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Related Concept Videos

Competition02:34

Competition

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When organisms require the same limited resources within an environment, they may have to compete for them. Competition is a net-negative interaction. Even if two competing individuals or populations do not interact directly, the overall fitness of both competitors is lowered as a result of not having full access to the limited resource.
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Spermatogenesis01:41

Spermatogenesis

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Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male...
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Spermatogenesis01:22

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Spermatogenesis is a complex process that involves the development of sperm cells from undifferentiated stem cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. The process is essential for the production of mature and functional sperm cells that are capable of fertilizing an egg.
The process of spermatogenesis can be divided into mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. During mitosis, the spermatogonia or stem cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells, type A and B spermatogonia. Type-A...
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Sperm Transport01:15

Sperm Transport

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The journey of sperm from its origin to the point of ejaculation begins within the seminiferous tubules of the testis. Here, Sertoli cells produce fluid that propels non-motile sperm through a series of conduits, starting with the straight tubules leading to the rete testis. This interconnected network of tubules acts as the initial pathway for sperm, guiding them into the efferent ductules and then into the epididymis for maturation.
The maturation phase occurs in the epididymis, where sperm...
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Fixed Action Patterns01:06

Fixed Action Patterns

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A fixed action pattern (FAP) is a specific, hard-wired sequence of behaviors that occurs in response to an external stimulus, called a sign stimulus. The behavior is “fixed” because it is essentially unchangeable—proceeding similarly across individuals of a species every time it occurs.
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Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

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Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
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Related Experiment Video

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Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila
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Sperm competition in squamate reptiles.

Christopher R Friesen1,2, Ariel F Kahrl3, Mats Olsson1,4

  • 1School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia.

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences
|October 19, 2020
PubMed
Summary

Multiple paternity is common in squamates (lizards and snakes), leading to intense sperm competition. This study explores how sperm traits and female reproductive anatomy influence long-term sperm storage and paternity outcomes.

Keywords:
copulatory plugsmultiple paternityseminal fluidsperm morphologysperm storage

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Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Evolutionary ecology
  • Herpetology

Background:

  • Multiple paternity is widespread in squamates (lizards and snakes), increasing the likelihood of sperm competition.
  • Females of many squamate species can store sperm for extended periods, ranging from months to years, a phenomenon that requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanisms influencing paternity patterns in squamates.
  • To examine the relationship between sperm size, sperm competition intensity, and the duration of female sperm storage.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on squamate reproductive strategies.
  • Analysis of the interplay between ejaculate characteristics, female reproductive tract morphology, and sperm storage duration.
  • Exploration of the evolutionary implications of postcopulatory sexual selection in lizards and snakes.

Main Results:

  • Squamates employ diverse strategies to ensure fertilization success amidst sperm competition.
  • Female reproductive tract features may play a crucial role in facilitating long-term sperm storage.
  • Sperm size and the intensity of sperm competition are potentially linked to the duration of sperm storage.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the enigma of long-term sperm storage in female squamates is key to deciphering postcopulatory sexual selection.
  • Further research on lizards and snakes can illuminate diverse life-history strategies and reproductive tactics.