Article
Evolutionary Biology
Tyler H. Lantiegne, Craig F. Purchase
Summary: Polyandrous mating systems create opportunities for pre-mating and post-mating sexual selection, but also increase the risk of unintended matings and sperm competition with hybridizing species. Cryptic female choice allows females to bias paternity towards preferred males, and may include conspecific sperm preference even under hybridization risk. This study examines conspecific sperm preference in a system of North American native salmon and char, and invasive brown trout, and concludes that the weak cryptic female choice in this system fails to prevent invasive hybridization and reproductive isolation between the native species.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Matthew C. Kustra, Suzanne H. Alonzo
Summary: In contrast to pre-mating sexual selection, little theoretical research has focused on the coevolution of postmating traits via cryptic female choice. This study used simulation models to investigate the impact of nondirectional cryptic female choice on male-mediated postmating processes, as well as the interaction between sperm competition risk, cryptic female choice strength, and sperm traits. The results showed that incorporating cryptic female choice can result in reduced male investment in ejaculates. It also revealed that genetic correlations between cryptic female choice and sperm traits can evolve even with weak cryptic female choice and low sperm competition risk.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katherine Assersohn, Patricia Brekke, Nicola Hemmings
Summary: The article reviews the factors contributing to female infertility in birds, highlighting the understudy of female fertility traits and discussing key stages in the female reproductive cycle where fertility may be compromised. Recommendations for future research are also made, emphasizing the need to differentiate between infertility and embryo mortality as causes of hatching failure.
ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Olivia E. Anastasio, Chelsea S. Sinclair, Alison Pischedda
Summary: Cryptic male mate choice refers to the differential allocation of resources by males to females during or after copulation. In the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, males mate longer and allocate more resources to larger females compared to smaller females. However, it is unclear if this increased investment in larger females has any impact on the males' subsequent matings.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Katsuya Kiyose, Masako Katsuki, Yu Suzaki, Kensuke Okada
Summary: Females in the beetle Gnatocerus cornutus tend to choose attractive males for mating to produce offspring of higher quality, but there is no direct effect of remating on female fitness. Females may increase their fitness indirectly by producing attractive sons through remating with attractive males and biasing fertilization towards their sperm.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Bruno Garcia Montagnini, Simone Forcato, Karine Vandressa Pernoncine, Mariana Cunha Monteiro, Marina Rangel Ferro Pereira, Nathalia Orlandini Costa, Estefania Gastadello Moreira, Janete Aparecida Anselmo-Franci, Daniela Cristina Ceccatto Gerardin
Summary: The study found that TCS may act as an endocrine disruptor for the reproductive system. Exposure to TCS was shown to decrease sperm viability and motility, potentially related to the programming of reproductive cells during fetal/neonatal development.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Silvia Cattelan, Alessandro Devigili, Maria Santaca, Clelia Gasparini
Summary: Mounting evidence suggests that female reproductive fluid (FRF) can influence sperm performance and paternity share among competing males. This study investigates the potential of "within-ejaculate cryptic female choice" mediated by FRF in zebrafish. Using a sperm selection chamber, the researchers compared FRF-selected and non-selected sperm in terms of quantity, viability, DNA integrity, and fertilizing ability. The results indicate that FRF-selected sperm have higher numbers, viability, and DNA integrity, and they also fertilize more eggs. The study highlights the significant role of FRF in fertilization and post-mating sexual selection dynamics.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Jenni E. Pettay, Virpi Lummaa, Robert Lynch, John Loehr
Summary: This study analyzed how sex ratios are linked to marriages, reproductive histories, dispersal, and urbanization through a natural experiment during World War II. In female-dominated environments, young childless women tended to migrate towards urban centers with more job opportunities for women, and away from male-biased rural areas. Despite constraints on reproduction, women showed limited flexibility in mate choice.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Maydianne C. B. Andrade, Aiswarya Baskaran, Maria Daniela Biaggio, Maria Modanu
Summary: Female choosiness in mating behavior is influenced by male availability, with females more likely to be picky when many males are present. Exposure to cues of high male availability during development can lead to changes in adult female behavior, such as interrupting copulation or cannibalizing males. These behavioral shifts suggest that female choosiness plays a significant role in shaping male mating success, and highlights the importance of social cues in influencing mating behaviors in spiders.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Dawn S. Chen, Andrew G. Clark, Mariana F. Wolfner
Summary: In a study on Drosophila, researchers found that inhibiting the activity of Tdc2 neurons in females resulted in a higher proportion of offspring from the first male. This suggests that octopaminergic/tyraminergic signaling plays a role in biased sperm usage in multiply-mated females, and highlights a new role for the female nervous system in postcopulatory sexual selection.
