Mating patterns in angiosperms are typically nonrandom,yet the mechanisms driving nonrandom mating remain unclear,especially regarding the effects of quantitative floral traits on plant mating success across male and ...Mating patterns in angiosperms are typically nonrandom,yet the mechanisms driving nonrandom mating remain unclear,especially regarding the effects of quantitative floral traits on plant mating success across male and female functions.In this study,we investigated how variation in spur length and flower number per plant influences mating patterns in Aquilegia rockii within a natural population.Using marker-based paternity analyses and manipulative experiments,we assessed the role of these traits in mating success across both sexual functions.We found significant variation in the mate composition between male and female function,with spur-length frequency positively associated with female outcrossing rate and mate number,but not with male outcrossing or mate number.Most mating events occurred within 10 m,and spur-length frequency positively correlated with mating distance.Regardless of selfing,there was evidence for assortative mating for spur length.Although spur length did not correlate with pollinator visitation,plants with mid-length spurs had higher seed set than those with shorter or longer spurs when autonomous selfing was excluded.Flowers number per plant was only associated with mating distance and female outcrossing rate.Our results suggest that spur length plays a key role in nonrandom mating by frequency-dependent mating,with implications for stabilizing selection and maintenance of genetic diversity.This study advances our understanding of floral diversity by dissecting the role of quantitative floral traits in plant mating through both female and male functions.展开更多
The fall armyworm(Spodoptera frugiperda)is an invasive species and a destructive pest of maize,which significantly impacts native species and communities via complex mechanisms like competition for resources.However,t...The fall armyworm(Spodoptera frugiperda)is an invasive species and a destructive pest of maize,which significantly impacts native species and communities via complex mechanisms like competition for resources.However,the interaction between S.frugiperda and local pests remains unclear.In this study,we determined that Oriental armyworm(Mythimna separata)females with different mating status displayed different approach-avoidance behaviors towards maize which was infested by S.frugiperda larvae.The virgin M.separata females were repelled,while the mated females were attracted by the S.frugiperda-infested maize.To further understand the olfactory mechanism of this phenomenon,seven volatiles induced by S.frugiperda in maize were characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry(GC-MS),including trans-2-hexenal,linalool,trans-β-farnesene,cis-3-hexenyl acetate,β-caryophyllene,trans-α-bergamotene,and isopentyl acetate.Additionally,electrophysiological and behavioral assays of the seven compounds were performed using both virgin and mated females of M.separata.We determined that virgin and mated females displayed different responses to the herbivore-induced plant volatile(HIPV).Trans-β-farnesene was the core compound for repelling virgin females,and trans-2-hexenal was the key attractant for oviposition in mated female M.separata individuals.These findings help our comprehension of the relationships between maize pests and offer new possibilities for controlling them by olfactory-based strategies.展开更多
Brain size varies dramatically across populations and species in anuran species.The differences in structure,function,or size of brains are linked to processing specific cognitive tasks by different behaviors.In parti...Brain size varies dramatically across populations and species in anuran species.The differences in structure,function,or size of brains are linked to processing specific cognitive tasks by different behaviors.In particular,the causes of how male-male competition promotes the increased cognitive abilities to increase brains are as yet unexplored in anurans.To evaluate the effect of male-male competition on variation in brain size in B.andrewsi,we compared the differences in relative brain size between mated males and unpaired males under natural and experimental conditions.We found that mated males had relatively larger brains than unpaired males in a natural population when controlling the effect of body size.Likewise,we also found that there were larger brains in mated males than in unpaired males in both experiment 1 where two males competed for a female and experiment 2 where three males competed for a female,suggesting that males with mating success during male-male competition possess increased brain size and cognitive abilities.When we compared difference in relative brain size in mated males between experiment2 and experiment 1 we found that males experiencing more intense competition did not display larger brains than males experiencing relatively weak competition,suggesting that low intensity competition is already enough to trigger the increase in relative brain size in B.andrewsi.展开更多
