPFs – one extrapair chick in each of 6 broods. These results were
supported by a further analysis using microsatellite DNA. As predicted, broods containing EPFs hatched from clutches laid
significantly later in the season than did broods containing no EPFs. The difference in median hatch dates between broods
with and without EPFs was 9.0 days, or 38% of the entire egg-laying period in that season. For the whole breeding season,
we estimated that 6.5% of chicks were sired by extrapair males, which is similar to extrapair paternity estimates for other
sex-role-reversed birds, but relatively low compared to the majority of socially monogamous species studied so far.
Received: 24 August 1998 / Received in revised form: 18 January 1999 / Accepted: 24 January 1999 相似文献
16.
Two species of seed-eating true bugs, Neacoryphus bicrucis (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae) and Margus obscurator (Heteroptera: Coreidae) co-occur on ragwort, Senecio tomentosus, in southern Georgia, USA. Males of both species sometimes engage in chases and protracted grappling with females that flee
initial mountings. Sometimes genital coupling occurs while the wriggling female is restrained in the male's grasp. Chases,
grappling, and mounting attempts are misdirected toward heterospecific females, heterospecific males, or conspecific males.
In a laboratory study, confinement of mated N. bicrucis females with either conspecific or heterospecific males reduced fecundity by approximately one-half relative to mated females
confined only with other females. Perhaps as a consequence of this, N. bicrucis females frequently leave areas of high host plant density, where they prefer to oviposit, when males are abundant. The abundance
of each species is positively correlated with host plant density but the two species rarely occur together on the same plants.
This may be an effect of heterospecific courtship which induces the flight of N. bicrucis more than the flight of M. obscurator. The laboratory results suggest that copulations following chases and grappling represent sexual harassment, not a mechanism
of active female choice for a vigorous mate. As sexual harassment imposes high fitness costs that favor abandonment of host
plants, it may, when misdirected, incidentally limit habitat use by ecologically similar species.
Received: 3 October 1998 / Received in revised form: 21 January 1999 / Accepted: 14 February 1999 相似文献
17.
Anders Pape Møller 《Behavioral ecology and sociobiology》1990,27(1):23-29
Summary Badge size, which functions as a signal of dominance status in male house sparrows Passer domesticus, was significantly related to their sexual behavior. Males with large badges participated in communal displays (multi-male chases directed towards single females) more often than males with small badges, irrespective of whether the female involved was the male's mate or not. Experimentally released females were more often chased if they were fertile than if they were nonfertile. Estradiol-implanted females were chased more often than control females without a hormone implant, and males with large badges chased estradiol-implanted females more often than did males with small badges. Both forced extra-pair copulations during communal displays and unforced extra-pair copulations were more often achieved by males with large than small badges. Male house sparrows with large badges also copulated with their mates at a higher rate than did males with small badges. A higher certainty of paternity therefore is hypothetized to accrue to male house sparrows with large badges. 相似文献
18.
The aim of this study was to investigate reproductive strategies and their consequences in gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus), small solitary nocturnal primates endemic to Madagascar. Previous reports of sexual dimorphism in favor of males and females,
respectively, a high potential for sperm competition and pheromonal suppression of mating activity among captive males, led
us to investigate mechanisms of intrasexual competition in a wild population. Based on 3 years of mark-recapture data, we
demonstrate that sexual dimorphism in this species fluctuated annually as a result of independent changes in male and female
body mass. Male body mass increased significantly prior to the short annual mating season. Because their testes increased
by 100% in the same period and because their canines are not larger than those of females, we suggest that large male size
may be advantageous in searching for estrous females and in enabling them to sustain periods of short-term torpor. In contrast
to reports from captive colonies, we found no evidence for two morphologically distinct classes of males. Finally, we also
show that most adult males are active throughout the cool dry season that precedes the mating season, whereas most adult females
hibernate for several months. This is in contrast to other solitary hibernating mammals, where males typically emerge 1–2
weeks before females. Thus, this first extended field study of M.␣murinus clarified previous conflicting reports on sexual dimorphism and male reproductive strategies in this primitive primate by
showing that their apparent deviation from predictions of sexual selection theory is brought about by specific environmental
conditions which result in sex-specific life history tactics not previously described for mammals. A general conclusion is
that sexual selection can operate more strongly on males without resulting in sexual dimorphism because of independent selection
on the same traits in females.
Received: 6 July 1997 / Accepted after revision: 28 March 1998 相似文献
19.
We examined the social organization and reproductive pattern of a population of Sparisoma cretense L. at Lampedusa Island (Italy). During the breeding season (July to September) individuals occur either in territorial or
in non-territorial groups, which quantitatively differ with respect to use of space, sex-ratio and sexual activity. Territorial
groups consist of one male plus one to three females, whereas in non-territorial groups as many as 54 fish share a common
area. Among non-territorial groups, variations, in both sex-ratio and behavior, suggest they could represent either feeding
aggregations or reproductive aggregations. Spawning, always in pairs, occurs daily in a short period of time before dusk and
has been observed only in territorial groups. Group spawning has never been observed, but another alternative mating tactic,
streaking on pair spawning, was recorded. In the non-breeding season fish do not aggregate in organized social units. Histological
examination of gonads showed that adults are larger than 12 cm total length. Females have an asynchronous ovary, typical of
species spawning several times during the breeding season. Males show secondary testes, indicating that their gonads develop
ovaries as juveniles, which are later redifferentiated into functional testes. Histological and demographic data seem to indicate
that, as in other species of this genus, prematurational sex-change occurs. The sexual pattern appears to be essentially gonochoristic,
but the potential for sex-change is not excluded.
Received: 5 January 1999 / Accepted: 22 June 1999 相似文献
20.
Parker's seminal work brought attention to the possibility of postmating sexual selection by non-random fertilization success.
Mechanisms for these processes are still only partly understood and there is clearly a need for more studies of intraspecific
variation in sperm precedence. Here, we report results from an experimental study of the variation in fertilization success
between males of the water strider Gerris lacustris. Genital morphology, male body size, and copulation duration were examined as possible correlates of paternity. The significance
of guarding duration was also analysed. Only male genital morphology was correlated to fertilization success. This is one
of the first studies showing a relationship between male genital traits and fertilization success, supporting the view that
sexual selection may be responsible for the rapid and divergent evolution of genital structures in animals with internal fertilization.
The fertilization success of last males varied considerably after double matings with a short mating interval (10 min). Last-male
priority ranged from 0 to 100% and usually one of the males involved fertilized almost all the eggs. After double matings
with a short mating interval, the proportion of eggs fertilized by the last male averaged 0.68 and was greater than 0.5. In
contrast, the average fertilization success was biased towards the first male when the matings were more spread out over time
(24 h). These results do not support earlier suggestions of a widespread last-male sperm priority in water striders.
Received: 28 July 1998 / Received in revised form: 15 March 1999 / Accepted: 28 March 1999 相似文献