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Male Mating Success and the Effect of Mating History on Ejaculate Traits in a Facultatively Parthenogenic Insect ( E xtatosoma tiaratum )
Author(s) -
Alavi Yasaman,
Elgar Mark A.,
Jones Therésa M.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
ethology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.739
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1439-0310
pISSN - 0179-1613
DOI - 10.1111/eth.12497
Subject(s) - mating , facultative , parthenogenesis , biology , zoology , sperm , reproductive success , mating system , ecology , mating type , demography , genetics , population , embryo , sociology , gene
Males can typically increase their lifetime reproductive success by mating with multiple females. However, recent studies across a broad range of species have demonstrated physiological constraints on male multiple mating. In this study, we investigate male mating capacity in Extatosoma tiaratum , a facultative parthenogenetic phasmatid. Sperm limitation is thought to be one factor favouring the evolution and maintenance of parthenogenetic reproduction, but studies on male mating ability in facultative parthenogenetic species are extremely rare. To explore whether male mating success varies with mating history, we provided males with weekly mating opportunities with different females throughout their lives. We then observed mating success, and the variation in ejaculate size and quality within each mating. We showed that most, but not all, males can mate multiply, however the amount of ejaculate produced is variable and depends upon male body mass and mating history.