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opencc-zeroJul 2023View details →

Seedling performance in a dioecious tree species is similar near female and male conspecific adults despite differences in colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs) are a key driver of species diversity and composition in plant communities worldwide; however, the factors that may cause feedbacks to vary within species are rarely examined. In dioecious species, the strength of feedbacks may differ near female plants that produce seed versus near male plants (which do not) because repeated inputs of seeds and high seedling densities near females may cause accumulation of host‐specific soil microbes that influence seedling performance. To test whether conspecific seedling performance is reduced near seed‐producing female trees relative to male or heterospecific trees, we conducted shadehouse and field experiments with a dioecious tropical tree species, Virola surinamensis (Myristicaceae), on Barro Colorado Island, Panama. The shadehouse experiment isolated the effect of soil microbial communities on seedling growth and allowed us to quantify colonization by mutualistic arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, while the field experiment allowed us to assess seedling survival and growth in the presence of nearby conspecific adults and seedlings. In both experiments, seedling performance was similar between seedlings grown in the soil microbial communities and field environments underneath female conspecific, male conspecific, and heterospecific trees. However, contrary to expectation, seedling colonization by AM fungi was higher in male conspecific soil microbial communities than in female or heterospecific soil microbial communities at the end of the shadehouse experiment. Together, our experiments show that while differences among female and male plants in dioecious species may influence the association of conspecific seedlings with AM fungi in their soils, this variation does not necessarily translate directly to differences in seedling performance, at least over the time frame of our experiments. Studies of additional dioecious species are needed to help determine differences in soil microbial communities beneath male and female plants and to assess the role of seed input versus adult root systems in driving PSFs.

opencc-zeroJul 2023View details →

Data from: Variation in the strength of female mate preference for male size supports the signal reliability hypothesis

Both sexually selected traits and mate preferences for these traits can be condition dependent, yet how variation in preferred traits could select for condition dependent preferences has rarely been examined. The signal reliability hypothesis predicts that mate preferences vary across environments in relation to the reliability of the information preferred traits provide in those environments. Extensive variation in copy number of the mc4r gene on Y chromosome is correlated with adult male size in Xiphophorus multilineatus, when males stop growing. This genetic variation allowed us to use a split-sibling design to show that male size is more variable, and thus likely to provide reliable information about male genotype, when males were reared in a warm as compared to cold environment. Females reared in the warm environment had stronger mate preferences for male size. Understanding how the reliability of male traits can select for conditional variation in the strength of the female mate preferences will further our discovery of adaptive mate preferences. For example, the relationship between the strength of a female's mate preference and their growth rates supports previous work hypothesizing disassortative mating in relation to growth rates to mitigate a documented growth-mortality tradeoff in this species.

zenodo36/100

Code and data for "Postreproductive female killer whales reduce socially inflicted injuries in their male offspring"

R code and data necessary to reproduce all analyses from the manuscript "Postreproductive female killer whales reduce socially inflicted injuries in their male offspring". Included is demographic and social data on 103 southern resident killer whales, the R code to fit Bayesian regression models and code to produce the plots in the manuscript.

opencc-by-4.0Jun 2023View details →

opencc-zeroAug 2023View details →

Dataset:Female state and condition-dependent chemical signalling revealed by male choice of silk trails

We ask whether males of the nuptial gift-giving spider Pisaura mirabilis exert preferences for mates varying in their reproductive potential based on chemical information during mate search. Males were presented with binary trails consisting of silk lines and substrate-borne chemicals deposited while females were walking, from females varying in a) body condition (high vs. low), b) developmental state (subadult vs. adult) and c) mating state (unmated vs. mated). If female chemical signaling co-varies with individual state, we expect males to choose trails of females that are a) in higher body condition, indicating higher fecundity, b) adults, which can successfully reproduce, and c) unmated, to avoid sperm competition. We show that female signaling is condition-dependent, with males being more likely to follow trails of higher body condition females, but not dependent on female mating state. Males also tended to prefer trails of adults over subadults. Choice did not depend on male individual body condition.

