10.5061/DRYAD.MF587
Finseth, Findley R.
Cornell University
Iacovelli, Stephanie R.
Cornell University
Harrison, Richard G.
Cornell University
Adkins-Regan, Elizabeth K.
Cornell University
Data from: A nonsemen copulatory fluid influences the outcome of sperm
competition in Japanese quail.
Dryad
dataset
2013
ejaculate evolution
foam gland
Japanese quail
seminal fluid proteins
sperm fertilizing efficiency
Coturnix japonica
post-copulatory sexual selection
2013-04-29T19:42:48Z
2013-04-29T19:42:48Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12189
4525 bytes
1
CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Sperm competition is a powerful and widespread evolutionary force that
drives the divergence of behavioral, physiological, and morphological
traits. Elucidating the mechanisms governing differential fertilization
success is a fundamental question of sperm competition. Both sperm and
non-sperm ejaculate components can influence sperm competition outcomes.
Here, we investigate the role of a non-semen copulatory fluid in sperm
competition. Male Japanese quail possess a gland that makes meringue-like
foam. Males produce and store foam independent of sperm and seminal fluid,
yet transfer foam to females during copulation. We tested whether foam
influenced the outcome of sperm competition by varying foam state and
mating order in competitive matings. We found that the presence of foam
from one male decreased the relative fertilization success of a rival, and
that foam from a given male increased the probability he obtained any
fertilizations. Mating order also affected competitive success. Males
mated first fertilized proportionally more eggs in a clutch and had more
matings with any fertilizations than subsequent males. We conclude that
the function of foam in sperm competition is mediated through the positive
interaction of foam with a male’s sperm, and we speculate whether the
benefit is achieved through improving sperm storage, fertilizing
efficiency, or retention. Our results suggest males can evolve complex
strategies to gain fertilizations at the expense of rivals as foam, a
copulatory fluid not required for fertilization, nevertheless has
important effects on reproductive performance under competition.
Role of foam in sperm competition datasetCompetitive reproductive
performance in terms of number of fertilized eggs of a pair of males
(manipulated and non-manipulated) mated to the same females. Males may
(manipulated, sometimes) or may not (non-manipulated) have had their foam
complements removed prior to mating. Mating order and foam complements
were varied. Abbreviations as follows: Male_Pair: the id of the male pair;
Group: trial sets for two different groups; Male_Pair_Full: a combination
of male pair id and group; Manip_ID: id of the manipulated male, who may
or may not have had his foam removed; NonManip_ID: id of the
non-manipulated male, whose foam was never removed; Female_ID: id of the
mated female; Manip_Posit; mating positior of the manipulated male, either
first (1) or second (2); Foam_Manip: whether or not the manipulated
male's foam was removed (absent) or not (present);
Number_NonManip_Fert: number of eggs fertilized from the non-manipulated
male; Number_Manip_Fert: number of eggs fertilized by the manipulated
male; Total_Fert: total number of eggs fertilized for a given trial;
NonManip_AnyFert: whether or not the non-manipulated male fertilized any
eggs (1) or none (0); Manip_AnyFert: whether or not the manipulated male
fertilized any eggs (1) or none (0); Manip_LastDayFert: the last day a
manipulated male fertilized any eggs; Mixed: whether or not their was
mixed paternity for a given matingDataForDryad_27Apr13.csv