Spermatozoa and spermiogenesis of the wolf spider Schizocosa malitiosa (Lycosidae, Araneae) and its functional and phylogenetic implications

Michalik, Peter; Aisenberg, Anita; Postiglioni, Rodrigo; Lipke, Elisabeth

doi:10.1007/s00435-012-0166-z

Cited by 16 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Proximally fused testes are found in caponiids and dysderids (Michalik et al, ; Lipke and Michalik, ), whereas completely fused testes are a synapomorphy for oonopids (Burger and Michalik, ). The organization of most orsolobids, with paired, elongated testes resembles that of segestriids and most other spider taxa, including mygalomorphs, basal araneomorphs, and entelegynes (Alberti et al, ; Alberti, ; Alberti and Coyle, ; Michalik, ; Michalik et al, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…In general, spider sperm are transferred immobile because the main cell components are coiled within the cytoplasm and the sperm is surrounded by a secretion sheath (Alberti, ; Michalik and Lipke, ), i.e., they are encapsulated, as reviewed by Vöcking et al (). The secretion sheath, whose thickness can vary remarkably, is either synthesized in the testes or deferent ducts and can be single or multilayered (Alberti, ; Michalik et al, ; Michalik and Lipke, ). Our data show a high variation concerning the sheath thickness in Orsolobidae.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of orsolobidae (Haplogynae, Araneae) with implications on the evolution of sperm transfer forms in Dysderoidea

Lipke

Ramı́rez

Michalik

2014

Journal of Morphology

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Haplogynae are highly diverse with respect to the primary male genital system and sperm characteristics. Additionally, all sperm transfer forms (STF) known for spiders are present. Besides individually transferred sperm (cleistospermia), sperm are transferred as conjugates, both primary (synspermia) and secondary sperm conjugates (coenospermia, rouleaux) occur. Nevertheless, the ultrastructure of spermatozoa and STF are described for few Haplogynae and often only one representative species was studied, resulting in a superficial insight in the evolution of these traits. To elucidate the evolution of STF within Haplogynae we investigated representatives of four genera of the dysderoid family Orsolobidae. Our data show the presence of synspermia (Orsolobus, Osornolobus, Hickmanolobus, and Tasmanoonops) and also cleistospermia (Osornolobus). The occurrence of different STF within one family or even genus has not been described for any other spider taxon so far. Moreover, the synspermia of species of Tasmanoonops and Hickmanolobus were not covered by a secretion sheath suggesting a previously unknown strategy of transferring sperm that is possibly related to sperm residency time or female triggered processes after copulation. Based on serial ultrathin sectioning and subsequent 3D-reconstruction, we obtained detailed measurements revealing remarkable size differences of STF. To evaluate the previously suggested correlation with the most distal region of the spermophor inside the embolus (intromittent part of the copulatory organ) we measured the diameter of the spermophor using micro-computed X-ray tomography data to obtain corresponding morphometric parameters. Based on these data only two species show similarity in STF and spermophor diameter.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of orsolobidae (Haplogynae, Araneae) with implications on the evolution of sperm transfer forms in Dysderoidea

Lipke

Ramı́rez

Michalik

2014

Journal of Morphology

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“…Although much has been revealed and examined regarding anatomical aspects of sperm with its mechanisms on spermiogenesis (Costa‐Ayub & Faraco ; Michalik et al . ), the knowledge in terms of spider sperm division is still very limited and only a little is known on the number of germ cells produced per cyst (Kim et al . ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural analysis of theridiid spider's testicular cyst using 3D reconstruction rendering

Kim

Jeong

Hwang

et al. 2015

Entomological Research

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A three dimensional reconstruction technique was used for the analysis of a theridiid spider's (Achaearanea tepidariorum) testicular cyst. Although microscopic techniques have greatly improved, most of the information gathered is still based on two‐dimensional images. Particularly in spiders, it is very difficult to count the exact number of sperm in a single cyst, since their spermatogenetic processes takes place within the spherical cysts through the flagellar coiling process. Since morphological features of spider sperm provide detailed information on the whole spermatogenetic processes, we analyzed the exact number of germ cells per cyst in A. tepidariorum through a three‐dimensional image reconstruction technique. For image processing, serially sectioned histological images were scanned using a light microscope and 3D rendering images were reconstructed from these sections. Based on the three dimensional image analysis of the testicular cyst, the number of secondary spermatocytes per cyst was calculated to be 32 (25). Therefore the total number of sperm produced from a single cyst can be calculated as 64 (26), which indicates that a single spermatogonium undergoes four mitotic divisions and an additional two meiotic divisions to produce mature spermatozoa.

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“…Previous studies have suggested S. malitiosa males may be transferring receptivity inhibiting substances (RIS) associated to the ejaculate (Aisenberg & Costa, ). Further, using transmission electron microscopy (Michalik, Aisenberg, Postiglioni, & Lipke, ) investigated the genital system and sperm in this species and found secretion droplets surrounding sperm cells, which seems to be compatible with the putative RIS. In agreement, females exert much more control over the sperm during pattern 1, drastically reducing storage to similar amounts present in pattern 2.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Female wolf spiders exert cryptic control drastically reducing ejaculate size

Albo

Costa

2017

Ethology

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Sexes' roles in post‐copulatory processes have important effects on individual fitness and are promising to study in species showing complex mating behaviours. In the spider Schizocosa malitiosa, males perform two different copulatory patterns, pattern 1 includes 80% of total pedipalp insertions and pattern 2 includes 20%. Both patterns produce similar number of offspring, but pattern 1 induces higher female reluctance to remating than pattern 2. We hypothesised that the complex copulatory patterns are linked to post‐copulatory sexual selection, affecting males' sperm transfer and the resulting sperm storage by females. First, we examined amounts of sperm in males and live females from uninterrupted (pattern 1 + 2) and interrupted matings (pattern 1, pattern 2). Second, in order to disentangle male and female actions, we induced males to mate with dead females and examined amounts of sperm. Males transfer in total 71% of the sperm available in their pedipalps, being higher but not significant in pattern 1 than in pattern 2. Females drastically reduced the amount of sperm stored in their spermathecae and such control is stronger in pattern 1 compared to pattern 2 matings. We propose that cryptic female control is a main factor driving males to strengthen sperm transfer. Active female reduction in ejaculate most probably diminished her reluctance to remate.

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Spermatozoa and spermiogenesis of the wolf spider Schizocosa malitiosa (Lycosidae, Araneae) and its functional and phylogenetic implications

Cited by 16 publications

References 33 publications

Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of orsolobidae (Haplogynae, Araneae) with implications on the evolution of sperm transfer forms in Dysderoidea

Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of orsolobidae (Haplogynae, Araneae) with implications on the evolution of sperm transfer forms in Dysderoidea

Structural analysis of theridiid spider's testicular cyst using 3D reconstruction rendering

Female wolf spiders exert cryptic control drastically reducing ejaculate size

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