Female remating and sperm competition patterns in a terrestrial crustacean

In most species, both sexes may mate with more than one partner during their life. In terrestrial isopods (woodlice) female remating can occur within a reproductive season (immediate remating) or after a period of sexual rest and sperm storage, that is in a subsequent reproductive season (delayed re...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal behaviour 2002-10, Vol.64 (4), p.569-577
Main Authors: Moreau, J., Seguin, S., Caubet, Y., Rigaud, T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal behavior
Animal reproduction
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Autoecology
Biodiversity and Ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Crustaceans
Environmental Sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics
Insects
Life Sciences
Populations and Evolution
Protozoa. Invertebrata
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Summary:In most species, both sexes may mate with more than one partner during their life. In terrestrial isopods (woodlice) female remating can occur within a reproductive season (immediate remating) or after a period of sexual rest and sperm storage, that is in a subsequent reproductive season (delayed remating). The pattern of sperm precedence is unknown in both cases. These two female remating patterns may shape male–male competition in different ways. To elucidate both patterns of female remating and sperm precedence, we used an albinism mutation in Armadillidium vulgare to track paternity in laboratory experiments. Males had low remating success after immediate remating attempts, mainly because of the female's refractory behaviour. However, refractory behaviour seemed to be lost after female sexual rest: delayed remating attempts were as successful as first mating attempts with virgin females. In both immediate and delayed remating, competing males had similar fertilization success, but varied in sperm precedence. We hypothesize that males might induce the refractory mating behaviour in females to ensure their paternity. This could be a strategy that evolved in woodlice after the loss of precopulatory mate guarding during adaptation to the terrestrial environment. We discuss the consequences of these findings for woodlice optimal mating strategies. Copyright 2002 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
ISSN:0003-3472
1095-8282
DOI:10.1006/anbe.2002.4000