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Sperm release behaviour and fertilization in the grass goby
Author(s) -
Ota D.,
Marchesan M.,
Ferrero E. A.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1996.tb00021.x
Subject(s) - biology , sperm , human fertilization , andrology , goby , nest (protein structural motif) , ecology , zoology , anatomy , fishery , botany , fish <actinopterygii> , medicine , biochemistry
Nesting males of the grass goby Zosterisessor ophiocephalus showed bouts, with intervals of c. 30 min duration, of upside‐down movements while rubbing its genital papilla onto the ceiling of its burrow. Such behaviour was shown during female courting and spawning, and even after female removal. Observations showed that this behaviour was associated with the release of a sperm trail on the substratum and clumped spermatozoa in water, agglutinated with a mercury‐bromophenol blue and PAS positive glycoprotein secretion of the sperm duct glands. Agglutination in the secretion delayed the activation of spermatozoa and contributed a steady supply, for up to 40 min, of motile spermatozoa during prolonged egg laying by the female. Sperm released before egg laying achieved c. 50% fertilization success compared with nearly 100% obtained if the sperm was released during egg laying. The sperm release behaviour may improve the nest owner's reproductive success against intruders or sneakers. It also allows defence of the nest while the female is spawning and may allow the male to court other females in the proximity.