Demographic consequences of reproductive interference in multi-species communities
Abstract Background Reproductive interference can mediate interference competition between species through sexual interactions that reduce the fitness of one species by another. Theory shows that the positive frequency-dependent effects of such costly errors in mate recognition can dictate species c...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Ecology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-018-0201-0 |
| _version_ | 1818681785478807552 |
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| author | Janice J. Ting Asher D. Cutter |
| author_facet | Janice J. Ting Asher D. Cutter |
| author_sort | Janice J. Ting |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Reproductive interference can mediate interference competition between species through sexual interactions that reduce the fitness of one species by another. Theory shows that the positive frequency-dependent effects of such costly errors in mate recognition can dictate species coexistence or exclusion even with countervailing resource competition differences between species. While usually framed in terms of pre-mating or post-zygotic costs, reproductive interference manifests between individual Caenorhabditis nematodes from negative interspecies gametic interactions: sperm cells from interspecies matings can migrate ectopically to induce female sterility and premature death. The potential for reproductive interference to exert population level effects on Caenorhabditis trait evolution and community structure, however, remains unknown. Results Here we test whether a species that is superior in individual-level reproductive interference (C. nigoni) can exact negative demographic effects on competitor species that are superior in resource competition (C. briggsae and C. elegans). We observe coexistence over six generations and find evidence of demographic reproductive interference even under conditions unfavorable to its influence. C. briggsae and C. elegans show distinct patterns of reproductive interference in competitive interactions with C. nigoni. Conclusions These results affirm that individual level negative effects of reproductive interference mediated by gamete interactions can ramify to population demography, with the potential to influence patterns of species coexistence separately from the effects of direct resource competition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:08:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bc7d63ede2a7439d9d9d5294e93abe0b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6785 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T10:08:28Z |
| publishDate | 2018-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Ecology |
| spelling | doaj.art-bc7d63ede2a7439d9d9d5294e93abe0b2022-12-21T21:53:06ZengBMCBMC Ecology1472-67852018-11-0118111310.1186/s12898-018-0201-0Demographic consequences of reproductive interference in multi-species communitiesJanice J. Ting0Asher D. Cutter1Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of TorontoDepartment of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of TorontoAbstract Background Reproductive interference can mediate interference competition between species through sexual interactions that reduce the fitness of one species by another. Theory shows that the positive frequency-dependent effects of such costly errors in mate recognition can dictate species coexistence or exclusion even with countervailing resource competition differences between species. While usually framed in terms of pre-mating or post-zygotic costs, reproductive interference manifests between individual Caenorhabditis nematodes from negative interspecies gametic interactions: sperm cells from interspecies matings can migrate ectopically to induce female sterility and premature death. The potential for reproductive interference to exert population level effects on Caenorhabditis trait evolution and community structure, however, remains unknown. Results Here we test whether a species that is superior in individual-level reproductive interference (C. nigoni) can exact negative demographic effects on competitor species that are superior in resource competition (C. briggsae and C. elegans). We observe coexistence over six generations and find evidence of demographic reproductive interference even under conditions unfavorable to its influence. C. briggsae and C. elegans show distinct patterns of reproductive interference in competitive interactions with C. nigoni. Conclusions These results affirm that individual level negative effects of reproductive interference mediated by gamete interactions can ramify to population demography, with the potential to influence patterns of species coexistence separately from the effects of direct resource competition.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-018-0201-0CaenorhabditisReproductive interferenceInterference competitionSperm |
| spellingShingle | Janice J. Ting Asher D. Cutter Demographic consequences of reproductive interference in multi-species communities BMC Ecology Caenorhabditis Reproductive interference Interference competition Sperm |
| title | Demographic consequences of reproductive interference in multi-species communities |
| title_full | Demographic consequences of reproductive interference in multi-species communities |
| title_fullStr | Demographic consequences of reproductive interference in multi-species communities |
| title_full_unstemmed | Demographic consequences of reproductive interference in multi-species communities |
| title_short | Demographic consequences of reproductive interference in multi-species communities |
| title_sort | demographic consequences of reproductive interference in multi species communities |
| topic | Caenorhabditis Reproductive interference Interference competition Sperm |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12898-018-0201-0 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT janicejting demographicconsequencesofreproductiveinterferenceinmultispeciescommunities AT asherdcutter demographicconsequencesofreproductiveinterferenceinmultispeciescommunities |