Article
Fisheries
Krista D. Baker, Darrell R. J. Mullowney, Bernard Sainte-Marie
Summary: This study examined the reproductive health of female snow crabs in Newfoundland after a period of heavy exploitation. The findings showed that the low sperm receptacle loads in these females compared to other areas indicated the potential for sperm limitation in populations depleted of large-male snow crab. The study highlighted the importance of maintaining conservative exploitation rates to protect a substantial proportion of large adult males and preserve reproductive capacity.
FISHERIES RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
R. Vasudeva, M. Dickinson, A. Sutter, S. Powell, K. Sales, M. J. G. Gage
Summary: Polyandry can protect females against reduced male fertility, and flexible polyandry enables females to rescue their fertility when male reproductive function is compromised by heatwave conditions.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Goncalo Andre, Renee C. Firman, Leigh W. Simmons
Summary: Studies show that female house mice release prolactin early after copulation, which is dependent on the shape of the baculum and male sexual behavior. This suggests a mechanism of sexual selection acting on the mammalian baculum.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Xu Zhang, Tongtong Zhang, Xiaohan Ren, Xinglin Chen, ShangQian Wang, Chao Qin
Summary: This study conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effects of pyrethroid exposure on the male reproductive system, finding that exposure could reduce sperm quality and affect the reproductive system of F1 offspring. Pyrethroid exposure may lead to oxidative stress, damaging the male reproductive system.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Entomology
Jason Shadmany, Siu F. Lee, Thu N. M. Nguyen, Phillip W. Taylor
Summary: This study investigates patterns of sperm use in Queensland fruit flies by observing the effects of multiple mating on paternity, shedding light on the species' reproductive biology and patterns of sperm usage. Comparison with other tephritid fruit flies provides insights into the reproductive biology of this species and implications for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT).
Article
Zoology
Taiwo C. Omotoriogun, Tomas Albrecht, Jostein Gohli, David Horak, Lars Erik Johannessen, Arild Johnsen, Jakub Kreisinger, Petter Z. Marki, Ulf Ottosson, Melissah Rowe, Ondrej Sedlacek, Jan T. Lifjeld
Article
Ornithology
Diana Carneiro, Gabor Arpad Czirjak, Melissah Rowe
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2020)
Correction
Ecology
Melissah Rowe, Liisa Veerus, Pal Trosvik, Angus Buckling, Tommaso Pizzari
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Callum S. McDiarmid, Roger Li, Ariel F. Kahrl, Melissah Rowe, Simon C. Griffith
Summary: Research on sperm is important in various fields such as ecology and evolution. Sperm Sizer, a freely available Java program, can semi-automate the process of measuring sperm length efficiently. The program produces high quality sperm length data and can be used in various species.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Elise Mccarthy, Callum S. Mcdiarmid, Laura L. Hurley, Melissah Rowe, Simon C. Griffith
Summary: The study of sperm morphology in the masked finch reveals high levels of within- and among-male variation, especially in total sperm length and specific components. Greater variance in sperm length among estrildid species suggests weak selection due to low levels of sperm competition. The findings emphasize the typical variability of sperm in estrildid species and the importance of studying closely related groups for a better understanding of sperm diversity and avian diversity.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Melissah Rowe, Annabel Van Oort, Lyanne Brouwer, Jan T. Lifjeld, Michael S. Webster, Joseph F. Welklin, Daniel T. Baldassarre
Summary: This study found that sperm quantity (indicated by cloacal protuberance volume) was associated with reproductive success in male red-backed fairy-wrens, while sperm morphology was not. This suggests that males use a large number of sperm as a defensive strategy to protect within-pair paternity success in a system with high risk of sperm competition and female control of copulation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Homa Papoli Yazdi, Mark Ravinet, Melissah Rowe, Glenn-Peter Saetre, Caroline O. Guldvog, Fabrice Eroukhmanoff, Alfonso Marzal, Sergio Magallanes, Anna Runemark
Summary: Hybridization can result in novel combinations of alleles that impact the phenotype through changes in gene expression. This study investigates the extent to which gonad gene expression has evolved in an established and stable homoploid hybrid, the Italian sparrow. It found evidence for strong transgressive expression in male Italian sparrows, indicating the potential for novel variation following hybridization.
