Assessment of sperm competition by European bitterling, Rhodeus sericeus

0164440 - UBO-W 20030007 RIV DE eng J - Journal Article
Smith, C. - Reichard, Martin - Jurajda, Pavel
Assessment of sperm competition by European bitterling, Rhodeus sericeus.
Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology. Roč. 53, č. 4 (2003), s. 206-213. ISSN 0340-5443. E-ISSN 1432-0762
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z6093917
Keywords : Acheilognathinae * alternative mating tactics * ESS model
Subject RIV: EG - Zoology
Impact factor: 2.649, year: 2003

We investigated male assessment of sperm competition in the bitterling. Field experiments showed males increased their inspection rate of mussels into which sperm had been experimentally released. Males avoided leading females to mussels that contained high numbers of embryos, but did not alter their leading behavior in response to the presence of sperm. In laboratory experiments males also increased their inspection rate of mussels into which sperm had been released and also failed to alter their leading behavior in response to the presence of sperm in mussels. However, males avoided leading females to mussels in proximity to other males. In a second field study, territorial males ejaculated into mussels at a low rate in the absence of competitors, increase the ejaculations in competition with a rival, then decrease ejaculate expenditure as the number of competing males increased. Observed data significantly correlated with predicted estimates of ejaculate expenditure.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0061660