Tracking and mating data of Common Terns(Sterna hirundo)breeding in a single colony in north-eastern Germany were used to test for assortative mating in regards to migratory phenotypes.These birds use the eastern and ...Tracking and mating data of Common Terns(Sterna hirundo)breeding in a single colony in north-eastern Germany were used to test for assortative mating in regards to migratory phenotypes.These birds use the eastern and western African migration routes and three different wintering areas along the African coast.However,no assortative mating was found for either migratory route or wintering area,as birds using both flyways and all three wintering areas paired randomly,which might be explained by a lack of difference in the arrival date at the colony between the groups.These results might indicate a low degree of genetic fixation of migratory route and wintering area in the Common Tern,which might hint that migratory direction and wintering sites could be passed to young terns via social learning,either by joining the parents or migratory flocks of conspecifics.If migratory phenotypes are passed on by a parent,it seems more likely that it is passed from father to young,as female Common Terns tend to leave the colony earlier and males provide the majority of post-fledging care.展开更多
Theory predicts that males and females of dioecious species typically engage in an evolutionary sexual conflict over the frequency and choice of mating partner.Female sexual cannibalism,a particularly dramatic illustr...Theory predicts that males and females of dioecious species typically engage in an evolutionary sexual conflict over the frequency and choice of mating partner.Female sexual cannibalism,a particularly dramatic illustration of this conflict,is widespread in certain animal taxa including spiders.Nevertheless,females of some funnel weaving spiders that are generally aggressive to conspecifics enter a cataleptic state after male courtship,ensuring the males can mate without risk of attack.In this study,we demonstrated that the physical posture and duration,metabo-lites,and central neurotransmitters of females of Aterigena aculeata in sexual catalepsy closely resemble females in thanatosis but are distinct from those in anesthesia,indicating that the courted females feign death to eliminate the risk of potentially aggressive responses and thereby allow preferred males to mate.Unlike the taxonomically widespread thanatosis,which generally represents a deceptive visual signal that acts against the interest of the receivers,sexual catalepsy of females in the funnel weaving spiders may deliver a sexual-receptive signal to the courting males and thereby benefit both the signal senders and receivers.Therefore,sexual catalepsy in A.aculeata may not reflect a conflict butrather a confluence of interest betweenthe sexes.展开更多
The mating calls of six forms belonging to four genera Megophrys,Oreloalax,Scutiger and Leptolalax were recorded in Wawu Mountain National Forest Park,Sichuan Province of China,using cassette tape recorder (Aiwa) and ...The mating calls of six forms belonging to four genera Megophrys,Oreloalax,Scutiger and Leptolalax were recorded in Wawu Mountain National Forest Park,Sichuan Province of China,using cassette tape recorder (Aiwa) and Sony tape with an external microphone.All recordings were analyzed with an IBM PC based 'SIGNAL' software analysis system (Engineering Design,USA).The range of analyzed frequency was set as 0-10 kHz.Acoustic analysis shows that the dominant frequency of L.oshanensis,M.minor,M.sp.,S.(S.)chintingensis,O.omeimontis,and O.schmidti is 4521.9,3456.4,2293.8,1076.5,1071.0 and 1849.4 Hz on average respectively;the note duration is 46.2,90.8,99.6,72.2,78.8 and 110.3 millisecond on average respectively;the note interval is 140.4,253.0,681.4,1517.7,461.3 and 619.5 millisecond on average respectively.One-Way ANOVA analysis indicates that there are significant differences among the analyzed six forms on the dominant frequency,the note duration,and the note interval (P<0.01).Multiple comparisons using Least-Significant Difference (LSD) show that the difference of the dominant frequency between S.(S.) chintingensis and O.omeimontis is not significant (P=0.917>0.05);on the note duration,only L.oshanensis is significantly different from M.minor,M.sp.,O.omeimontis and O.schmidti (P<0.01);on the note interval,L.oshanensis is not significantly different from M.minor,the same with M.sp.versus O.schmidti and O.omeimontis versus O.schmidti (P>0.05).Correlation analysis indicates that there are no significant correlation among the three acoustic characters of dominant frequency,note duration and note interval,and two environmental factors of the elevation and air temperature (P>0.05) except that the note interval is significantly linear correlated with the elevation (r=0.943,P=0.005<0.01).In the light of above,it is suggested that acoustic characteristics of calls are useful in distinguishing forms;the change of the note interval with the elevation may be a kind of strategy of reproduction.展开更多
