Reproductive consequences of an extra long-term sperm storage organ
Abstract Background Sperm storage plays a key role in the reproductive success of many sexually-reproducing organisms, and the capacity of long-term sperm storage varies across species. While there are theoretical explanations for why such variation exists, to date there are no controlled empirical...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2020-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-020-01704-6 |
| _version_ | 1818583493577277440 |
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| author | Akashdeep Dhillon Tabashir Chowdhury Yolanda E. Morbey Amanda J. Moehring |
| author_facet | Akashdeep Dhillon Tabashir Chowdhury Yolanda E. Morbey Amanda J. Moehring |
| author_sort | Akashdeep Dhillon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Sperm storage plays a key role in the reproductive success of many sexually-reproducing organisms, and the capacity of long-term sperm storage varies across species. While there are theoretical explanations for why such variation exists, to date there are no controlled empirical tests of the reproductive consequences of additional long-term sperm storage. While Dipterans ancestrally have three long-term sperm organs, known as the spermathecae, Drosophila contain only two. Results We identified a candidate gene, which we call spermathreecae (sp3), in which a disruption cause the development of three functional spermathecae rather than the usual two in Drosophila. We used this disruption to test the reproductive consequences of having an additional long-term sperm storage organ. Compared to females with two spermathecae, females with three spermathecae store a greater total number of sperm and can produce offspring a greater length of time. However, they did not produce a greater total number of offspring. Conclusions Thus, additional long-term sperm storage in insects may increase female fitness through extending the range of conditions where she produces offspring, or through increasing the quality of offspring via enhanced local sperm competition at fertilization. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:06:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dc1ea0207ddd4bbc9ea84a5ab7bef7ad |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2148 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T08:06:10Z |
| publishDate | 2020-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Evolutionary Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-dc1ea0207ddd4bbc9ea84a5ab7bef7ad2022-12-21T22:38:28ZengBMCBMC Evolutionary Biology1471-21482020-11-012011910.1186/s12862-020-01704-6Reproductive consequences of an extra long-term sperm storage organAkashdeep Dhillon0Tabashir Chowdhury1Yolanda E. Morbey2Amanda J. Moehring3Department of Biology, Western UniversityDepartment of Biology, Western UniversityDepartment of Biology, Western UniversityDepartment of Biology, Western UniversityAbstract Background Sperm storage plays a key role in the reproductive success of many sexually-reproducing organisms, and the capacity of long-term sperm storage varies across species. While there are theoretical explanations for why such variation exists, to date there are no controlled empirical tests of the reproductive consequences of additional long-term sperm storage. While Dipterans ancestrally have three long-term sperm organs, known as the spermathecae, Drosophila contain only two. Results We identified a candidate gene, which we call spermathreecae (sp3), in which a disruption cause the development of three functional spermathecae rather than the usual two in Drosophila. We used this disruption to test the reproductive consequences of having an additional long-term sperm storage organ. Compared to females with two spermathecae, females with three spermathecae store a greater total number of sperm and can produce offspring a greater length of time. However, they did not produce a greater total number of offspring. Conclusions Thus, additional long-term sperm storage in insects may increase female fitness through extending the range of conditions where she produces offspring, or through increasing the quality of offspring via enhanced local sperm competition at fertilization.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-020-01704-6Sperm storageSpermathecaeDrosophilaOffspring productionFitness |
| spellingShingle | Akashdeep Dhillon Tabashir Chowdhury Yolanda E. Morbey Amanda J. Moehring Reproductive consequences of an extra long-term sperm storage organ BMC Evolutionary Biology Sperm storage Spermathecae Drosophila Offspring production Fitness |
| title | Reproductive consequences of an extra long-term sperm storage organ |
| title_full | Reproductive consequences of an extra long-term sperm storage organ |
| title_fullStr | Reproductive consequences of an extra long-term sperm storage organ |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reproductive consequences of an extra long-term sperm storage organ |
| title_short | Reproductive consequences of an extra long-term sperm storage organ |
| title_sort | reproductive consequences of an extra long term sperm storage organ |
| topic | Sperm storage Spermathecae Drosophila Offspring production Fitness |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-020-01704-6 |
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