Article
Ecology
Julian Baur, Dorian Jagusch, Piotr Michalak, Mareike Koppik, David Berger
Summary: This study investigated the impact of mating systems on the thermal sensitivity of fertility in seed beetles. Results showed that females had higher thermal sensitivity of fertility compared to males, and this sex difference increased significantly over only two generations under sexual selection. Manipulation of mating systems can generate intraspecific variation in the sex difference in thermal sensitivity of fertility. The study provides a causal link between mating systems and thermal sensitivity of fertility.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
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
Entomology
Alois Honek, Zdenka Martinkova
Summary: This study investigated the benefits of copulation with large males in the firebug species, Pyrrhocoris apterus. The results showed that increasing male body size did not have a positive effect on the reproductive characteristics of females. Several reasons for this deficiency were discussed.
Article
Biology
Julian Melgar, Mads F. Schou, Maud Bonato, Zanell Brand, Anel Engelbrecht, Schalk W. P. Cloete, Charlie K. Cornwallis
Summary: This study experimentally tested sex differences in cooperative breeding and their impact on group size variation in ostriches. The results showed that male optimal group size is influenced by competition costs, while female reproductive success is impacted by the benefits of cooperation with group members. Intermediate group sizes were found to be disadvantageous for both males and females.
Article
Biology
Goran Arnqvist, Karl Grieshop, Cosima Hotzy, Johanna Ronn, Michal Polak, Locke Rowe
Summary: The study found that male genital spines in seed beetles have a direct negative impact on female fecundity, but females mating with males from long-spine lines produced more offspring, indicating the presence of indirect effects. Females adapt to male spines through evolutionary selection, influenced by multiple simultaneous processes that affect mating and fertilization biases.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(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
Ecology
William David Weber, Heidi S. S. Fisher
Summary: When females mate with multiple partners, both male and female reproductive traits evolve in response to post-copulatory sexual selection.
JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Eleanor Bath, Daisy Buzzoni, Toby Ralph, Stuart Wigby, Irem Sepil
Summary: Mating affects female behavior and physiology across a wide range of taxa, often induced by components of male ejaculate. Variation in male condition can lead to differences in the strength of responses males can stimulate in females, affecting fitness outcomes for both sexes.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ewan O. Flintham, Vincent Savolainen, Charles Mullon
Summary: Sexual conflict can arise when males evolve traits that harm females while improving their own mating success. This study shows that conflict is more intense in populations where individuals are in better condition, as condition-dependent expression of sexually selected traits readily evolves. This intensified conflict reduces mean fitness and can lead to a negative association between condition and population size. The coevolution of condition and sexual conflict can make the good genes effect detrimental to populations in the presence of male harm.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nielsen Mary-Elise, Erik S. Johnson, Jerald B. Johnson
Summary: Xenophallus umbratilis is a freshwater livebearing fish that shows unique asymmetry in male gonopodium. There is evidence to suggest that males might exhibit side-biased behavior when mating with females. Two assays were conducted to assess the laterality of mating interactions based on gonopodial morphology. Results showed lateralized mating behavior in males with sinistral gonopodial morphology, but not in males with dextral gonopodial morphology. Additionally, no evidence of lateralized body positioning was found in trials with a single female and five males of the same morphology.
Article
Ecology
Steffen Roth, Michael T. Siva-Jothy, Ondrej Balvin, Edward H. Morrow, Endre Willassen, Klaus Reinhardt, Sutirth Dey, Tracey Chapman
Summary: Rapid genitalia evolution in bedbugs is primarily driven by sexual selection, with noncopulatory genital functions exerting stronger selection pressure on female genitalia. Unlike other taxa, female copulatory organs in bedbugs have no function in egg-laying or waste-product expulsion. The location of the copulatory organ in bedbugs has evolved rapidly, while male genital length and shape show little variation. Female genitalia position evolves faster than male genital length and shape, and is not influenced by neutral or geographic factors. Instead, it is proposed that nonmorphological male traits, such as mating behavior, may drive female genitalia morphology in bedbugs.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
David Canal, Monika Jablonszky, Katalin Krenhardt, Gabor Marko, Gergely Nagy, Eszter Szasz, Janos Torok, Sandor Zsebok, Laszlo Zsolt Garamszegi
Summary: This study revealed the relative importance of male and female identity in male courtship behavior, as well as the increased male responsiveness to stimulus females as the breeding season progressed. Furthermore, the results suggest that invitation latency is a consistent courtship attribute in males that can be adjusted plastically according to perceived female quality and environmental conditions.
