Sperm competition, alternative mating tactics and context-dependent fertilization success in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides
Sperm competition, alternative mating tactics and context-dependent fertilization success in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides
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DOI：
10.1098/rspb.2007.0054
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发表时间：
2007-05-22
影响因子：
4.7
通讯作者：
Moore, Allen J.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
House, Clarissa M.;Hunt, John;Moore, Allen J.
精子竞争中的受精成功通常由实验室估计的第一个（P1）或第二个（P2）交配的雄性所生后代的比例来确定。然而，如果受精成功取决于测量的生物背景，那么从这些数据中推断性选择如何作用于自然界中的雄性性状可能会产生误导。我们使用不育雄性技术，以研究同一男性在两个交配环境中的埋葬甲虫，Nicrophorus vespilloides，一个物种，男性有替代交配策略的基础上存在或不存在的资源的父系。我们发现，在不同的社会条件下交配时，一个给定的男性所取得的父权没有一致性。在这两种条件下，P2估计值差异极大。身体的大小是无关的成功，在精子竞争远离尸体，但最有可能通过交配前的男性-男性竞争，影响受精成功的尸体。因此，精子竞争的贡献取决于测量的条件。我们讨论了我们的研究结果与spermcompetition理论，并强调需要考虑生物背景，以连接交配和受精成功的竞争男性。
Fertilization success in sperm competition is often determined by laboratory estimates of the proportion of offspring sired by the first (P1) or second (P2) male that mates. However, inferences from such data about how sexual selection acts on male traits in nature may be misleading if fertilization success depends on the biological context in which it is measured. We used the sterile male technique to examine the paternity of the same male in two mating contexts in the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides, a species where males have alternative mating strategies based on the presence or absence of resources. We found no congruence in the paternity achieved by a given male when mating under different social conditions. P2 estimates were extremely variable under both conditions. Body size was unrelated to success in sperm competition away from a carcass but, most probably through pre-copulatory male-male competition, influenced fertilization success on a carcass. The contribution of spermcompetition is therefore dependent on the conditions under which it is measured. We discuss our findings in relation to spermcompetition theory and highlight the need to consider biological context in order to link copulation and fertilization success for competing males.