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61 results for “mating response”
Data from: Response to MHC-based olfactory cues in a mate choice context in two species of darter (Percidae: Etheostoma)
<p>Mate choice is hypothesized to play an important role in maintaining high diversity at major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes in vertebrates. Many studies have revealed that females across taxa prefer the scent of males with MHC genotypes different to their own. In this study we tested the "opposites-attract" hypothesis in two species of darter with known differences in female criteria used in mate choice: in the fantail darters (a paternal-care species), females prefer males with visual traits related to nest guarding and egg tending, while in rainbow darters (not a paternal-care species) female mate choice criteria are unknown. In dichotomous mate-choice trials, we presented females of both species with the scents of conspecific males with MHC class IIb genotypes that were either similar or dissimilar to that of the focal female. We evaluated the proportion of time each female spent with each male and calculated the average strength of female preference for both species. Female fantail darters demonstrated a preference for the scent of males with similar (rather than dissimilar) MHC genotypes, but this result was not statistically significant. Rainbow darter females showed no preference for the scent of males with similar or dissimilar MHC genotypes. Our results do not support the "opposites-attract" hypothesis in darters.</p>
A re-analysis of an existing Drosophila melanogaster dataset reveals a new set of genes involved in post-mating response
<p>The figures and tables presented here are part of a manuscript submitted for publication by Chloe J. Bennett and Rodolfo Aramayo entitled:</p> <p><strong>"A re-Analysis of an existing <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em> dataset reveals a new set of genes involved in post-mating response"</strong></p> <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) is a commonly used method to identify changes in gene expression between two conditions. The analysis of RNA-seq output is complicated, with the possibility of getting different results from the same raw data. We developed and deployed four parallel pipelines to reanalyze an existing dataset of two female Drosophila melanogaster tissue types before and after mating. The Drosophila post-mating response (PMR) is a well-characterized suite of changes that occur after mating, accompanied by a flux in gene expression. In comparing our study with the previous analysis of this dataset, we find our results to be more stringent, though we do identify a number of significant genes not found before. We also found variation among our own separate experiments, with gene-to-transcript isoform number and index building playing important roles in outcome. Finally, we identified a set of genes found by our pipeline that were not identified by the previous study and proposed potential roles for these genes in post-mating biology. Together, this work presents a critique of current RNA-seq analysis techniques and proposes multiple workflow adjustments that can increase the sensitivity, specificity, and stringency of differential gene expression studies.</p>
Fig. 3 in Effects of male age and mating status on response to the female sex pheromone of Copitarsia decolora (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Fig. 3. Activation latencies (black bars) and landing latencies (gray bars) (Q1 <Median <Q2) of virgin and mated Copitarsia decolora males to female sex pheromone extract (3FE) in wind tunnel bioassays. Mated males were tested 24 h and 48 h afer mating (24 AM and 48 AM, respectively). Bars within a behavior headed by the same letter are not significantly different (Tukey's mean separation test, n = 10, P <0.05).
Fig. 1 in Effects of male age and mating status on response to the female sex pheromone of Copitarsia decolora (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Fig. 1. Activation latencies (black bars) and landing latencies (gray bars) (Q1 <Median <Q2) by age group of virgin males in response to a glandular extract of female sex pheromone (3FE) in wind tunnel bioassays. Bars within a behavior headed by the same letter are not significantly different (Tukey's mean separation test, n = 10, P <0.05).
Fig. 4 in Effects of male age and mating status on response to the female sex pheromone of Copitarsia decolora (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)
Fig. 4. Depolarization (mean ± SEM) of antennae in response to a glandular extract of female sex pheromone (3FE) of virgin and mated males. Mated males were tested 24 h and 48 h afer mating (24 AM and 48 AM, respectively). Bars headed by the same letter are not significantly different (Tukey's mean separation test, n = 6, P <0.05).
Data from: Response to MHC-based olfactory cues in a mate choice context in two species of darter (Percidae: Etheostoma)
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Data from: Parental response to intruder females altered by ornamentation and mate quality in a biparental fish
In many monogamous species females behave aggressively toward other females, as they may threaten their exclusive access to paternal resources. However, in species with a high degree of breeding asynchrony not all females are true reproductive rivals. Female ornamentation that advertises sexual receptivity is a possible mechanism whereby parental females could assess the potential threat of rival females and attack only those which could challenge their mating status. Convict cichlids (Amatitlania siquia) are sexually dichromatic, monogamous fish that exhibit biparental care. Females develop gold ventral coloration when reproductively receptive and actively court males. We presented breeding pairs of convict cichlids with confined conspecific females to investigate whether parental response was affected by the intruder's reproductive status. We also investigated whether differences in partner quality within breeding pairs mediated the response to intruders, as mate quality influences both intra- and intersexual dynamics in many monogamous species. We found parental females responded more aggressively to reproductive intruders and that parental females mated to high quality males decreased the aggression they directed at general brood predators during the reproductive intruder presentation. Contrary to our predictions, we also found that males behaved aggressively toward reproductive intruders, particularly when paired with small females. Our results indicate that both parents engage in pair-bond defense and that differences in partner quality determine the level of aggression directed at extra-pair reproductive females. These findings suggest that when biparental care greatly increases offspring survival, reproductive success for both sexes may be maximized by cooperation and coordination, rather than conflict.
