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opencc-zeroJan 2021View details →

Selection for male weapons boosts female fecundity, eliminating sexual conflict in the bulb mite

Extreme differences between the sexes are usually explained by intense sexual selection on male weapons or ornaments. Sexually antagonistic genes, with a positive effect on male traits but a negative effect on female fitness, create a negative inter-sexual correlation for fitness (sexual conflict). However, such antagonism might not be apparent if sexually selected male traits are condition-dependent, and condition elevates female fitness. Here we reveal a surprising positive genetic correlation between male weaponry and female fecundity. Using mite lines that had previously been through 13 generations of selection on male weapons (fighting legs), we investigated correlated evolution in female fecundity. Females from lines under positive selection for weapons (up lines) evolved higher fecundity, despite evolving costly, thicker legs. This is likely because male mites have condition-dependent weaponry that increases our ability to indirectly select on male condition. Alleles with positive effects on condition in both sexes could have generated this correlation because: the up lines evolved a higher proportion of fighters and there were positive correlations between weapon size and the male morph and sex ratios of the offspring. This positive inter-sexual genetic correlation should boost the evolution of male weapons and extreme sex differences.

opencc-zeroApr 2024View details →

Data from: Insights from a 31-year study demonstrate an inverse correlation between recreational activities and red deer fecundity, with body weight as a mediator

Human activity is omnipresent in our landscapes. Animals can perceive risk from humans similar to predation risk, which could affect their fitness. We assessed the influence of the relative intensity of recreational activities on body weight and pregnancy rates of red deer (Cervus elaphus) between 1985 and 2015. We hypothesized that stress, as a result of recreational activities, affects pregnancy rates of red deer directly and indirectly via a reduction in body weight. Furthermore, we expected non-motorized recreational activities to have a larger negative effect on both body weight and fecundity, compared to motorized recreational activities. The intensity of recreational activities was recorded through visual observations. We obtained pregnancy data from female red deer that were shot during the regular hunting season. Additionally, age and body weight were determined through post-mortem examination. We used two generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) to test the effect of different types of recreation on 1) pregnancy rates and 2) body weight of red deer. Recreation had a direct negative correlation with the fecundity of red deer, with body weight as a mediator as expected. Besides, we found a negative effect of non-motorized recreation on fecundity and body weight and no significant effect of motorized recreation. Our results support the concept of humans as an important stressor affecting wild animal populations at a population level and plead to regulate recreational activities in protected areas that are sensitive. The fear humans induce in large-bodied herbivores and its consequences for fitness may have strong implications for animal populations.

opencc-zeroApr 2024View details →

Data and code for: A supergene controlling social structure in Alpine ants also affects the dispersal ability and fecundity of each sex

Social organisation, dispersal and fecundity co-evolve, but whether they are genetically linked remains little known. Supergenes are prime candidates for coupling adaptive traits and mediating sex-specific trade-offs. Here, we test whether a supergene that controls social structure in Formica selysi also influences dispersal-related traits and fecundity within each sex. In this ant species, single-queen colonies contain only the ancestral supergene haplotype M and produce MM queens and M males, while multi-queen colonies contain the derived haplotype P and produce MP queens, PP queens, and P males. By combining multiple experiments, we show that the M haplotype induces phenotypes with higher dispersal potential and higher fecundity, for both sexes. Specifically, MM queens, MP queens, and M males are more aerodynamic and more fecund than PP queens and P males, respectively. Differences between MP and PP queens from the same colonies reveal a direct genetic effect of the supergene on dispersal-related traits and fecundity. The derived haplotype P, associated with multi-queen colonies, produces queens and males with reduced dispersal abilities and lower fecundity. More broadly, similarities between the Formica and Solenopsis systems reveal that supergenes play a major role in linking behavioural, morphological, and physiological traits associated with intraspecific social polymorphisms.

Figure 12 in Gonadal development and fecundity of bogue Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sparidae) on the central Algerian coast

Figure 12. Determining the size of B. boops first sexual maturity in females, males, and combined sexes.