In order to investigate the estrogen and estrogen receptor β changes after mating behavior of male mandarin vole （Microtus mandarinus）, the radioimmunoassay （RIA） and immunohistochemistry methods were used to inv...In order to investigate the estrogen and estrogen receptor β changes after mating behavior of male mandarin vole （Microtus mandarinus）, the radioimmunoassay （RIA） and immunohistochemistry methods were used to investigate changes of the serum estrogen （E） concentrations, estrogen immunoreactive neurons （E-IRs） and estrogen receptor β immunoreactive neurons （ERβ-IRs） in the relevant brain regions following mating behavior. Fifteen sexually matured male voles were randomly divided into three groups and treated differently： （1） control group： voles were exposed to clean hard-wood shavings （n=5）, （2） exposure group： voles were exposed to the soiled bedding for more than 24h on which estrous females had been placed （n=5）, and （3） mating group： voles were placed with an estrous female for more than 24h （n=5）. The results showed circulating serum E concentrations were significantly higher in the mating group than in the exposure group and the control group, and there were no significant difference between the exposure group and the control group. E-IRs and ERβ-IRs were detected in the following brain regions related to mating behavior： the arcuate nucleus （ARC）, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis （BST）, lateral septal nucleus （LS）, medial amygdaloid nucleus （ME）, medial preoptic area （MPO） and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus （VMH）. The results showed that there were significantly more E-IRs in the six brain regions in the mating group than in the control group and the exposure group, and there were no significant difference between the exposure group and the control group except for LS. There was no significant difference in ERβ-IRs in the six brain regions among the three groups, and there were some lighter -stained ERβ-IRs in these brain regions. The results suggested that estrogen affect mating activity of male mandarin voles, but ERβ might not play an important role in mating behavior of male mandarin voles. Instead, it might be through other receptors.展开更多
[Objective] The mating genotype was studied and compared with esterase isozyme of Ganoderma lucidum populations between groups in order to clarify their differences in genetic relationship analysis. [Method] OWE-SOJ t...[Objective] The mating genotype was studied and compared with esterase isozyme of Ganoderma lucidum populations between groups in order to clarify their differences in genetic relationship analysis. [Method] OWE-SOJ technique was applied to identify standard mating types and determinate mating genotype between groups of monokaryons isolates from 24 G. lucidum stains. Genetic relationships were analyzed by combined group mating genotype determination with esterase isozyme assay. [Result] All strains of G. lucidum could be divided into 7 large groups of the mating genotype. Four alleles of A factor, four alleles of B factor and one mixed alleles of A factor were found in this study. Distorted segregation ratio among monokaryon mycelia of G. lucidum had been observed in four kinds of mat- ing types to some extent. Twenty-eight different types of enzyme bands were determined in esterase isozyme test, Twenty-four strains of G. lucidum could be divided into 9 large groups through the cluster analysis when the genetic similarity coefficient was 0.73214. Comparing the results of mating genotype analysis and esterase isozyme analysis, it showed great similarity. [Conclusion] Mating genotype analysis could be used as an important supplementary method for strain identification and genetic diversity research.展开更多
Upon the analogy of definition of heterosis and inbreeding depresstion in terms of population genetics, the heterosis is thought to be evaluated overall with fitness. By establishing a mathematical model, the equilibr...Upon the analogy of definition of heterosis and inbreeding depresstion in terms of population genetics, the heterosis is thought to be evaluated overall with fitness. By establishing a mathematical model, the equilibrium status of three genotypes of random mating population （i. e. RR, Rr and rr） under different fitness, which exposes that heterosis is the precondition for multiallele to exist in the population. The heterosis protects the genetic diversity and makes the population owning a stronger self-control and evolution potential by improving the hetemzygote＇s fithess so as not to wash out different types of genes. It deepens Darwin＇s thoughts of individual section by making the individual fitness consonant with population fitness.展开更多