zenodo36/100

Figure 1. Adult female Maevia inclemens. 1-2, 6 in Stabilizing selection to maintain the two male forms of the jumping spider Maevia inclemens (Araneae: Salticidae: Marpissina), version 2

Figure 1. Adult female Maevia inclemens. 1-2, 6, Feeding on a small fly (Diptera: Brachycera). 3-4, Feeding on a small robber fly (Diptera: Ascilidae). With the exception of Figure 5:8, only three M. inclemens individuals, two males and one female, all photographed on plants in the laboratory, are shown in this paper. All were collected in Massachusetts, June 2020.

opencc-by-nd-4.0Sep 2023View details →

Female reproductive fluid and male seminal fluid: A non-gametic conflict for post-mating control

Growing evidence shows that non-gametic components released by both males and females can significantly drive sperm competition outcomes. Seminal fluid (SF) was shown to influence paternity success by affecting rival males' sperm performance, and, in some species with male alternative reproductive tactics, to selectively decrease the fertilization success of males of the opposite tactic. Female reproductive fluid (FRF) has been proven to differentially influence ejaculates of different males and bias fertilization towards specific partners. Whether, and with what outcome, these two processes can intersect to influence sperm competition is still unknown. Here we explore this scenario in the grass goby (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus), a fish with territorial-sneaker reproductive tactics, where sneaker males can exploit the territorials' SF while penalizing territorial sperm performance with their own fluid. To test whether FRF can rebalance the ejaculate competition in favour of territorial males, we used in vitro fertilization with a SF mixture (territorial + sneaker), using increasing concentrations of FRF, to simulate the natural conditions that ejaculates encounter towards the eggs. Our findings revealed a differential effect of FRF on the different tactics' fertilization success, favouring territorial ejaculates, possibly through an attenuation of the detrimental effects of sneaker SF, and enabling females to regain control over the fertilization process.

opencc-zeroDec 2022View details →

Frequency jumps and subharmonic components in calls of female Odorrana tormota differentially affect the vocal behaviors of male frogs

Many studies have demonstrated that sounds containing nonlinear phenomena (NLP) can influence the behavior of receivers. However, the specific functions of different NLP components have received less attention. In most frog species, females produce few or no vocalizations; in contrast, female Odorrana tormota exhibit a diverse range of calls that are rich in NLP components. Previous field playbacks have shown that female calls can elicit responses from male frogs. Therefore, we conducted a phonotaxis experiment to investigate the differential effects of different NLP calls by female O. tormota on the vocal behavior of male frogs. The results of our study revealed that calls with subharmonics elicited a greater number of short calls and answering calls from male frogs than calls with frequency jumps. Conversely, calls with frequency jumps triggered more staccato calls from males than calls with subharmonics. Additionally, during the phonotaxis experiments, we recorded the initial vocalizations of males in response to playbacks of female calls. The majority of males first produced short calls. Under calls with frequency jumps, most of the male frogs approaching within 10 cm of the loudspeaker produced staccato calls instead of "meow" calls or short calls. While under calls with subharmonics, most male frogs preferred to produce short calls. Our findings demonstrate that frequency jumps and subharmonic components in the calls of female O. tormota have different effects on male vocal behaviors.

Interplay between male quality and male-female compatibility across episodes of sexual selection

The processes underlying mate choice profoundly influence the dynamics of sexual selection and the evolution of male sexual traits. Consistent preference for certain phenotypes may erode genetic variation in populations through directional selection, whereas divergent preferences (e.g., genetically compatible mates) provide one mechanism to maintain such variation. However, the relative contributions of these processes across episodes of selection remain unknown. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we followed the fate of male genotypes, previously scored for their overall reproductive value and their compatibility with different female genotypes, across pre- and postmating episodes of selection. When pairs of competitor males differed in their intrinsic quality and their compatibility with the female, both factors influenced outcomes from mating success to paternity but to a varying degree between stages. These results add further dimensions to our understanding of how the interactions between genotypes and forms of selection shape reproductive outcomes and ultimately reproductive trait evolution.