Figure 5 in Gonadal development and fecundity of bogue Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sparidae) on the central Algerian coast

Figure 5. Transverse sections of female gonad in Boops boops: a) general view of stage I, b) detail of stage I oocyte I and oogonia, c) early perinucleolar stage (stage II), d) previtellogenic oocyte with numerous nucleoli, e) perinucleolar stage (stage III), f) vitellogenic oocyte with yolk protein, g) early yolk granule, h) spent ovaries with yolk vesicles (stage IV), i) late yolk granule (stage V), j) zona radiata, k) stage V (postspawning), l) atretic follicles. Lo: Ovarian lumen, Ow: ovarian wall, Ovl: ovigerous leg, m: mesothelium, OoI: oocyte I, N: nucleus, Nu: nucleoli, Cy: cytoplasm, Vo: vitellogenic oocyte, V: vacuole, Y: yolk granules, FE: follicular epithelium, Oog: oogonia, Po: previtellogenic oocyte, at: atretic follicle, POF: postovulatory follicle, Cy: cytoplasm.

Figure 7 in Gonadal development and fecundity of bogue Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sparidae) on the central Algerian coast

Figure 7. Transverse sections of intersex gonad in Boops boops: a and b) ovotestis with female dominance, c) ovotestis with equal portions, d) ovotestis with male dominance and spermatozoa in deferent duct. Oc: Oocytes, Spg: spermatogonia, Spz: spermatozoa, T: testis, O: ovary, Cyst: cyst, Mb: basal membrane of the lobule, Bv: blood vessels, Dd: deferent duct.

Figure 6 in Gonadal development and fecundity of bogue Boops boops (Linnaeus, 1758) (Sparidae) on the central Algerian coast

Figure 6. Transverse sections of male gonad in Boops boops: a) immature testes with spermatogonia cells (stage I), b) early maturation (stage II) with Masson's trichrome stain, c) late developing (stage III), d) stage III spermatic preemission, e) general view of the testis in the emission stage (stage IV), f) spermatozoa in the cyst (stage IV), g) spermatic emission with spermatozoa in the deferent duct (stage IV), h) postemission (stage V), i) Rupture of the cyst at stage V. Spg: Spermatogonia, Spcy: spermatocyte, Cyst: cyst, Spd: spermatid, Dd: deferent duct, Spz: spermatozoa, Mb: basal membrane of the lobule, L: lobular lumen.

opencc-by-4.0Nov 2024View details →

High genetic gains in wood volume and fecundity can be both achieved by direct selection in half-sib families of Pinus yunnanensis Franch.