The term ＇assortative mating＇ has been applied to describe two very different phenomena： （1） the tendency for indi- viduals to choose phenotypically similar mates from among conspecifics; or （2） the tendency to...The term ＇assortative mating＇ has been applied to describe two very different phenomena： （1） the tendency for indi- viduals to choose phenotypically similar mates from among conspecifics; or （2） the tendency to prefer conspecific over hete- rospecific mates （behavioral reproductive isolation）. Both forms of assortative mating are widespread in nature, but the relation- ship between these behaviors remains unclear. Namely, it is plausible that a preference for phenotypically similar conspecifics in cidentally reduces the probability of mating with phenotypically divergent heterospecifics. We present a model to calculate how the level of reproductive isolation depends on intraspecific assortative mating and the phenotypic divergence between species. For empirically reasonable levels of intraspecific assortment on a single trait axis, we show that strong reproductive isolation requires very substantial phenotypic divergence. We illustrate this point by applying our model to empirical data from threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus and Darwin＇s Finches （Geospiza spp）. We conclude that typical levels of intraspecific assortment cannot generally be extrapolated to explain levels of interspecific reproductive isolation. Instead, reproductive isolation between species likely arises from different mate choice behaviors, or multivariate assortative mating [Current Zoology 58 （3）： 484-492, 2012].展开更多
From the random mating population of maize, the relationship between heterosis and albino seedling was analyzed by means of mathematical theory, further the square logistic model for the appearance of lethal recessive...From the random mating population of maize, the relationship between heterosis and albino seedling was analyzed by means of mathematical theory, further the square logistic model for the appearance of lethal recessive homozygous genotype was deduced. The model shows that heterosis can determine the genetic structure and proportion of population. It approves, that the proportion of aa in each generation of maize seedlings shows a similar Logistic curve in growth process till equilibrium, so long as Aa containins lethal gene a from mutation presents heterosis. The ratio of equilibrium state of aa is determined by the ratio of AA-Aa fitness. Heterosis is helpful for the keeping of genetic diversity of population.展开更多
Anthropogenic pollutants have the potential to disrupt reproductive strategies. Little is known about how lead （Pb2＋） exposure disrupts individual-level responses in reproductive behaviors, which are important for ...Anthropogenic pollutants have the potential to disrupt reproductive strategies. Little is known about how lead （Pb2＋） exposure disrupts individual-level responses in reproductive behaviors, which are important for fitness. Drosophila melanogaster was used as a model system to deter- mine the effects of： 1） developmental lead exposure on pre-mating reproductive behaviors （i.e., mate preference）, and 2） lead exposure and mating preferences on fitness in the F0 parental generation and F1 un-exposed offspring. Wild-type strains of D. melanogaster were reared from egg stage to adulthood in control or leaded medium （250 μM PbAc） and tested for differences in： mate preference, male song performance, sex pheromone expression, fecundity, mortality, and body weight. F0 leaded females preferentially mated with leaded males （i.e., asymmetrical positive assortative mating） in 2-choice tests. This positive assortative mating was mediated by the females （and not the males） and was dependent upon context and developmental exposure to Pb. Neither the courtship song nor the sex pheromone profile expressed by control and leaded males medi- ated the positive assortative mating in leaded females. Leaded females did not incur a fitness cost in terms of reduced fecundity, increased mortality, or decreased body weight by mating with leaded males. These results suggest that sublethal exposure to lead during development can alter mate preferences in adults, but not fitness measures once lead exposure has been removed. We suggest that changes in mate preference may induce fitness costs, as well as long-term population and multi-generational implications, if pollution is persistent in the environment.展开更多
[ Objective ] The paper was to confirm the effect of mating and black light treatment on cryptochromes mRNA expression of Hclicoverpa armigera. [ Method ] Quantitative real-time PCR （ SYBR Green） technique was appli...[ Objective ] The paper was to confirm the effect of mating and black light treatment on cryptochromes mRNA expression of Hclicoverpa armigera. [ Method ] Quantitative real-time PCR （ SYBR Green） technique was applied to detect the expression of cryptochromes gene （ cryl and cry2 ） of H. armigera under different conditions. Total RNA was extracted from the head of H. armigera, and carried out reverse transcription to synthesize cDNA after digested by DNase I. Specific primers were used to carry out quantitative real-time PCR on cryl, cry2 and EF-Ict gene, respectively. [ Result] The expression of cryl mRNA of H. ar- migera significantly decreased after exposure to black light for 2 h, the mRNA expression of cry2 was smaller than control, they had no significant difference with each other. Mating had significant effect on mRNA expression of cryl and cry2 of H. armigera, and the mRNA expression of cryl and cry2 of male and female adults showed decreasing trend with the prolongation of time after mating. [ Conclusion] The result had important significance for further studying on function of cry gene and the control of cotton bollwonn.展开更多
