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Chemosensory assessment of sperm competition levels and the evolution of internal spermatophore guarding.

P Carazo1, E Font, B Alfthan

  • 1Instituto Cavanilles de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Universidad de Valencia, Apartado 22085, 46071 Valencia, Spain. pau.carazo@uv.es

Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|December 7, 2006
PubMed
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Male mealworm beetles use chemical cues to assess sperm competition risk and adjust mating behavior. They increase post-copulatory guarding to prevent rivals from inhibiting sperm, demonstrating a novel form of reproductive strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Animal behavior
  • Evolutionary ecology

Background:

  • Males often adjust reproductive behavior based on perceived sperm competition risk.
  • Mechanisms for assessing sperm competition levels are poorly understood in many species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how Tenebrio molitor beetles assess sperm competition risk (SCR) and intensity (SCI).
  • To analyze the impact of chemical cues related to competitor density on mating behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Mating behavior of Tenebrio molitor pairs was analyzed under three distinct odor treatments representing varying SCR and SCI.
  • Copula duration and post-copulatory behaviors were measured and compared across treatments.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • Copula duration and post-copulatory associations (PCAs) significantly increased with higher male density odor treatments.
  • This suggests insects can detect competitor density via chemical cues, informing SCR and SCI.
  • PCAs were extended beyond the threshold needed to prevent rival spermatophore inhibition, indicating a 'spermatophore guarding' role.

Conclusions:

  • Tenebrio molitor males use chemical cues to assess sperm competition risk and adjust mating strategies.
  • Strategic male behavior in T. molitor functions as spermatophore guarding, even with internal spermatophore delivery.
  • Spermatophore guarding can evolve as a response to short-term inhibition or displacement mechanisms.