Pattern of sperm transfer in redback spiders: implications for sperm competition and male sacrifice

Snow, Lindsay S. E.; Andrade, Maydianne C. B.

doi:10.1093/beheco/arh080

Cited by 91 publications

(81 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Paternity could reflect the outcome of a numerical raffle where the relative number of sperm inseminated by two males predicts success (Parker et al 1990). The lack of an effect of copulation duration is not inconsistent with this mechanism as male redbacks transfer most of their sperm within 5 min (Snow & Andrade 2004). Variation in paternity (figure 1) may be explained by the wide variation in the number of sperm ejaculated by virgin males (Snow & Andrade 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further work is necessary to determine whether cannibalism-mediated increases in copulation duration directly translate into higher paternity. However, cannibalism is also associated with increased sperm transfer (Snow & Andrade 2004), decreased female receptivity (Andrade 1996) and female cannibalistic behaviour (with timing favouring relatively larger males ( §3)) is an important determinant of male success. Thus our data suggest sequential, cannibalismmediated female choice (see Elgar et al 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Spiders were reared on a 12 : 12 light : dark cycle and held separately to ensure virginity (see Snow & Andrade 2004). Redbacks are nocturnal, so all mating trials were conducted in a dark cycle under red lights.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiple sperm storage organs facilitate female control of paternity

2005

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It has been proposed that multiple sperm storage organs (spermathecae) could allow polyandrous females to control paternity. There is little conclusive evidence for this since insemination of individual spermathecae is generally not experimentally manipulable. Here, we examined sperm use patterns in the Australian redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti ), which has paired, independent spermathecae. We assessed paternity when two rivals were forced to inseminate a single storage organ or opposite storage organs. When males inseminated a single spermatheca, mean paternity of the female's first mate was 79.8% (median 89.4%), and 38% of first mates achieved 100% paternity. In contrast, when males inseminated opposite organs, the mean paternity of the first mate was 49.3% (median 49.9%), only 10% of males achieved complete precedence, and paternity was normally distributed, suggesting sperm mixing. Males responded to this difference by avoiding previously inseminated female reproductive tracts. Complete sperm precedence can only be achieved if females permit males to copulate with both reproductive tracts. Females often cannibalize smaller males during their first copulation, thus limiting their paternity to 50%. These data show that multiple sperm storage organs can increase female control of paternity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiple sperm storage organs facilitate female control of paternity

2005

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“…For example, in L. hasselti, the majority of sperm is transferred in the first 5 min. Thus, copulation duration may serve as a form of copulatory courtship, with females selectively storing/using sperm from males that copulate longer (Snow & Andrade, 2004). In the spiny orbweaver, Micrathena gracilis, sperm are transferred early in copulation and are not related to copulation duration.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research on such cannibalistic mating systems has inspired the development of multiple hypotheses regarding adaptive selfsacrifice associated with cannibalism (Andrade, 1996(Andrade, , 1998(Andrade, , 2003Snow & Andrade, 2004). For example, cannibalized males can increase the proportion of eggs they fertilize under sperm competition through either transferring more sperm or reducing female receptivity (mating effort: Andrade, 1996Andrade, , 1998Elgar, 1992;Low, 1978;Simmons & Parker, 1989).…”

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confidence: 99%

Obligate male death and sexual cannibalism in dark fishing spiders

2014

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Potential for CFC in Black Widows (Genus Latrodectus): Mechanisms and Social Context

Andrade

MacLeod

2015

Cryptic Female Choice in Arthropods

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Understanding the causes of variation in paternity is an important goal of research in sexual selection. While much progress has been made in understanding the dynamics of pre-copulatory mate choice and competition, post-copulatory processes that affect paternity are much less well understood. Distinguishing cryptic female choice (CFC, biases in paternity due to female postcopulatory preferences) from sperm competition (SC, competition among ejaculates for fertilization) and particularly from sexual antagonistic coevolution (SAC, intersexual conflict over mating frequency or fertilization) is at best challenging, and at worst, may be impossible. One way forward is to identify taxa in which comparative approaches, field studies, and detailed mechanistic study are all tractable, as these may allow the design of critical tests of distinguishing predictions of these intertwined hypotheses at different levels of analysis. Here, we focus on the widow spiders, the approximately 30 species in the genus Latrodectus, as a promising group for future work on CFC. Latrodectus spiders are distributed worldwide and show a fascinating range of mating systems set in variable ecological and social contexts. We outline how some of the aspects of Latrodectus natural history and biology may favor CFC rather than (or in addition to) pre-copulatory choice. Moreover, inter-and intraspecific variation in the benefits of CFC may provide the opportunity for comparative and intraspecific studies. We then identify likely mechanisms of CFC in this genus and end by providing suggestive evidence for CFC in a few of the species that have been studied in detail. Although there is no evidence for sperm selection in the Latrodectus to date, female behavior can lead to biases in paternity via changes in copulation frequency, duration, and remating as a function of male courtship effort. In addition, although firstmale sperm precedence mediated by the deposit of sperm plugs is common in this genus, females may be able to manipulate the success of this internal plug and

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Pattern of sperm transfer in redback spiders: implications for sperm competition and male sacrifice

Cited by 91 publications

References 67 publications

Multiple sperm storage organs facilitate female control of paternity

Multiple sperm storage organs facilitate female control of paternity

Obligate male death and sexual cannibalism in dark fishing spiders

Potential for CFC in Black Widows (Genus Latrodectus): Mechanisms and Social Context

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