Article
Biology
Nan Lyu, D. Justin Yeh, Huw Lloyd, Yue-Hua Sun
Summary: The study examines the relationship between post-pairing male behaviors and female trait evolution using theoretical models. It finds that male mate choosiness can have surprising influence on the evolution of costly female traits. The study suggests that choosy males can have different post-pairing behaviors, which has been overlooked in previous studies. The findings show that both male preferences and female traits can evolve more easily than previously expected.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sara E. E. Lipshutz, Samuel J. J. Torneo, Kimberly A. A. Rosvall
Summary: Sexual selection drives trait variation, and male competition for mating opportunities is linked to sperm size. The influence of female-female competition and male-male competition on sperm morphology is not well understood. We examined two species with socially polyandrous mating systems, finding that the species with greater polyandry had longer midpieces and tails in their sperm, as well as lower intraejaculate variation in tail length. These results suggest that female-female competition may shape male-male competition by selecting for longer and less variable sperm traits.
AMERICAN NATURALIST
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Cristina Sartori, Matteo Gianesella, Andrea Pilastro, Roberto Mantovani, Leonardo Armato, Enrico Fiore
Summary: This study focused on the possible sexual dimorphism in the relative lengths of the third, fourth, and fifth digits in calves, as well as the asymmetry in the bone structures of the third and fourth digits as an adaptation to locomotion. Significant sex differences were found in the length and ratios of different digit parts, particularly in the first phalanx of 3D, suggesting a functional adaptation for locomotion.
Article
Cell Biology
Alessandro Devigili, Silvia Cattelan, Clelia Gasparini
Summary: There is evidence of intimate interaction between female reproductive fluid (FRF) and sperm, affecting sperm traits and fertilization success. While most evidence comes from mammals and invertebrates, this study found sperm accumulation towards FRF in zebrafish, indicating potential chemoattraction.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Giovanni Polverino, Vrishin R. Soman, Mert Karakaya, Clelia Gasparini, Jonathan P. Evans, Maurizio Porfiri
Summary: Invasive species pose a threat to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Researchers have used an innovative experimental approach to show that brief exposure to a robotic predator alters mosquitofish behavior, increasing fear and stress responses, and mitigates its impact on native tadpoles. The effects of predation risk from the robot persist for weeks, resulting in weight loss, body shape variation, and reduced fertility in mosquitofish.
Article
Ornithology
Alejandro Corregidor-Castro, Matteo Griggio, Alessandro Grapputo, Toni Mingozzi, Andrea Pilastro, Mireia Plaza, Alejandro Cantarero
Summary: Extra-pair paternity (EPP) is common in socially monogamous bird species. Females engage in extra-pair copulations to increase genetic variability and reduce the risk of inbreeding. This study compared a high EPP population with a low EPP population and found that genetic variability was lower in the high EPP population.
JOURNAL OF AVIAN BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Alexandra Glavaschi, Silvia Cattelan, Alessandro Devigili, Andrea Pilastro
Summary: This study investigates the effects of perceived predation risk on mating behaviours and sexual selection dynamics in prey individuals. The research findings suggest that imminent predation risk perception can impact the relationship between selection opportunity and actual strength of selection on male traits, as well as the traits contributing to male fitness.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Piata Marques, Eugenia Zandona, Jeferson Amaral, Yasmin Selhorst, Rana El-Sabaawi, Rosana Mazzoni, Leticia Castro, Andrea Pilastro
Summary: Urbanization affects the expression and interaction of pre- and post-mating traits in male guppies, with size-dependent reductions in orange and iridescent colors and sperm load. Sexual selection is weaker in urban compared to non-urban systems, and the interaction between traits is context dependent.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Andrea Romano, Michelangelo Morganti, Giacomo Assandri, Gaia Bazzi, Alejandro Corregidor-Castro, Jennifer Morinay, Jacopo G. Cecere, Andrea Pilastro, Diego Rubolini
Summary: This study tested the kin selection theory in nestlings of the lesser kestrel and found that nestlings stole prey more frequently when competing with unrelated, unfamiliar competitors than when competing with siblings. This suggests that relatedness may influence within-brood competition and implies that kin recognition and kin selection play important roles in determining individual competitive strategies and care allocation in multiparous species.
