Sexual selection on bushcricket genitalia operates in a mosaic pattern
Abstract In most species with internal fertilization, male genitalia evolve faster than other morphological structures. This holds true for genital titillators, which are used exclusively during mating in several bushcricket subfamilies. Several theories have been proposed for the sexual selection f...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2020-03-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6025 |
| _version_ | 1818612162248048640 |
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| author | Nadja C. Wulff Gerlind U. C. Lehmann |
| author_facet | Nadja C. Wulff Gerlind U. C. Lehmann |
| author_sort | Nadja C. Wulff |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract In most species with internal fertilization, male genitalia evolve faster than other morphological structures. This holds true for genital titillators, which are used exclusively during mating in several bushcricket subfamilies. Several theories have been proposed for the sexual selection forces driving the evolution of internal genitalia, especially sperm competition, sexually antagonistic coevolution (SAC), and cryptic female choice (CFC). However, it is unclear whether the evolution of genitalia can be described with a single hypothesis or a combination of them. The study of species‐specific genitalia action could contribute to the controversial debate about the underlying selective evolutionary forces. We studied female mating behaviors in response to experimentally modified titillators in a phylogenetically nested set of four bushcricket species: Roeseliana roeselii, Pholidoptera littoralis littoralis, Tettigonia viridissima (of the subfamily Tettigoniinae), and Letana inflata (Phaneropterinae). Bushcricket titillators have several potential functions; they stimulate females and suppress female resistance, ensure proper ampulla or spermatophore attachment, and facilitate male fixation. In R. roeselii, titillators stimulate females to accept copulations, supporting sexual selection by CFC. Conversely, titillator modification had no observable effect on the female's behavior in T. viridissima. The titillators of Ph. l. littoralis mechanically support the mating position and the spermatophore transfer, pointing to sexual selection by SAC. Mixed support was found in L. inflata, where manipulation resulted in increased female resistance (evidence for CFC) and mating failures by reduced spermatophore transfer success (evidence for SAC). Sexual selection is highly species‐specific with a mosaic support for either cryptic female choice or sexually antagonistic coevolution or a combination of both in the four species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:41:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8dccc5a87d1f41a9800903606f94bbf4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T15:41:50Z |
| publishDate | 2020-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-8dccc5a87d1f41a9800903606f94bbf42022-12-21T22:25:58ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582020-03-011052320233810.1002/ece3.6025Sexual selection on bushcricket genitalia operates in a mosaic patternNadja C. Wulff0Gerlind U. C. Lehmann1Department of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Humboldt University Berlin Berlin GermanyDepartment of Biology, Evolutionary Ecology Humboldt University Berlin Berlin GermanyAbstract In most species with internal fertilization, male genitalia evolve faster than other morphological structures. This holds true for genital titillators, which are used exclusively during mating in several bushcricket subfamilies. Several theories have been proposed for the sexual selection forces driving the evolution of internal genitalia, especially sperm competition, sexually antagonistic coevolution (SAC), and cryptic female choice (CFC). However, it is unclear whether the evolution of genitalia can be described with a single hypothesis or a combination of them. The study of species‐specific genitalia action could contribute to the controversial debate about the underlying selective evolutionary forces. We studied female mating behaviors in response to experimentally modified titillators in a phylogenetically nested set of four bushcricket species: Roeseliana roeselii, Pholidoptera littoralis littoralis, Tettigonia viridissima (of the subfamily Tettigoniinae), and Letana inflata (Phaneropterinae). Bushcricket titillators have several potential functions; they stimulate females and suppress female resistance, ensure proper ampulla or spermatophore attachment, and facilitate male fixation. In R. roeselii, titillators stimulate females to accept copulations, supporting sexual selection by CFC. Conversely, titillator modification had no observable effect on the female's behavior in T. viridissima. The titillators of Ph. l. littoralis mechanically support the mating position and the spermatophore transfer, pointing to sexual selection by SAC. Mixed support was found in L. inflata, where manipulation resulted in increased female resistance (evidence for CFC) and mating failures by reduced spermatophore transfer success (evidence for SAC). Sexual selection is highly species‐specific with a mosaic support for either cryptic female choice or sexually antagonistic coevolution or a combination of both in the four species.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6025copulatory courtshipcryptic female choicegenitaliamosaic selectionsexual antagonistic coevolutionsexual selection |
| spellingShingle | Nadja C. Wulff Gerlind U. C. Lehmann Sexual selection on bushcricket genitalia operates in a mosaic pattern Ecology and Evolution copulatory courtship cryptic female choice genitalia mosaic selection sexual antagonistic coevolution sexual selection |
| title | Sexual selection on bushcricket genitalia operates in a mosaic pattern |
| title_full | Sexual selection on bushcricket genitalia operates in a mosaic pattern |
| title_fullStr | Sexual selection on bushcricket genitalia operates in a mosaic pattern |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual selection on bushcricket genitalia operates in a mosaic pattern |
| title_short | Sexual selection on bushcricket genitalia operates in a mosaic pattern |
| title_sort | sexual selection on bushcricket genitalia operates in a mosaic pattern |
| topic | copulatory courtship cryptic female choice genitalia mosaic selection sexual antagonistic coevolution sexual selection |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6025 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT nadjacwulff sexualselectiononbushcricketgenitaliaoperatesinamosaicpattern AT gerlinduclehmann sexualselectiononbushcricketgenitaliaoperatesinamosaicpattern |