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Sperm competition in birds

T R Birkhead1

  • 1Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, The University, Sheffield, UK.

Reviews of Reproduction
|July 31, 1998
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sperm competition in birds, common despite monogamy, often leads to extra-pair paternity. The last male to inseminate often fertilizes most eggs due to sperm loss over time.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Sperm competition is a key aspect of sexual selection in birds, influencing male reproductive success.
  • Despite social monogamy, extra-pair paternity is frequent, driven by sperm competition.
  • Male adaptations include larger testes and frequent copulations, while female control over fertilization is significant.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism underlying sperm competition in birds.
  • To understand why the last inseminating male often achieves higher fertilization success.
  • To explore the evolutionary benefits for females engaging in extra-pair fertilizations.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of data from sperm competition studies in domestic fowl, turkeys, and zebra finches.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Evaluation of the passive sperm loss model to explain fertilization outcomes.
  • Examination of factors influencing sperm competition, including insemination timing and sperm numbers.

    • Main Results:

    • Data supports a passive sperm loss model, where sperm are lost from storage tubules over time.
    • The interval between inseminations is critical; later inseminations have a fertilization advantage.
    • Last male sperm precedence is not absolute and is influenced by insemination timing, male traits, and sperm count.

    Conclusions:

    • The primary mechanism of sperm competition in studied birds involves passive sperm loss from oviductal storage.
    • Optimal strategy for maximizing fertilization success involves copulating close to oviposition.
    • Further research is needed to fully understand the evolutionary benefits of extra-pair fertilization for females.