Raw data for: Plastic responses of males and females interact to determine mating behaviour
<p>Individuals can respond plastically to variation in their social environment. However, each sex may respond to different cues and contrasting aspects of competition. Theory suggests that the plastic phenotype expressed by one sex can influence evolutionary dynamics in the other, and that plasticity simultaneously expressed by both sexes can exert sex-specific effects on fitness. However, data are needed to test this theory base. Here, we examined whether the simultaneous expression of adaptive plasticity by both sexes of <em>Drosophila melanogaster</em> fruit flies in response to their respective social environments interacts to determine the value of key reproductive traits (mating latency, duration and fecundity). To vary social environments, males were kept alone, or with same sex rivals, and females were kept alone, in same-sex, or mixed-sex groups. Matings were then conducted between individuals from all of these 5 social treatments in all combinations, and the resulting reproductive traits measured in both 'choice' and 'no choice' assays. Mating latency was determined by an interaction between the plastic responses of both sexes to their social environments. Interestingly, the mating latency response occurred in opposing directions in the different assays. In females exposed to same-sex social treatments, mating latency was more rapid with rival treatment males in the choice assays, but slower with those same males in no choice assays. In contrast, mating duration was determined purely by responses of males to their social environments, and fecundity purely by responses of females. Collectively, the results show that plastic responses represent an important and novel facet of sexual interactions.</p>
Data: Female-limited responses in remating rate and mating duration in the experimental evolution of a beetle Callosobruchus chinensis
<p><span>Mating rate optima often differ between the sexes: males may increase their fitness by multiple mating, but for females, multiple mating confers little benefit and can often be costly (especially in taxa without nuptial gifts or mala parental care). Sexually antagonistic evolution is thus expected in traits related to mating rates under sexual selection. This prediction has been tested by multiple studies that applied the experimental evolution technique, which is a powerful tool to directly examine the evolutionary consequences of selection. Yet, the results so far only partly support the prediction. Here we provide another example of experimental evolution of sexual selection, by applying it for the first time to the mating behavior of a seed beetle <em>Callsorobruchus</em> <em>chinensis</em>. We found a lower remating rate in polygamy-line females than in monogamy-line (i.e. no sexual selection) females after 21 generations of selection. Polygamy-line females also showed a longer duration of first mating than monogamy-line females. We found no effect of male evolutionary lines on the remating rate or first mating duration. Though not consistent with the original prediction, the current and previous studies collectively suggest that the observed female-limited responses may be a norm, which is also consistent with the conceptual advances in the last two decades of the advantages and limitations of the experimental evolution technique.</span></p>
Raw data for: Plastic responses of males and females interact to determine mating behaviour
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Data from: Populations with greater flexibility in floral traits modify mating system in response to the pollinator environment
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Data: Female-limited responses in remating rate and mating duration in the experimental evolution of a beetle Callosobruchus chinensis
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Data from: Parental response to intruder females altered by ornamentation and mate quality in a biparental fish
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Raw data for: Plastic male mating behaviour evolves in response to the competitive environment
<p>Male reproductive phenotypes can evolve in response to the social and sexual environment. The expression of many such phenotypes may also be plastic within an individual's lifetime. For example, male <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> show significantly extended mating duration following a period of exposure to conspecific male rivals. The costs and benefits of reproductive investment, and plasticity itself, can be shaped by the prevailing socio-sexual environment and by resource availability. We investigated these ideas using experimental evolution lines of <i>D. melanogaster </i>evolving under three fixed sex ratios (high, medium and low male-male competition) on either rich or poor adult diets. We found that males evolving in high-competition environments evolved longer mating durations overall. In addition, these males expressed a novel type of plastic behavioural response following exposure to rival males: they both significantly reduced and showed altered courtship delivery and exhibited significantly longer mating latencies. Plasticity in male mating duration in response to rivals was maintained in all of the lines, suggesting that the costs of plasticity were minimal. None of the evolutionary responses tested were consistently affected by dietary resource regimes. Collectively, the results show that fixed behavioural changes and new augmentations to the repertoire of reproductive behaviours can evolve rapidly.</p>
Divergent neurogenomic responses shape social learning of both personality and mate preference
<p>Behavior plays a fundamental role in shaping the origin and fate of species. Mating decisions can act to promote or restrict gene flow, as can personality traits that influence dispersal and niche use. Mate choice and personality are often both learned and therefore influenced by an individual's social environment throughout development. Likewise, the molecular pathways that shape these behaviors may also be co-expressed. In this study on swordtail fish (<i>Xiphophorus birchmanni</i>), we show that female mating preferences for species-typical pheromone cues are entirely dependent on social experience with adult males. Experience with adults also shapes development along the shy-bold personality axis, with shy behaviors arising from exposure to risk-averse heterospecifics as a potential stress-coping strategy. In maturing females, conspecific exposure results in a strong upregulation of olfaction and vision genes compared to heterospecific exposure, as well as immune response genes previously linked to anxiety, learning and memory. Conversely, heterospecific exposure involves an increased expression of genes important for neurogenesis, synaptic plasticity and social decision-making. We identify subsets of genes within the social decision-making network and with known stress-coping roles that may be directly coupled to the olfactory processes females rely on for social communication. Based on these results, we conclude that the social environment affects the neurogenomic trajectory through which socially-sensitive behaviors are learned, resulting in adult phenotypes adapted for specific social groupings.</p>