Data from: Male size does not affect the strength of male mate choice for high-quality females in Drosophila melanogaster

Theory predicts that the strength of male mate choice should vary depending on male quality when higher-quality males receive greater fitness benefits from being choosy. This pattern extends to differences in male body size, with larger males often having stronger pre- and post-copulatory preferences than smaller males.We sought to determine whether large males and small males differ in the strength (or direction) of their preference for large, high-fecundity females using the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. We measured male courtship preferences and mating duration to show that male body size had no impact on the strength of male mate choice; all males, regardless of their size, had equally strong preferences for large females. To understand the selective pressures shaping male mate choice in males of different sizes, we also measured the fitness benefits associated with preferring large females for both large and small males. Male body size did not affect the benefits that males received: large and small males were equally successful at mating with large females, received the same direct fitness benefits from mating with large females, and showed similar competitive fertilization success with large females. These findings provide insight into why the strength of male mate choice was not affected by male body size in this system. Our study highlights the importance of evaluating the benefits and costs of male mate choice across multiple males to predict when differences in male mate choice should occur.

Data from: Divergence in the internal genital morphology of females is correlated with divergence in male intromittent structures among populations of a millipede

Our understanding of genital evolution comes largely from studies of male genitalia. Females have received far less attention because of the difficulties inherent in quantifying the shapes of their internal genital structures. Here we combine advances in micro-computed tomography with a new landmark free method of quantifying three-dimensional trait shape, to document patterns of divergence in female genital shape, and the correlated divergence of male genitalia among populations of the millipede Antichiropus variabilis. We used single nucleotide polymorphisms to estimate levels of neutral genetic divergence among seven populations of millipede. Genetic divergence was high and correlated with geographic distance. Comparing phenotypic divergence in genital shape to neutral genetic divergence, we found that genital shape for both females and males has diverged more than would be expected from random drift, consistent with a pattern of directional selection. While there was significant covariation between female and male genital shape across populations, the magnitude of divergence in genital shape between the sexes was not correlated. Our results demonstrate the utility of using three-dimensional scanning technologies to examine female genital traits and add to a small but growing number of studies showing that like male genitalia, female genitalia can be under strong directional selection.

The role of high-contrast male facial stripes in mitigating female aggression in the jumping spider, Plexippus paykulli

Vibrant male coloration and energetic courtship displays set jumping spiders apart from most arachnids, which typically rely on non-visual stimuli. Like many other spiders, female salticids engage in sexual cannibalism, making courtship a risky but necessary endeavor for males. In this study, we investigated the relationship between male coloration and female aggression to better understand the interplay of attraction and aversion during courtship. Many male jumping spiders sport conspicuous coloration or high-contrast patterns that are reminiscent of the coloration of many aposematic insects. The faces of Plexippus paykulli males are adorned with bold vertical stripes they direct toward females during courtship. We hypothesized that these stripes could function as a sensory trap, leveraging female aversion to the signal to reduce the likelihood of cannibalism. We tested whether spiders exhibit an aversion to stripes in the context of predation by manipulating prey coloration and testing spider preference for prey based on the presence or absence of stripes. Then we conducted two courtship experiments by manipulating male facial coloration to determine whether the presence of male stripes affects female aggression and likelihood of mating. We also manipulated female foraging drive in each courtship experiment (either diet or mating status) to see whether common sources of natural variation among females influenced response to courting males. We found that spiders showed an aversion to stripes while foraging but that this aversion does not confer reduced aggression from females toward striped males vs. males with stripes obscured. However, stripes did affect the likelihood of male reproductive success, as striped males mounted females more frequently than non-striped males. Finally, female condition influenced female response to courting males, with hungrier females showing higher aggression and previously mated females being mounted less frequently than non-mated females.

