When sex becomes a wrestling game in a dragonfly: female refusal behavior to male harassers

Khelifa, Rassim

doi:10.1002/ecy.3435

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 17 publications

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“…Some models predicted that the survival probability of both males and females was lower when individuals were observed in areas of high male density. This is probably due to mating-related intraspecific interactions 63 where male-male interference competition and female coercion incur damages and fitness costs 64 . Our results on density-dependent movement probability and distance are in line with this hypothesis, which has been suggested for many territorial species 65 , 66 , including invertebrates such as damselflies ( C. splendens ) 21 , butterflies 68 , flies 69 , backswimmers 70 , and vertebrates like birds and mammals 5 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Condition-dependent survival and movement behavior in an endangered endemic damselfly

Mahdjoub,

Zebsa,

Kahalerras

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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Movement is essential for the maintenance of populations in their natural habitats, particularly for threatened species living in fluctuating environments. Empirical evidence suggests that the probability and distance of movement in territorial species are context-dependent, often depending on population density and sex. Here, we investigate the movement behavior of the spring cohort of an endangered endemic damselfly Calopteryx exul in a lotic habitat of Northeast Algeria using capture-mark-recapture (CMR) of adults. By sampling 10 gridded river stretches across a 2 km section of the watercourse, we were able to estimate the distance of movement throughout individual lifespans and estimate movement probability for both males and females. We used multistate models to examine whether individual density and sex ratio influence survival and movement probability. We found that males and females had similar movement kernels with most individuals moving short distances (83% performing movements of < 100 m and only 1% > 1000 m). Of the 547 marked individuals, 63% were residents, and 37% were movers (moved at least 50 m from one sampling occasion to another). Survival probability showed higher estimates for females and was slightly density-dependent (i.e., lower survival probabilities were associated with high male densities). Survival probability did not show a marked difference between residents and movers. Movement probability and distances were positively correlated with individual density, but were not or slightly correlated with sex ratio, respectively. These results are not in line with the hypotheses of sex-biased movement and survival costs of movement. Our results suggest that the species performs mostly short-distance movements that are dependent on intraspecific interactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Condition-dependent survival and movement behavior in an endangered endemic damselfly

Mahdjoub,

Zebsa,

Kahalerras

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

Self Cite

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Sex wars: a female genital spine forces male damselflies to shorten copulation duration

2023

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In some species males use weapons to harm females, increasing their short-term fitness. Here we show that females can use genital adaptations against males. Females of the damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum have a conspicuous vulvar spine on the 8 th abdominal segment, which contacts with the male during copulation. We tested three hypotheses for its function: it (i) inflicts damage to the male during copulation; (ii) facilitates endophytic oviposition; (iii) stimulates males during copulation to increase their investment. We found that males mated on average for 54 min with control females, but increased copulation to 99 min with females without spine. There was no evidence of physical harm of the spine on the male’s seminal vesicle, which shows 8-18 folds, exactly where the spine contacts during copulation. Females with and without spine exhibited the same egg-laying rates and showed similar fecundity and fertility. Longevity was also similar in males mated to control and spineless females. In contrast to many species where females resist male harassment by behavioral responses, the morphological adaptation observed in E. cyathigerum appears to act as a sexual weapon, allowing females to control copulation duration. We suggest that the spine has evolved because of sexual conflict over mating duration.

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When sex becomes a wrestling game in a dragonfly: female refusal behavior to male harassers

Cited by 2 publications

References 17 publications

Condition-dependent survival and movement behavior in an endangered endemic damselfly

Condition-dependent survival and movement behavior in an endangered endemic damselfly

Sex wars: a female genital spine forces male damselflies to shorten copulation duration

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