The effect of nuptial gift number on fertilization success in a Hawaiian swordtail cricket

A general model for the evolution of nuptial gift-giving

“…This is because the estimated value of γ is based on data from current populations (rather than ancestral populations, which are being simulated), and because the literature is inconclusive as to how much (if any) effect nuptial gifts have on female fitness 30 . The effect of nuptial gifts on female fecundity has been estimated in a variety of system such as crickets, fireflies, butterflies and spiders, but these estimates vary considerably between species suggesting a large positive effect to no effect at all [30][31][32][33] Our model assumes something akin to sequential polyandry. That is, a system wherein female mating and reproduction with multiple males occurs in sequence, rather than multiple matings occurring before reproduction.…”

“…The effect that nuptial gifts have on fitness might vary across species, or even populations. Effects on female fecundity have been estimated in crickets, fireflies, butterflies, and spiders, but these estimates vary considerably between species suggesting a large positive effect to no effect at all (Bergström & Wiklund, 2002; Rooney & Lewis, 2002; Maxwell & Prokop, 2018; Gao et al ., 2019).…”

“…This is because the estimated value of γ is based on data from current populations (rather than ancestral populations, which are being simulated), and because the literature is inconclusive as to how much (if any) effect nuptial gifts have on female fitness (Maxwell & Prokop, 2018). The effect of nuptial gifts on female fecundity has been estimated in a variety of system such as crickets, fireflies, butterflies and spiders, but these estimates vary considerably between species suggesting a large positive effect to no effect at all (Bergström & Wiklund, 2002; Rooney & Lewis, 2002; Maxwell & Prokop, 2018; Gao et al ., 2019).…”

The reduction of nuptial gifts in sclerosomatid Opiliones coincides with increased behavioural sexual conflict

“…Nuptial gifts are any materials, beyond gametes, which are provided by a donor to a recipient before or during copulation in order to increase the donor’s fitness (Gwynne 2008; Lewis & South 2012; Lewis et al 2014). These gifts might be consumed orally or received internally during copulation and can range from exogenous materials (such as captured prey wrapped in silk) to endogenous materials (such as proteinaceous fluids) (Gao et al 2019; Lewis & South 2012). The fitness consequences to the recipient remains intentionally unspecified under this definition, and extensive research shows nuptial gifts can range from being highly beneficial (Albo et al 2017; Brown & Barry 2016; Gwynne 2008; Lehmann & Lehmann 2016; O’Hara & Brown 2021; Toft & Albo 2015; Voigt et al 2005; Welke & Schneider 2011) to neutral (Martínez Villar et al 2021) to highly costly (Arnqvist & Rowe 2005; Sakaluk et al 2019; Sirot et al 2015; Wolfner 2002).…”

“…While precopulatory intrasexual contest traits are frequently subject to these trade-offs, trade-offs involving sperm competition or nuptial gifts are potentially just as numerous, albeit not as readily apparent (del Castillo & Gwynne 2007; Kelly 2008; Lehmann et al 2016; Miller et al 2019; Moczek & Nijhout 2003; Simmons & Emlen 2006; Yamane et al 2010). The trade-offs between gift quality and female manipulation, however, whether through deception or physical coercion, would be particularly evident when measuring sperm transfer or storage, paternity share, or insemination success (Gao et al 2019; Lewis & South 2012).…”