Control of social monogamy through aggression in a hermaphroditic shrimp
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Sex allocation theory predicts that in small mating groups simultaneous hermaphroditism is the optimal form of gender expression. Under these conditions, male allocation is predicted to be very low and overall per-capita reproducti...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2011-11-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Zoology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.frontiersinzoology.com/content/8/1/30 |
| _version_ | 1818346132325007360 |
|---|---|
| author | Wong Janine WY Michiels Nico K |
| author_facet | Wong Janine WY Michiels Nico K |
| author_sort | Wong Janine WY |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Sex allocation theory predicts that in small mating groups simultaneous hermaphroditism is the optimal form of gender expression. Under these conditions, male allocation is predicted to be very low and overall per-capita reproductive output maximal. This is particularly true for individuals that live in pairs, but monogamy is highly susceptible to cheating by both partners. However, certain conditions favour social monogamy in hermaphrodites. This study addresses the influence of group size on group stability and moulting cycles in singles, pairs, triplets and quartets of the socially monogamous shrimp <it>Lysmata amboinensis</it>, a protandric simultaneous hermaphrodite.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The effect of group size was very strong: Exactly one individual in each triplet and exactly two individuals in each quartet were killed in aggressive interactions, resulting in group sizes of two individuals. All killed individuals had just moulted. No mortality occurred in single and pair treatments. The number of moults in the surviving shrimp increased significantly after changing from triplets and quartets to pairs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Social monogamy in <it>L. amboinensis </it>is reinforced by aggressive expulsion of supernumerous individuals. We suggest that the high risk of mortality in triplets and quartets results in suppression of moulting in groups larger than two individuals and that the feeding ecology of <it>L. amboinensis </it>favours social monogamy.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:13:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5af4e361863f41cdaeaa82c6d816805e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1742-9994 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T17:13:24Z |
| publishDate | 2011-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Zoology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5af4e361863f41cdaeaa82c6d816805e2022-12-21T23:37:30ZengBMCFrontiers in Zoology1742-99942011-11-01813010.1186/1742-9994-8-30Control of social monogamy through aggression in a hermaphroditic shrimpWong Janine WYMichiels Nico K<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Sex allocation theory predicts that in small mating groups simultaneous hermaphroditism is the optimal form of gender expression. Under these conditions, male allocation is predicted to be very low and overall per-capita reproductive output maximal. This is particularly true for individuals that live in pairs, but monogamy is highly susceptible to cheating by both partners. However, certain conditions favour social monogamy in hermaphrodites. This study addresses the influence of group size on group stability and moulting cycles in singles, pairs, triplets and quartets of the socially monogamous shrimp <it>Lysmata amboinensis</it>, a protandric simultaneous hermaphrodite.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The effect of group size was very strong: Exactly one individual in each triplet and exactly two individuals in each quartet were killed in aggressive interactions, resulting in group sizes of two individuals. All killed individuals had just moulted. No mortality occurred in single and pair treatments. The number of moults in the surviving shrimp increased significantly after changing from triplets and quartets to pairs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Social monogamy in <it>L. amboinensis </it>is reinforced by aggressive expulsion of supernumerous individuals. We suggest that the high risk of mortality in triplets and quartets results in suppression of moulting in groups larger than two individuals and that the feeding ecology of <it>L. amboinensis </it>favours social monogamy.</p>http://www.frontiersinzoology.com/content/8/1/30hermaphroditeaggressioneliminationmoultmonogamypair stabilitygroup sizefood competition |
| spellingShingle | Wong Janine WY Michiels Nico K Control of social monogamy through aggression in a hermaphroditic shrimp Frontiers in Zoology hermaphrodite aggression elimination moult monogamy pair stability group size food competition |
| title | Control of social monogamy through aggression in a hermaphroditic shrimp |
| title_full | Control of social monogamy through aggression in a hermaphroditic shrimp |
| title_fullStr | Control of social monogamy through aggression in a hermaphroditic shrimp |
| title_full_unstemmed | Control of social monogamy through aggression in a hermaphroditic shrimp |
| title_short | Control of social monogamy through aggression in a hermaphroditic shrimp |
| title_sort | control of social monogamy through aggression in a hermaphroditic shrimp |
| topic | hermaphrodite aggression elimination moult monogamy pair stability group size food competition |
| url | http://www.frontiersinzoology.com/content/8/1/30 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT wongjaninewy controlofsocialmonogamythroughaggressioninahermaphroditicshrimp AT michielsnicok controlofsocialmonogamythroughaggressioninahermaphroditicshrimp |