Slow fertilization of stickleback eggs: the result of sexual conflict?


Autoria(s): Bakker, Theo C M; Zbinden, Marc; Frommen, Joachim G; Weiss, Alexander; Largiadèr, Carlo R
Data(s)

2006

Resumo

BACKGROUND: The fertilization success in sperm competition in externally fertilizing fish depends on number and quality of sperm. The time delay between sequential ejaculations may further influence the outcome of sperm competition. Such a time interval can load the raffle over fertilization if fertilization takes place very fast. Short fertilization times are generally assumed for externally fertilizing fish such as the three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus). In this pair-spawning fish, territorial males often try to steal fertilizations in nests of neighbouring males. This sneaking behaviour causes sperm competition. Sneakers will only get a share of paternity when eggs are not fertilized immediately after sperm release. Contrary to males, females may be interested in multiple paternity of their clutch of eggs. There thus may be a sexual conflict over the speed of fertilization. RESULTS: In this study we used two different in vitro fertilization experiments to assess how fast eggs are fertilized in sticklebacks. We show that complete fertilization takes more than 5 min which is atypically long for externally fertilizing fishes. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that the time difference does not imply high costs to the second stickleback male to ejaculate. Slow fertilization (and concomitant prolonged longevity of sperm) may be the result of sexual conflict in which females aimed at complete fertilization and/or multiple paternity.

Formato

application/pdf

Identificador

http://boris.unibe.ch/20982/1/4.pdf

Bakker, Theo C M; Zbinden, Marc; Frommen, Joachim G; Weiss, Alexander; Largiadèr, Carlo R (2006). Slow fertilization of stickleback eggs: the result of sexual conflict? BMC ecology, 6, p. 7. London: BioMed Central 10.1186/1472-6785-6-7 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6785-6-7>

doi:10.7892/boris.20982

info:doi:10.1186/1472-6785-6-7

info:pmid:16712724

urn:issn:1472-6785

urn:isbn:16712724

Idioma(s)

eng

Publicador

BioMed Central

Relação

http://boris.unibe.ch/20982/

Direitos

info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Fonte

Bakker, Theo C M; Zbinden, Marc; Frommen, Joachim G; Weiss, Alexander; Largiadèr, Carlo R (2006). Slow fertilization of stickleback eggs: the result of sexual conflict? BMC ecology, 6, p. 7. London: BioMed Central 10.1186/1472-6785-6-7 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6785-6-7>

Tipo

info:eu-repo/semantics/article

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

PeerReviewed