opencc-zeroOct 2023View details →

Within-female sperm allocation—Males inseminate at three different female body sites according to female mating history in a squid

Theory predicts that males should allocate their costly sperm according to future mate availability and focal female conditions, e.g. promiscuity and fecundity, to maximise lifetime reproductive success. Some squids show insemination site polymorphism within a female—males deposit sperm capsules at different female body locations. Whether the choice of insemination site is influenced by the sperm-storing status of the female remains untested. We studied the squid Loliolus sumatrensis – the females possess three insemination sites: the buccal membrane (BM), basal left IV arm (ARM) and lateral head behind the left eye (EYE). Analysis of seasonal dynamics identified a set priority for the initial use of insemination sites as BM then ARM then EYE, whereas the maximum number of stored spermatangia was greater as EYE>ARM>BM. The maturity status of females was correlated with the pattern, but not number, of inseminations. We found multiple paternity at all sites and the same genotypes in spermatangia collected from all three sites, suggesting male squids allocate their sperm to multiple insemination sites during a single mating episode according to the status of female sperm-storage. This study uncovered unusual within-female sperm allocation – male mating behaviours were influenced by female mating history.

opencc-zeroOct 2023View details →

Male social environment and female masculinization level interact to explain female testosterone levels in a communally rearing rodent

Testosterone is known to modulate several morphological and behavioral phenotypic traits in males. However, females also synthetize testosterone and other androgens which influence the development and function of female tissues. In vertebrates, mating and social interactions can in turn modulate individual female testosterone levels, generally being higher in females that compete for males and/or that monopolize reproduction. Female testosterone levels may also be higher in females with masculinized phenotypes or when females are exposed to the energetic demands of reproduction. We used data from a long-term study (2009–2019) in a natural population of the communally rearing rodent Octodon degus to examine the potential associations between female serum testosterone levels and season, female masculinization morphotype, and the individual composition within social groups. We quantified the size and composition of social groups, including the masculinization morphotype of adult male and female group members. We found that female testosterone levels were higher in masculinized vs. feminized females and were also higher during the offspring-rearing season than the mating season. Female testosterone levels also varied with the number and morphotype of male group members, but not with female or offspring social environments. Together, our results suggest that female testosterone levels are more sensitive to intersexual than to intrasexual interactions. Our results also reveal that female and male testosterone levels do not significantly differ between the sexes, a notable finding previously reported only in rock hyraxes. We discuss how the complex social system of degus could be driving this physiological similarity between the sexes.

Safety, Tolerability, and Pharmacokinetics of Multiple Rising Doses of BI 425809 Tablets for 12 Days to Young and Elderly Healthy Male and Female Volunteers and Comparison of Pharmacokinetics of a Sin

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT02337283. IPD Sharing: Not stated. Countries: 1. Publications: 1.

controlledIPD-YESFeb 2026View details →

A Study to Assess the Safety of Myozyme® and of Aldurazyme® in Male and Female Participants of Any Age Group With Pompe Disease or With Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I (MPS I) in a Home-care Setting

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT05073783. IPD Sharing: YES. Countries: 1. Publications: 0.

Study of Serum Testosterone and Nestorone in Females After Secondary Exposure to Nestorone ® (NES) + Testosterone (T) Combined Gel Applied to Shoulders and Upper Arms in Males

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT02994602. IPD Sharing: Not stated. Countries: 1. Publications: 42.

Treatment Failure of Chlamydial Infection in Males and Females in Youth Correctional Facilities

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT00980148. IPD Sharing: Not stated. Countries: 1. Publications: 1.

Safety and Effectiveness of HIV-1 DNA Plasmid Vaccine and HIV-1 Recombinant Adenoviral Vector Vaccine in HIV-Uninfected, Circumcised Men and Male-to-Female (MTF) Transgender Persons Who Have Sex With

ClinicalTrials.gov study NCT00865566. IPD Sharing: Not stated. Countries: 1. Publications: 4.