Female genital mutilation as a novel mating strategy in spiders: conflict or cooperation?

雄性和雌性之间的繁殖兴趣并不完全一致，因为雄性的繁殖成功通常受到可以获得的交配伴侣数量的限制，而雌性的繁殖成功则受到一生中可以产生的卵子数量的限制。性选择理论的结论是，性选择特征的多样性是由于雄性对雌性的竞争以及雌性对交配对象的选择而进化出来的。另一方面，拮抗性共同进化理论认为，性别特征的多样性是由于男性在控制受精方面的操纵和女性的反适应而进化的。因此，雌性不是被选择去偏好特定的雄性特征，而是为了减少雄性操纵所带来的适应成本。在交配期间对雌性造成的伤害被认为是对抗性共同进化的范例。在这个项目中，我们将调查尚未被注意到的女性生殖器外生殖器切割现象。在分类学家中进行的文献检索和查询显示，这种现象不是一个特例，而是至少在蜘蛛中广泛存在。我们将研究生殖器切割的机制，切割对女性剩余概率的影响，以及切割对两性预期寿命和生殖成功率的影响。我们将分析这种类型的交配系统在多大程度上是由雌性的对抗性共同进化或选择性合作形成的（经典雌性选择）。本文将对三种球网蜘蛛（Larinia）的生殖器官切割机制和适应价值进行阐述。最后，这些数据将被纳入这个新现象演变的数学模型中。

Reproductive interests between males and females do not fully coincide since the reproductive success of males is generally limited by the number of mating partners that can be gained whereas the reproductive success of females is limited by the number of eggs that can be produced over a lifetime. Sexual selection theory concludes that the diversity of sexually selected traits has evolved due to competition among males over access to females and due to female choice of mating partners. The theory of antagonistic coevolution on the other hand posits that the diversity of sexual traits has evolved due to male manipulations and female counter-adaptations in the race over control of fertilization. As a consequence, females are not selected to prefer specific male traits but to reduce fitness costs that result from male manipulations. Harm inflicted on the female during mating is considered a paradigm example of antagonistic coevolution. In this project we will investigate the as yet unnoticed phenomenon of external genital mutilation of female genitalia. A literature search and query among taxonomists revealed that the phenomenon is not a singular one but wide spread at least among spiders. We will investigate the mechanism of genital mutilation, the consequences of mutilation on the remating probability of female as well as the effects of mutilation on life expectancy and reproductive success of both sexes. We will analyse to what extend this type of mating system is shaped by antagonistic coevolution or by selective cooperation of the female (classical female choice). The mechanisms and adaptive values of genital mutilation will be elucidated in three selected orb-web spider species of the genus Larinia. Finally, the data will be incorporated into a mathematical model on the evolution of this novel phenomenon.