Sperm Morphology and Male Age in Black-Throated Blue Warblers, an Ecological Model System
Extra-pair paternity may drive selection on spermatozoa and ejaculate characteristics through sperm competition and cryptic female choice. Here, we examine sperm morphology in the black-throated blue warbler (<i>Setophaga caerulescens</i>), an ecological model species where extra-pair pa...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1175 |
| _version_ | 1797562747755429888 |
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| author | Emily Cramer Nicole Krauss Tricia Rowlison Pierre Comizzoli |
| author_facet | Emily Cramer Nicole Krauss Tricia Rowlison Pierre Comizzoli |
| author_sort | Emily Cramer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Extra-pair paternity may drive selection on spermatozoa and ejaculate characteristics through sperm competition and cryptic female choice. Here, we examine sperm morphology in the black-throated blue warbler (<i>Setophaga caerulescens</i>), an ecological model species where extra-pair paternity is frequent and is linked with male age. We test whether sperm morphology relates to several aspects of male phenotype known or suspected to affect extra-pair paternity success. Sperm morphology did not correlate with the size of the white wing spot, a social status signal, nor with the volume of the cloacal protuberance. However, older males tended to have longer sperm cells. Although the sample size was limited, this pattern is intriguing, as longer cells may be advantageous in post-copulatory sexual selection and older males have larger testes and higher extra-pair paternity success in this species. Changes in sperm morphology with age are not observed in other birds, though they have been observed in insects and fishes. More research on sperm morphology is needed to clarify its role in extra-pair fertilizations in this well-studied species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:32:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-54e83f217a644c38a1ebe0da7145f33a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T18:32:31Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-54e83f217a644c38a1ebe0da7145f33a2023-11-20T06:27:36ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152020-07-01107117510.3390/ani10071175Sperm Morphology and Male Age in Black-Throated Blue Warblers, an Ecological Model SystemEmily Cramer0Nicole Krauss1Tricia Rowlison2Pierre Comizzoli3Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USASchool of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USASmithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USASmithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC 20008, USAExtra-pair paternity may drive selection on spermatozoa and ejaculate characteristics through sperm competition and cryptic female choice. Here, we examine sperm morphology in the black-throated blue warbler (<i>Setophaga caerulescens</i>), an ecological model species where extra-pair paternity is frequent and is linked with male age. We test whether sperm morphology relates to several aspects of male phenotype known or suspected to affect extra-pair paternity success. Sperm morphology did not correlate with the size of the white wing spot, a social status signal, nor with the volume of the cloacal protuberance. However, older males tended to have longer sperm cells. Although the sample size was limited, this pattern is intriguing, as longer cells may be advantageous in post-copulatory sexual selection and older males have larger testes and higher extra-pair paternity success in this species. Changes in sperm morphology with age are not observed in other birds, though they have been observed in insects and fishes. More research on sperm morphology is needed to clarify its role in extra-pair fertilizations in this well-studied species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1175age effectsbirdsextra-pair paternityParulidaepost-copulatory sexual selectionsperm morphology |
| spellingShingle | Emily Cramer Nicole Krauss Tricia Rowlison Pierre Comizzoli Sperm Morphology and Male Age in Black-Throated Blue Warblers, an Ecological Model System Animals age effects birds extra-pair paternity Parulidae post-copulatory sexual selection sperm morphology |
| title | Sperm Morphology and Male Age in Black-Throated Blue Warblers, an Ecological Model System |
| title_full | Sperm Morphology and Male Age in Black-Throated Blue Warblers, an Ecological Model System |
| title_fullStr | Sperm Morphology and Male Age in Black-Throated Blue Warblers, an Ecological Model System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sperm Morphology and Male Age in Black-Throated Blue Warblers, an Ecological Model System |
| title_short | Sperm Morphology and Male Age in Black-Throated Blue Warblers, an Ecological Model System |
| title_sort | sperm morphology and male age in black throated blue warblers an ecological model system |
| topic | age effects birds extra-pair paternity Parulidae post-copulatory sexual selection sperm morphology |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/7/1175 |
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