Phenotypic Engineering Unveils the Function of Genital Morphology
Phenotypic Engineering Unveils the Function of Genital Morphology
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DOI：
10.1016/j.cub.2012.10.009
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发表时间：
2012-12-04
期刊：
影响因子：
9.2
通讯作者：
Arnqvist, Goran
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Hotzy, Cosima;Polak, Michal;Arnqvist, Goran
几个世纪以来，人们已经认识到内生殖动物雄性生殖器形态的快速进化和通常非常复杂的外观[1]。交配后的性选择被认为是这种多样性的可能进化引擎[2]，但对这一假设的直接支持是有限的。我们使用了两种互补的方法，通过人工选择和微尺度激光手术的进化，实验操纵昆虫模型系统中的生殖器形态。然后，我们评估了这些表型操纵男性的竞争性受精成功，并研究了他们的射精在女性使用高分辨率放射性同位素标记的射精的命运。生殖器棘较长的男性更成功地获得受精，提供实验证据表明，男性生殖器形态影响交配后生殖竞争的成功。此外，更大比例的精液从生殖道进入女性身体交配后，男性与较长的棘，这表明生殖棘增加精液进入女性血淋巴的速度。我们的研究结果表明，生殖器形态影响雄性竞争受精成功，并暗示生殖器形态的性选择可能部分通过精液介导[3]。
The rapidly evolving and often extraordinarily complex appearance of male genital morphology of internally fertilizing animals has been recognized for centuries [1]. Postcopulatory sexual selection is regarded as the likely evolutionary engine of this diversity [2], but direct support for this hypothesis is limited. We used two complementary approaches, evolution through artificial selection and microscale laser surgery, to experimentally manipulate genital morphology in an insect model system. We then assessed the competitive fertilization success of these phenotypically manipulated males and studied the fate of their ejaculate in females using high-resolution radioisotopic labeling of ejaculates. Males with longer genital spines were more successful in gaining fertilizations, providing experimental evidence that male genital morphology influences success in postcopulatory reproductive competition. Furthermore, a larger proportion of the ejaculate moved from the reproductive tract into the female body following mating with males with longer spines, suggesting that genital spines increase the rate at which seminal fluid passes into the female hemolymph. Our results show that genital morphology affects male competitive fertilization success and imply that sexual selection on genital morphology may be mediated in part through seminal fluid [3].