Attendance patterns are a key factor affecting sexual selection and mating systems in lekbreeding species.However,there are few systematic studies on attendance patterns in lek-breeding anurans.In this study,we monito...Attendance patterns are a key factor affecting sexual selection and mating systems in lekbreeding species.However,there are few systematic studies on attendance patterns in lek-breeding anurans.In this study,we monitored a population of Omei treefrogs(Rhacophorus omeimontis) for four consecutive years to reveal in detail the effects of attendance patterns on mating systems.We found that(1) female nightly attendance was affected by male nightly attendance,and operational sex ratios(determined by male and female nightly attendance) ultimately determined the extent of female polyandry;(2) males surviving more than one breeding season maintained high chorus attendance and mating success,suggesting that male chorus attendance is a good predictor of male genetic quality;(3) the distributions of male mating success were not significantly different from a Poisson distribution,indicating a random mating pattern;and male mating success was not related to body size(size-assortative mating was not evident) but was significantly correlated with chorus attendance.Since the chorus attendance is a predictor of male genetic quality,females performing random mating were more likely to mate with more frequently present males and could therefore gain indirect benefits from mating with higher-than-average quality males,thereby producing good offspring without incurring the significant costs involved in prolonged searching for,and assessing males.Our systematic survey on the relationship between attendance patterns and the lek mating system in R.omeimontis could help us better understand in-depth anuran lek mating systems.展开更多
Males and females have conflicting interests on the frequency and outcomes of mating interactions.Males maximize their fitness by mating with as many females as possible,whereas choosy females often reduce receptivity...Males and females have conflicting interests on the frequency and outcomes of mating interactions.Males maximize their fitness by mating with as many females as possible,whereas choosy females often reduce receptivity following copulation.Alternative male mating tactics can be adaptive in their expression to a variety of mating contexts,including interactions with a relatively unreceptive mated female.Male Rabidosa punctulata wolf spiders can adopt distinctive mating tactics when interacting with a female,a complex courtship display,and/or a more coercive direct mount tactic that often involves grappling with females for copulation.In this study,we set up female mating treatments with initial trials and then paired mated and unmated females with males to observe both female remating frequencies and the male mating tactics used during the interactions.Males adopted different mating tactics depending on the mating status of the female they were paired with.Males were more likely to adopt a direct mount tactic with already-mated females and courtship with unmated females.Already-mated females were considerably less receptive to males during experimental trials,although they did remate 34%of the time,the majority of which were with males using a direct mount tactic.Whereas males adjusting to these contextual cues were able to gain more copulations,the observation of multiple mating in female R.punctulata introduces the potential for sperm competition.We discuss this sexual conflict in terms of the fitness consequences of these mating outcomes for both males and females.展开更多
Recent transcription profiling studies have revealed an unexpectedly large proportion of antisense transcripts in eukaryotic genomes. These antisense genes seem to regulate gene expression by interacting with sense ge...Recent transcription profiling studies have revealed an unexpectedly large proportion of antisense transcripts in eukaryotic genomes. These antisense genes seem to regulate gene expression by interacting with sense genes. Previ- ous studies have focused on the non-coding antisense genes, but the possible regulatory role of the antisense protein is poorly understood. In this study, we found that a protein encoded by the antisense gene ADF1 acts as a transcription suppressor, regulating the expression of sense gene MDF1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on the evolutionary, ge- netic, cytological and biochemical evidence, we show that the protein-coding sense gene MDF1 most likely originated de novo from a previously non-coding sequence and can significantly suppress the mating efficiency of baker＇s yeast in rich medium by binding MATa2 and thus promote vegetative growth. These results shed new light on several im- portant issues, including a new sense-antisense interaction mechanism, the de novo origination of a functional gene, and the regulation of yeast mating pathway.展开更多