Mating stimulates the immune response and sperm storage-related genes expression in spermathecae of bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) queen
<p>Data of the genes expression in spermathecae of mated bumblebee (<em>Bombus terrestris</em>) queen</p>
Using positive-to-negative behavioural responses to evaluate treefrog mate choice
<p>Sexual competition hinges on the ability to impress other conspecifics, to drive them away or attract them. In such cases, the selective environment may be hedonic or affective in nature, as it consists of the evaluations of the individuals making the decisions. This may contribute to the power of sexual selection because evaluations may range from positive to negative rather than simply from positive to neutral. Selection due to mate choice may therefore be stronger than currently appreciated. Further, change in preferred mate types can occur simply by changes ("flips") in the evaluation of similar display features, adding to the dynamism of sexual selection as well as its strength. We tested the hypothesis of positive-to-negative behavioural responses in mate choice with a playback experiment using two treefrog species with "mirror image" structures in their advertisement and aggressive calls. Female treefrog responses ranged from approach to evasion, and the presence of an aversive stimulus tainted evaluation of an attractive stimulus. Further, females in the two species showed flips in approach/evasion of stimuli with comparable signal structure. These results suggest that hedonic evaluation may have an important role in mate choice, and showcase how mechanistic analysis can help understand evolutionary processes.</p>
Extraordinarily precise nematode sex ratios: adaptive responses to vanishingly rare mating opportunities
<p><span>Sex ratio theory predicts both mean sex ratio and variance under a range of population structures. Here, we compare two genera of phoretic nematodes (<i>Parasitodiplogaster </i>and <i>Ficophagus </i>spp.) associated with twelve fig-pollinating wasp species in Panama. The host wasps exhibit classic Local Mate Competition: only inseminated females disperse from natal figs, and their offspring form mating pools that consist of scores of the adult offspring contributed by one or a few foundress mothers. In contrast, in both nematode genera only sexually undifferentiated juveniles disperse and their mating pools routinely consist of ten or fewer adults.</span> <span>Across all mating pool sizes, the sex ratios observed in both nematode genera are consistently female-biased (~0.34 males), which is markedly less female-biased than is often observed in the host wasps (~0.10 males). In further contrast with their hosts, variances in nematode sex ratios are also consistently precise (significantly less than binomial). The constraints associated with predictably small mating pools within highly subdivided populations appear to select for precise sex ratios that contribute both to the reproductive success of individual nematodes, and to the evolutionary persistence of nematode species. We suggest that some form of environmental sex determination underlies these precise sex ratios.</span></p>
Male mating success evolves in response to increased levels of male-male competition
<p>Male-biased operational sex ratios can increase male-male competition and can potentially select for both increased pre-and post-copulatory male success. In the present study, using populations of Drosophila melanogaster evolved under male-biased (M) or female-biased (F) sex ratios, we asked whether (a) male mating success can evolve (b) males are better at mating females that they have co-evolved with (c) males mating success is affected by female mating status and (d) male mating success is correlated with their courtship effort. We directly competed M and F males for mating with (a) virgin ancestral (common) females, (b) virgin females from the M and F populations, and (c) singly mated females from the M and F populations. We also assessed the courtship frequency of the males when paired with mated M or F females. Our results show that M males, evolving under an increased level of male-male competition, have higher mating success than F males irrespective of the female evolutionary history. However, the difference in mating success is more pronounced if the females had mated before. M males also have a higher courtship frequency than F males, but we did not find any correlation between mating success and courtship frequency. </p>
Female differential allocation in response to extra-pair offspring and social mate attractiveness
<p>Renewed debate over what benefits females might gain from producing extra-pair offspring emphasizes the possibility that apparent differences in quality between within-pair and extra-pair offspring are confounded by greater maternal investment in extra-pair offspring. Moreover, the attractiveness of a female's social mate can also influence contributions of both partners to a reproductive attempt. Here we explore the complexities involved in parental investment decisions in response to extra-pair offspring and mate attractiveness with a focus on the female point of view. Adult zebra finches paired and reproduced in a colony setting. A male's early-life diet quality and his extra-pair reproductive success were used as metrics of his mating attractiveness. Females paired with males that achieved extra-pair success laid heavier eggs than other females and spent less time attending their nests than their mates or other females. Extra-pair nestlings were fed more protein-rich hen's egg than within-pair nestlings. Females producing extra-pair offspring had more surviving sons than females producing only within-pair offspring. Collectively, results show that females differentially allocate resources in response to offspring extra-pair status and their social mate's attractiveness. Females may also obtain fitness benefits through the production of extra-pair offspring.</p>
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Allen Brain Atlas
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DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
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International Brain Laboratory public data
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OpenNeuro
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