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Updated: Jun 5, 2026

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila
Published on: August 22, 2013
Sperm competition in mammals
1J.R. Ginsberg is at the Dept of Zoology, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3PS, UK.
Abstract:
Female promiscuity can lead to the spermatazoa of several males 'competing' to fertilize the ova of a single female. Such promiscuity is relatively common among mammals and has resulted in a suite of adaptations associated with sperm competition. In the last decade, laboratory scientists using experimental techniques have clarified the physiological and behavioural mechanisms that result from sperm competition. Field biologists have collected data on a variety of mammals to test predictions of sperm competition theory. Unfortunately, theories developed and tested in laboratory situations do not always explain variation in behaviour observed in field studies.
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