Sperm storage within the oviduct of turtles

Gist, Daniel H.; Jones, Jeffery M.

doi:10.1002/jmor.1051990311

Cited by 93 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…If the fall is, in fact, the primary mating period for this species, females must be capable of storing sperm to fertilize eggs the following spring, as has been suggested by another study (Kaufmann 1992). The storage of viable sperm for over one year has been documented for many other species of North American turtles (Smith 1956;Berry and Shine 1980;Gist and Jones 1989), but has not been shown for Wood Turtles. While we have no evidence that our population has longer mating attempts in the fall or that there is a greater frequency of sperm transfer during this period, the fact that 70% of mating attempts observed occurred in the fall may indicate that the fall mating period is more important.…”

Section: Matingmentioning

confidence: 89%

Ecological Aspects of a Wood Turtle, <em>Glyptemys insculpta</em>, Population at the Northern Limit of its Range in Québec

Walde¹,

Bider²,

Daigle

et al. 2003

Can Field Nat

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As part of a conservation research initiative, a population of Wood Turtles (Glyptemys insculpta) at the northern limit of its range was studied to ascertain characteristics of its demographics, morphometrics, density, mortality, feeding, and mating activities. Turtles were captured and marked during the activity period in 1996 and 1997. In addition, 20 individuals were radio-tracked weekly. A total of 188 turtles was captured and the size of the population in the study area was estimated at 238 turtles. The estimated population density based on this calculation is 0.44 turtles/ha. This is less than other studies indicating that population densities are greater in southern populations. Turtles from this population were large (carapace length of males=214.5 ± 4.21 mm, females=201.1 ± 10.88 mm) which supports the hypothesis that turtle size is negatively correlated with number of frost free days. The sex ratio was not significantly different from 1:1. Juvenile turtles accounted for 31.4% of the population. Observations of feeding habits support the claim that Wood Turtles are opportunistic omnivores. Of the 35 mating or courtship events observed, 77 % occurred in the fall and half of them between 11:00 and 13:00. Although limb and tail injuries and parasites were observed on many turtles, no dead turtles were observed. This last result, combined with the high rate of recruitment and even sex ratio suggests that this population is stable, making it an ideal population with which to make comparisons with other studies in areas where the species could be in decline.

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Section: Matingmentioning

confidence: 89%

Ecological Aspects of a Wood Turtle, <em>Glyptemys insculpta</em>, Population at the Northern Limit of its Range in Québec

Walde¹,

Bider²,

Daigle

et al. 2003

Can Field Nat

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“…Sperm storage in females' genital ducts is very common in tortoises and turtles (Gist and Jones 1989;Brown and Brooks 1993), providing ample possibilities for sperm competition to occur (Schuett and Gillingham 1986;Stille et al 1986;Barry et al 1992;Galbraith 1993;Galbraith et al 1993). Multiple paternity may enhance female fitness, as it has been documented in other reptiles (Loman et al 1988;Madsen et al 1992).…”

Section: Why Do Females Exhibit Such Large Home Ranges?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Sex divergence in space utilisation in the steppe tortoise (Testudo horsfieldi)

Lagarde¹,

Bonnet²,

Henen³

et al. 2003

Can. J. Zool.

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Abstract:In animal species without parental care, the fitness of males should increase with the number of females encountered, court, and fertilise, and the fitness of females depends strongly on the quantity and quality of resources acquired. This should translate into a marked sex differences in the patterns of space utilisation. We analysed the sex divergences in home range and movements pattern in the steppe tortoise (Testudo horsfieldi) in Uzbekistan. From the radio-tracking data of 36 individuals throughout the active season, the home range of the male steppe tortoise was estimated to be smaller than that of the female (24 vs. 57 ha), even when the analysis focused on the mating season only. During the mating season, males intensively patrolled a small area, going back and forth within their territory, thereby covering greater distances than females. The females movements were more unidirectional, resulting in large loops over a very extended home range. We proposed several nonexclusive hypothesis for such a pattern.Résumé : Chez de nombreuses espèces animales dépourvues de soins parentaux, le succès reproducteur des mâles dépend du nombre de femelles qu'ils rencontrent, courtisent et parviennent à féconder et celui des femelles dépend fortement de la qualité et de la quantité des ressources trophiques qu'elles acquièrent. Cela se traduit souvent par des différences marquées dans les modes d'occupation de l'espace développés par chaque sexe. Dans cette étude, nous analysons les divergences sexuelles dans les domaines vitaux et les déplacements chez la tortue des steppes (Testudo horsfieldi) en Ouzbékistan. A partir d'un suivi par radio-tracking de 36 individus tout au long de la saison d'activité, le domaine vital des mâles s'est avéré plus petit que celui des femelles (24 contre 57 ha), même lorsque l'analyse est restreinte à la période d'accouplements. Ce résultat surprenant est partiellement clarifié lorsque la nature des déplacements est prise en compte. Durant la saison des accouplements, les mâles patrouillent intensivement un petit domaine vital, en réalisant de constants allers et retours, parcourant de plus grandes distances que les femelles. Les femelles réalisent de plus petits déplacements quotidiens, s'enchaînant en de larges boucles couvrant un domaine vital étendu. Différentes hypothèses non exclusives sont proposées pour expliquer ce pattern d'occupation de l'espace.

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“…Alternatively, sperm stored from a previous nesting season could have contributed to the progeny. Sperm storage tubules containing sperm have been identified within the oviduct of several turtle species including the olive ridley (Gist and Jones, 1989), and in box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina), sperm storage for up to 4 years has been reported (Ewing, 1943). This is much longer than the average internesting period for Surinam olive ridleys which nest on average every 1 or 2 years (Schulz, 1975).…”

Section: Multiple Paternitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple paternity and female-biased mutation at a microsatellite locus in the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

et al. 2002

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Multiple paternity in the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) population nesting in Suriname was demonstrated using two microsatellite loci, viz., Ei8 and Cm84. The large number of offspring sampled per clutch (70 on average, ranging from 15 to 103) and the number of alleles found at the two loci (18 and eight alleles, respectively) enabled unambiguous assessment of the occurrence of multiple paternity. In two out of 10 clutches analysed, the offspring had been sired by at least two males, which was confirmed at both loci. In both clutches, unequal paternity occurred: 73% and 92% of the offspring had been sired by the primary male. The probability of detecting multiple paternity was 0.903, and therefore there is a small chance that multiple

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Sperm storage within the oviduct of turtles

Cited by 93 publications

References 23 publications

Ecological Aspects of a Wood Turtle, <em>Glyptemys insculpta</em>, Population at the Northern Limit of its Range in Québec

Ecological Aspects of a Wood Turtle, <em>Glyptemys insculpta</em>, Population at the Northern Limit of its Range in Québec

Sex divergence in space utilisation in the steppe tortoise (Testudo horsfieldi)

Multiple paternity and female-biased mutation at a microsatellite locus in the olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)

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