Abstract
Modulation of behaviours as a result of fighting experience has been observed in many animals and can influence pre-copulatory sexual selection. This study investigated how fighting experience affects ejaculatory strategies. In male flour beetles, Gnatocerus cornutus, experience of losing a fight decreases a male's aggressiveness for up to 4 days. We found that males losing a fight show increased ejaculatory investment, but there was no ejaculatory modulation owing to winning. However, the increase in ejaculate investment following a loss was no longer observed after 5 days. These results indicate that males adjust their investment in sperm competition according to their experience, and that fighting experience can significantly influence pre-and post-copulatory reproductive tactics. This journal is
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 593-596 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Biology Letters |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Oct 23 2010 |
Keywords
- Alternative tactics
- Phenotypic plasticity
- Sperm competition
- Winner and loser effects
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences (miscellaneous)
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)