Experiment background This study focused on characterizing phenotypic variation among and within provenances of Pinus yunnanensis Franch. aged 16 years in a common garden, with an emphasis on key traits such as cone production, trunk straightness, and crown health, as well as their relationships with traditional growth traits like tree height, diameter at breast height, and wood volume. Specifically, the objectives were to (1) characterize the variation of each trait within and among provenances; (2) assess inter-trait relationships, exploring patterns of co-variation and potential trade-offs; and (3) evaluate the feasibility of multi-trait selection strategies that aim for simultaneous improvements in growth, trunk straightness, and fecundity, contributing valuable insights for advancing P. yunnanensis breeding efforts. Experimental Design This study was conducted in a common garden for P. yunnanensis located in Lufeng County, central Yunnan Province (102°12' E, 25°13' N) at an altitude of 1860 meters. The site lies in the transition zone between the subtropical humid climate of eastern Yunnan and the sub-humid climate of southwest Yunnan. The climate is characterized by warm and dry winters, humid and hot summers, with a mean annual temperature of 15.5°C and annual precipitation ranging between 900–1000 mm. The dry season extends from November to April, accounting for 6%-17% of the total annual precipitation. The common garden was established in 2006, with progeny from 179 superior trees selected from six provenance regions, including Anning County (AN), Qujing City (QJ), Yongren County (YR), Yulong County (YL), Tengchong County (TC), and Ninglang County (NL). Each provenance includes 30 families, except for one provenance with 29 families. The common garden has an area of about 3 ha, with a random block design, and a planting scheme of 2 m × 3 m. <a name="_Hlk181695359"></a>To minimize environmental variation across the study site, a horizontal banding method was used for land preparation prior to planting. To reduce environmental variation across the study site, a horizontal banding method was used during land preparation. In each block, six provenances were randomly arranged, and families were randomly assigned within each provenance. Five plants from each family were planted in rows, and the design was replicated four times. A total of 3467 progeny from 179 superior trees across six provenances were included in the trial. Experimental Variables The study measured nine phenotypic traits, which included both quantitative and qualitative traits, as outlined below: Tree Height (H): Measured directly with a Vertex Laser instrument (DZH-30, Harbin, China) in meters (m). Diameter at Breast Height (D): Measured using a circumference tape in centimeters (cm). Crown Diameter (LCD, SCD): Long crown diameter (LCD) and short crown diameter (SCD), representing the maximum and minimum tree crown diameter, respectively, measured in meters (m) using a tower ruler. Height Under the Branch (TH): Measured in meters (m) using a tower ruler. Wood Volume (V): Estimated using the formula based on the forestry industry standard for P. yunnanensis (Agriculture and Forestry Ministry of China, 1977), with units in cubic meters (m³). Cone Production (CP): The number of open and closed cones in the canopy, including both serotinous and non-serotinous cones, recorded in counts to assess fecundity. Trunk Straightness (ST): A subjective visual assessment using a classification system: 1 for a highly twisted stem, 5 for a perfectly straight stem. Crown Health (CH): Visual assessment of the tree's crown, considering damage from abiotic and biotic stresses, with a grading scale from 1 (severely damaged) to 5 (perfectly healthy). Data Analysis Methods Data analysis was performed using R (version 3.6.3). The following statistical methods were employed: Variance Analysis: Nested variance analysis was used to evaluate the significance of differences and partition phenotypic variation among and within provenances. Principal Component Analysis (PCA): PCA was performed on the standardized matrix of nine phenotypic traits to reveal the dimensional structure and patterns of the data. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM): SEM was used to examine the direct and indirect relationships among traits, such as growth (H, D, V), crown size (LCD, SCD, TH), fecundity (CP), trunk straightness (ST), and crown health (CH). This analysis helped identify the causal pathways between the traits. Random Forest Analysis (RF): RF analysis was conducted to assess the importance of specific traits in predicting fecundity (CP) and trunk straightness (ST). Regression and classification methods were used for these analyses, with 1000 decision trees to ensure stable importance measures. Dataset Description The excel file (Raw Data) includes the following sheets: 1- Variables: Details on all the variables. 2- Values of phenotypic traits. 3- Variance components of phenotypic traits among and within provenances. 4- Coefficient of variance for phenotypic traits. 5- The average membership function values (SFM) and comprehensive weight of each principal component (PCA) of phenotypic traits.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2020View details →

Fig. 2 in Comparative Analysis Of Fecundity In Related Amphimictic Aporrectodea Caliginosa And Apomictic A. Trapezoides Earthworms, And The Problem Of Reproductive Advantages Of Parthenogenetic Animals

Fig. 2. Mean number of cocoons per one mature specimen in close parthenogenetic (A. trapezoides) and amphimictic (A. caliginosa) earthworm species during the reproduction season of 2019.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2020View details →

Fig. 1 in Comparative Analysis Of Fecundity In Related Amphimictic Aporrectodea Caliginosa And Apomictic A. Trapezoides Earthworms, And The Problem Of Reproductive Advantages Of Parthenogenetic Animals

Fig. 1. Mean number of cocoons per one mature specimen in close parthenogenetic (A. trapezoides) and amphimictic (A. caliginosa) earthworm species during the reproduction season of 2018.

opencc-zeroSep 2022View details →

Data belonging to the article: Estimating pre-harvest density, adult sex ratio and fecundity of white-tailed deer using wildlife cameras