Article
Ecology
Merel C. C. Breedveld, Alessandro Devigili, Oliviero Borgheresi, Clelia Gasparini
Summary: Heatwaves, occurring more frequently and intensely due to climate change, have a significant impact on reproductive traits and sexual selection processes in animals. It is crucial to understand whether the responses differ between sexes and the consequences for population fecundity. However, our current knowledge on these effects is limited.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Matteo Schiavinato, Matteo Griggio, Andrea A. Pilastro, Davide Baldan
Summary: The negotiation rules adopted by parents affect the amount of care devoted to offspring in species with biparental care. Empirical studies have found substantial variability in compensatory behaviour for nesting provisioning. This study investigates the compensatory responses of Spanish sparrows to offspring provisioning and nest defence, finding that parents adjust their compensatory behaviour according to parental task and sex.
Article
Ecology
Elisa Morbiato, Silvia Cattelan, Andrea Pilastro
Summary: This study investigates the effects of environmental fluctuations on postcopulatory sexual selection (PCSS) and finds that limited food availability can alter the variance in fertilization success and sperm precedence patterns.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Marcella Sozzoni, Joan Ferrr Obiol, Giulio Formenti, Anna Tigano, Josephine R. Paris, Jennifer R. Balacco, Nivesh Jain, Tatiana Tilley, Joanna Collins, Ying Sims, Jonathan Wood, Z. Morgan Benowitz-Fredericks, Kenneth A. Field, Eyuel Seyoum, Marie Claire Gatt, Don-Jean Leandri-Breton, Chinatsu Nakajima, Shannon Whelan, Luca Gianfranceschi, Scott A. Hatch, Kyle H. Elliott, Akiko Shoji, Jacopo G. Cecere, Erich D. Jarvis, Andrea Pilastro, Diego Rubolini
Summary: Amidst the current biodiversity crisis, genomic resources for declining species can offer valuable insights into population decline factors. This study presents a high-quality chromosome-level reference genome for the black-legged kittiwake, which will enable further studies on the impacts of global change on this species.
GENOME BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alejandro Corregidor-Castro, Jennifer Morinay, Susan E. McKinlay, Samuele Ramellini, Giacomo Assandri, Gaia Bazzi, Alexandra Glavaschi, Enrico L. De Capua, Alessandro Grapputo, Andrea Romano, Michelangelo Morganti, Jacopo G. Cecere, Andrea Pilastro, Diego Rubolini
Summary: Future climatic scenarios predict increases in temperature and extreme events, such as heatwaves, which can have detrimental effects on avian reproduction. A nest cooling experiment on a Mediterranean bird of prey, the lesser kestrel, showed that high nest temperatures during heatwaves led to increased hatching failure, mortality, and impaired growth in nestlings. These findings highlight the potential threats posed by rising temperatures and heatwave frequency to even warm-adapted species in the Mediterranean region and elsewhere in temperate areas.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisa Morbiato, Silvia Cattelan, Andrea Pilastro, Alessandro Grapputo
Summary: Life-history theory suggests that ageing is one of the costs of reproduction. This study found that reproductive investment in male guppies is strongly associated with telomere length, indicating a trade-off between reproduction and maintenance at each stage of males' life in this species.
Article
Biology
Davide Baldan, Matteo Beccardi, Manuel Fuertes-Recuero, Matteo Schiavinato, Lia Zampa, Andrea Pilastro, Alejandro Cantarero
Summary: This study used a reaction norm approach to investigate the repeatability of compensatory offspring provisioning of parents in the pied flycatcher after temporary removal of their partner. The study found that only female birds partially compensated for the partner's short-term absence and their response was significantly repeatable across different partners and breeding seasons. This study highlights the importance of considering individual differences and negotiation rules in understanding the role of negotiation mechanisms in the evolution of parental care strategies.
Article
Biology
Lisa Locatello, Oliviero Borgheresi, Federica Poli, Andrea Pilastro, Maria B. Rasotto
Summary: Males in many species have the ability to adjust their ejaculate performance in response to changing levels of sperm competition, with the black goby as an example of how territorial males release different proportions of sperm in the presence of sneakers. Field observations suggest a trade-off between ejaculation rate and territory defense.