Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly
Monandrous species are rare in nature, especially in animals where males transfer nutrients to females in the ejaculate. The proximate mechanisms responsible for monandry are poorly studied. In butterflies and moths, the male transfers a nutritious spermatophore into the corpus bursae (CB) of the fe...
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PeerJ Inc.
2021-11-01
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| Online Access: | https://peerj.com/articles/12499.pdf |
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| author | David Xochipiltecatl Joaquín Baixeras Carlos R. Cordero |
| author_facet | David Xochipiltecatl Joaquín Baixeras Carlos R. Cordero |
| author_sort | David Xochipiltecatl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Monandrous species are rare in nature, especially in animals where males transfer nutrients to females in the ejaculate. The proximate mechanisms responsible for monandry are poorly studied. In butterflies and moths, the male transfers a nutritious spermatophore into the corpus bursae (CB) of the female. The CB is a multifunctional organ that digests the spermatophore and has partial control of the post-mating sexual receptivity of the female. The spermatophore distends the CB and the post-mating sexual receptivity of the female is inversely proportional to the degree of distension. The CB of many butterfly species has a muscular sheath whose contractions mechanically contribute to digest the spermatophore. As the contents of the CB are absorbed, the degree of distension decreases and the female recovers receptivity. We studied the monandrous butterfly Leptophobia aripa (Boisduval, 1836) (Pieridae) and found that females do not digest the spermatophores. We investigated the structure of the CB and found that a muscular sheath is absent, indicating that in this butterfly females lack the necessary “apparatus” for the mechanical digestion of the spermatophore. We propose that female monandry in this species is result of its incapability to mechanically digest the spermatophore, which results in a constant degree of CB distension after mating and, thus, in the maintenance of the sexually unreceptive state of females. Hypotheses on the evolution of this mechanism are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:39:31Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b0768fd950204607beda7be649540405 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2167-8359 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T06:39:31Z |
| publishDate | 2021-11-01 |
| publisher | PeerJ Inc. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b0768fd950204607beda7be6495404052023-12-03T10:53:45ZengPeerJ Inc.PeerJ2167-83592021-11-019e1249910.7717/peerj.12499Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterflyDavid Xochipiltecatl0Joaquín Baixeras1Carlos R. Cordero2Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto de Ecología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, MéxicoInstitut Cavanilles de Biodiversitat i Biologia Evolutiva, Universitat de València, Paterna, Valencia, SpainDepartamento de Ecología Evolutiva, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, MéxicoMonandrous species are rare in nature, especially in animals where males transfer nutrients to females in the ejaculate. The proximate mechanisms responsible for monandry are poorly studied. In butterflies and moths, the male transfers a nutritious spermatophore into the corpus bursae (CB) of the female. The CB is a multifunctional organ that digests the spermatophore and has partial control of the post-mating sexual receptivity of the female. The spermatophore distends the CB and the post-mating sexual receptivity of the female is inversely proportional to the degree of distension. The CB of many butterfly species has a muscular sheath whose contractions mechanically contribute to digest the spermatophore. As the contents of the CB are absorbed, the degree of distension decreases and the female recovers receptivity. We studied the monandrous butterfly Leptophobia aripa (Boisduval, 1836) (Pieridae) and found that females do not digest the spermatophores. We investigated the structure of the CB and found that a muscular sheath is absent, indicating that in this butterfly females lack the necessary “apparatus” for the mechanical digestion of the spermatophore. We propose that female monandry in this species is result of its incapability to mechanically digest the spermatophore, which results in a constant degree of CB distension after mating and, thus, in the maintenance of the sexually unreceptive state of females. Hypotheses on the evolution of this mechanism are discussed.https://peerj.com/articles/12499.pdfFemale genitaliaSpermatophoreMating frequencyMonandrySexual selectionLepidoptera |
| spellingShingle | David Xochipiltecatl Joaquín Baixeras Carlos R. Cordero Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly PeerJ Female genitalia Spermatophore Mating frequency Monandry Sexual selection Lepidoptera |
| title | Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly |
| title_full | Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly |
| title_fullStr | Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly |
| title_full_unstemmed | Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly |
| title_short | Atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly |
| title_sort | atypical functioning of female genitalia explains monandry in a butterfly |
| topic | Female genitalia Spermatophore Mating frequency Monandry Sexual selection Lepidoptera |
| url | https://peerj.com/articles/12499.pdf |
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