Adult sex ratio and fecundity (juveniles per female) are key population parameters in sustainable wildlife management, but inferring these requires abundance estimates of at least three age/sex classes of the population (male and female adults and juveniles). Prior to harvest, we used an array of 36 wildlife camera traps during 2 and 3 weeks in the early autumn of 2016 and 2017 respectively. We recorded white-tailed deer adult males, adult females and fawns from the pictures. Simultaneously, we collected fecal DNA (fDNA) from 92 20mx20m plots placed in 23 clusters of four plots between the camera traps. We identified individuals from fDNA samples with microsatellite markers and estimated the total sex ratio and population density using Spatial Capture Recapture (SCR). The fDNA-SCR analysis concluded equal sex ratio in the first year and female bias in the second year, and no difference in space use between sexes (fawns and adults combined). Camera information was analyzed in a Spatial Capture (SC) framework assuming an informative prior for animals' space use, either (1) as estimated by fDNA-SCR (same for all age/sex classes), (2) as assumed from the literature (space use of adult males larger than adult females and fawns), (3) by inferring adult male space use from individually-identified males from the camera pictures. These various SC approaches produced plausible inferences on fecundity, but also inferred total density to be lower than the estimate provided by fDNA-SCR in one of the study years. SC approaches where adult male and female were allowed to differ in their space use suggested the population had a female-biased adult sex ratio. In conclusion, SC approaches allowed estimating the pre-harvest population parameters of interest and provided conservative density estimates.

opencc-zeroMar 2024View details →

Data from: Trait-fitness associations via fecundity and competition in a two-million-year-long fossil record

The evolution of phenotypic traits is usually studied on generational times or across species on million-year timescales. We bridge this conceptual gap by using high density sampling of a species lineage, Microporella agonistes (Bryozoa, Cheilostomatida), over 2 million years of its evolutionary history, to ask if trait-fitness associations are consistent with evolutionary trait models often applied to phenotypic time series. We use average fecundity and competitive outcome as two different fitness components, where competitive outcome is a proxy for partial survival. Examining three quantitative traits in multivariate analyses, we present evidence that some traits experienced substantial selective pressures, in part controlled by past environments. A complex interplay of resource competition with an altering set of competitors and past temperatures, has contributed to the changing patterns of phenotypes within the focal species. A comparison with congeneric species living in the same regional community suggests that size traits are more temporally variable and less constrained than shape traits. Our analyses also show that while controls on phenotypes are complex and varied in time, ecological and evolutionary processes that unfold on shorter time scales are not inconsistent with macroevolutionary patterns observed on longer timescales.

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2022View details →

Figure 1 in Effect of degree of water stress on growth and fecundity of velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrOsti) using soil moisture sensors

Figure 1. Soil moisture content in pots was measured using (A) Meter Group 5TM moisture sensors and (B) Em50 data loggers to determine degree of water stress on Abutilon threophrasti in a greenhouse study conducted at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

opencc-by-4.0Dec 2020View details →

Figure 2 in First estimate of the fecundity of Ogcocephalus cubifrons (Lophiiformes) with notes on spawning behaviour

Figure 2. – Ova of Ogcocephalus cubifrons, 50x magnification showing the beginning of cleavage indicating the beginning of embryogenesis, and red oil droplet.

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2016View details →

Fig. 3 in Effect of humidity on fecundity and egg incubation of Frankliniella bispinosa and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Fig. 3. Mean daily fecundity (± SE) of Frankliniella bispinosa and F. occidentalis for data pooled across time intervals in laboratory experiments at constant 23 °C and 4 relative humidity levels. Means with the same letter are not significantly different according to ANOVA and subsequent Tukey's HSD test (α = 0.05).

opencc-by-4.0Sep 2016View details →

Fig. 2 in Effect of humidity on fecundity and egg incubation of Frankliniella bispinosa and Frankliniella occidentalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)

Fig. 2. Mean fecundity (± SE) per female of Frankliniella occidentalis at 12 h intervals in laboratory experiments at constant 23 °C and 4 relative humidity levels.