Premium
Testing the interactive effects of carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids on ejaculate traits in the guppy Poecilia reticulata (Pisces: Poeciliidae)
Author(s) -
Rahman M. M.,
Gasparini C.,
Turchini G. M.,
Evans J. P.
Publication year - 2015
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/jfb.12661
Subject(s) - poecilia , guppy , biology , carotenoid , polyunsaturated fatty acid , poeciliidae , sperm , zoology , ecology , botany , fishery , fish <actinopterygii> , fatty acid , biochemistry
Using the polyandrous livebearing guppy Poecilia reticulata , this study revealed no main effects of carotenoids in the diet on ejaculate traits, but significant main effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids ( PUFAs ) on sperm viability and weak but significant interacting effects of both nutrients on sperm length. Collectively, these findings not only add evidence that PUFAs are critical determinants of sperm quality, but also provide tentative evidence that for some traits these effects may be moderated by carotenoid intake.