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Related Experiment Videos

Sperm viability matters in insect sperm competition.

Francisco García-González1, Leigh W Simmons

  • 1Evolutionary Biology Research Group, School of Animal Biology (M092), The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia. pgarcia@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

Current Biology : CB
|February 8, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Sperm quality, specifically the proportion of live sperm, determines paternity success in crickets. This study provides the first experimental evidence that sperm competition drives selection for higher sperm viability in insects.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Animal Behavior

Background:

  • Sperm competition is a significant evolutionary force in insects, influencing male reproductive traits.
  • The role of sperm quality in insect paternity has been largely overlooked, unlike in vertebrates.
  • Previous research suggests polyandrous insect species have higher proportions of live sperm.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if sperm viability influences paternity within a single insect species.
  • To test the hypothesis that higher sperm quality enhances fertilization success in sperm competition.

Main Methods:

  • Sperm competition experiments were conducted using the cricket Teleogryllus oceanicus.
  • Males were prescreened for differences in sperm viability.

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  • Paternity success was assessed based on the proportion of viable sperm in ejaculates and female storage organs.

    • Main Results:

    • Paternity success was directly correlated with the proportion of live sperm in a male's ejaculate.
    • Observed paternity patterns accurately predicted based on the relative viability of sperm.
    • Demonstrated a link between sperm quality and fertilization outcomes in within-species sperm competition.

    Conclusions:

    • Provides the first experimental evidence that sperm competition selects for increased sperm quality in insects.
    • Highlights the importance of considering between-male variation in sperm quality in insect reproductive studies.
    • Sperm viability is a critical factor determining paternity in insect sperm competition.