We found a match
Your institution may have access to this item. Find your institution then sign in to continue.
- Title
Offensive and defensive sperm competition roles in the dung beetle Onthophagus taurus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae).
- Authors
House, Clarissa M.; Simmons, Leigh W.
- Abstract
Sperm competition is predicted to generate opposing selection pressures on males. On one hand, selection should favour ‘defensive’ adaptations that protect a male’s ejaculate from displacement, while, on the other hand, selection should favour ‘offensive’ adaptations that overcome paternity assurance mechanisms of rivals. Here, we use the sterile male technique to assess sperm precedence when a male dung beetle Onthophagus taurus mates in both a defensive (first male) and an offensive (second male) role. Significant variation in a male’s sperm precedence (both P 1 and P 2) was detected, and an individual’s defensive ( P 1) and offensive ( P 2) abilities were positively correlated. Thus, it appears that sexual selection simultaneously selects for ‘defensive’ and ‘offensive’ adaptations in O. taurus. We discuss a variety of male traits in O. taurus that potentially contribute to a male’s ability to be successful when mating in an ‘offensive’ and a ‘defensive’ role.
- Subjects
SPERM competition; SEXUAL selection; SEXUAL behavior in insects; DUNG beetles; SPERMATOZOA; PATERNITY; BEETLES; EDUCATION; ANIMAL behavior; REPRODUCTION
- Publication
Behavioral Ecology & Sociobiology, 2006, Vol 60, Issue 2, p131
- ISSN
0340-5443
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00265-005-0149-x