Article
Ornithology
Gaute Gronstol, Marie Danielsen, Emily R. A. Cramer, Lars Erik Johannessen, Arild Johnsen, Emma Whittington, Jan T. Lifjeld
Summary: Sperm cell size and structural integrity are not significantly affected by fixation and storage in formalin or ethanol, although there is a small reduction in sperm cell length over long storage periods. However, ethanol storage leads to a higher proportion of acrosome-damaged sperm cells compared to formalin storage. Overall, formalin better preserves the integrity of sperm cells.
JOURNAL OF ORNITHOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Jeffrey A. Harvey, Kevin Tougeron, Rieta Gols, Robin Heinen, Mariana Abarca, Paul K. Abram, Yves Basset, Matty Berg, Carol Boggs, Jacques Brodeur, Pedro Cardoso, Jetske G. de Boer, Geert R. De Snoo, Charl Deacon, Jane E. Dell, Nicolas Desneux, Michael E. Dillon, Grant A. Duffy, Lee A. Dyer, Jacintha Ellers, Anahi Espindola, James Fordyce, Matthew L. Forister, Caroline Fukushima, Matthew J. G. Gage, Carlos Garcia-Robledo, Claire Gely, Mauro Gobbi, Caspar Hallmann, Thierry Hance, John Harte, Axel Hochkirch, Christian Hof, Ary A. Hoffmann, Joel G. Kingsolver, Greg P. A. Lamarre, William F. Laurance, Blas Lavandero, Simon R. Leather, Philipp Lehmann, Cecile Le Lann, Margarita M. Lopez-Uribe, Chun-Sen Ma, Gang Ma, Joffrey Moiroux, Lucie Monticelli, Chris Nice, Paul J. Ode, Sylvain Pincebourde, William J. Ripple, Melissah Rowe, Michael J. Samways, Arnaud Sentis, Alisha A. Shah, Nigel Stork, John S. Terblanche, Madhav P. Thakur, Matthew B. Thomas, Jason M. Tylianakis, Joan Van Baaren, Martijn Van de Pol, Wim H. Van der Putten, Hans Van Dyck, Wilco C. E. P. Verberk, David L. Wagner, Wolfgang W. Weisser, William C. Wetzel, H. Arthur Woods, Kris A. G. Wyckhuys, Steven L. Chown
Summary: Climate warming is a serious anthropogenic stress on the environment, exacerbating the harmful effects of other threats and potentially threatening species preservation and ecosystem services provided by biodiversity. Insects, as central components of many ecosystems, are highly affected by climate change, with effects on physiology, behavior, distribution, and interactions, as well as extreme events.
ECOLOGICAL MONOGRAPHS
(2023)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Heidi S. Fisher, Eduardo R. S. Roldan, Tomer Avidor-Reiss, Melissah Rowe
Article
Ecology
Callum S. McDiarmid, Fiona Finch, Marianne Peso, Erica van Rooij, Daniel M. Hooper, Melissah Rowe, Simon C. Griffith
Summary: Mating behavior plays a crucial role in speciation by influencing gene flow between closely related species. The long-tailed finch provides an opportunity to study mating behavior and species barriers through the examination of hybrid zones. Behavioral assays revealed an assortative mating preference for males of the same subspecies, but this preference was not observed when bill color was manipulated. This suggests that mate preference may be based on other traits or a combination of traits, or the bill manipulations were not convincing to the female choosers.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Laura L. Hurley, Riccardo Ton, Melissah Rowe, Katherine L. Buchanan, Simon C. Griffith, Ondi L. Crino
Summary: Birds that breed opportunistically maintain partial activation of reproductive systems to rapidly exploit environmental conditions when they become suitable for breeding. Males of seasonally breeding birds downregulate testosterone production outside of a breeding context to minimize costs.
HORMONES AND BEHAVIOR
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emma Whittington, Murielle Alund
MOLECULAR REPRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Caitlin E. McDonough-Goldstein, Emma Whittington, Erin L. McCullough, Sharleen M. Buel, Scott Erdman, Scott Pitnick, Steve Dorus
Summary: This study investigates the proteomic composition of the female reproductive tract (FRT) tissue and luminal fluid before and after mating in Drosophila melanogaster, revealing distinct characteristics between the fluid proteome and tissue proteome. The fluid proteome is encoded by genes with higher FRT gene expression levels and tissue specificity, enriched for metabolic functions, and exhibits significant postmating compositional changes. These findings enhance our understanding of secretion mechanisms in the FRT, provide insights into female contributions to reproductive interactions, and underscore the importance of proteomic approaches in studying the dynamics of the FRT environment.
MOLECULAR & CELLULAR PROTEOMICS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura L. Hurley, Ondi L. Crino, Melissah Rowe, Simon C. Griffith