Background Genomic selection involves choosing as parents those elite individuals with the higher genomic estimated breeding values(GEBV)to accelerate the speed of genetic improvement in domestic animals.But after mul...Background Genomic selection involves choosing as parents those elite individuals with the higher genomic estimated breeding values(GEBV)to accelerate the speed of genetic improvement in domestic animals.But after multi-generation selection,the rate of inbreeding and the occurrence of homozygous harmful alleles might increase,which would reduce performance and genetic diversity.To mitigate the above problems,we can utilize genomic mating(GM)based upon optimal mate allocation to construct the best genotypic combinations in the next generation.In this study,we used stochastic simulation to investigate the impact of various factors on the efficiencies of GM to optimize pairing combinations after genomic selection of candidates in a pig population.These factors included:the algorithm used to derive inbreeding coefficients;the trait heritability(0.1,0.3 or 0.5);the kind of GM scheme(focused average GEBV or inbreeding);the approach for computing the genomic relationship matrix(by SNP or runs of homozygosity(ROH)).The outcomes were compared to three traditional mating schemes(random,positive assortative or negative assortative matings).In addition,the performance of the GM approach was tested on real datasets obtained from a Large White pig breeding population.Results Genomic mating outperforms other approaches in limiting the inbreeding accumulation for the same expected genetic gain.The use of ROH-based genealogical relatedness in GM achieved faster genetic gains than using relatedness based on individual SNPs.The GROH-based GM schemes with the maximum genetic gain resulted in 0.9%-2.6%higher rates of genetic gainΔG,and 13%-83.3%lowerΔF than positive assortative mating regardless of heritability.The rates of inbreeding were always the fastest with positive assortative mating.Results from a purebred Large White pig population,confirmed that GM with ROH-based GRM was more efficient than traditional mating schemes.Conclusion Compared with traditional mating schemes,genomic mating can not only achieve sustainable genetic progress but also effectively control the rates of inbreeding accumulation in the population.Our findings demonstrated that breeders should consider using genomic mating for genetic improvement of pigs.展开更多
In the present study, genetic parameters for longevity and genetic correlations with back fat （BF）, average daily gain （ADG）, and first mating age （FMA） were estimated from 19 300 Yorkshire and 18 378 Landrace s...In the present study, genetic parameters for longevity and genetic correlations with back fat （BF）, average daily gain （ADG）, and first mating age （FMA） were estimated from 19 300 Yorkshire and 18 378 Landrace sows from 12 farms derived from one breeding system. General linear models （GLM） were employed to estimate genetic correlations with heritability （h2）. Longevity was defined by six different parameters （i.e., traits） and heritability ranged from h2=0.13 to 0.16 （P〈0.05） in both swine breeds. Genetic correlations between different longevity definitions were positive and high （r=0.79 to 0.99; P〈0.05）. BF exhibited low positive genetic correlations （r=0.12 to 0.15; P〈0.05） with longevity traits identified in both pig breeds which were dependent on trait definition, whereas ADG and FMA showed weak negative genetic correlations with longevity traits. The influence of BF, ADG, and FMA on longevity traits was examined by dividing the production and reproductive traits into several numerical groups; the influence of each longevity trait was subsequently analyzed among the different groups. The results indicated BF was the best trait to improve longevity among BF, ADG, and FMA, which showed positive effects for almost all longevity traits. For Yorkshire sows, gilts with over 18 mm BF were most desirable; Landrace with 10.6-13 mm BF were suitable for longevity. ADG was not favorable for gilt selection, because the correlation between growth rate and longevity very low. For FMA, our results indicated gilts mating before 230 days exhibited a longer life span. Therefore, we suggest farmers should select for thicker back fat and mate at an earlier age to improve sow longevity.展开更多
Using scanning electron microscopy, we investigated the distribution of the trichoid, basiconic, and coeloconic sensilla on the antennae of the diamondback moth （DBM;Plutella xylostella）. The trichoid sensilla were ...Using scanning electron microscopy, we investigated the distribution of the trichoid, basiconic, and coeloconic sensilla on the antennae of the diamondback moth （DBM;Plutella xylostella）. The trichoid sensilla were the most abundant sensory organ, and the male moth antennae host signiifcantly more trichoid sensilla than female moth antennae. Conversely, basiconic and coeloconic sensilla were found more frequently on female than on male antennae. We performed experiments with various degrees of antennal ablation and demonstrated that DBM antennae played a key role in the control of mating and oviposition. We found that neither oviposition preference nor mating behaviors changed signiifcantly when less than 1/4 of both antennae were removed. However, there was a signiifcant behavioral change when the antennae were ablated by more than half. As the length of the antenna was shortened, the successful mating rate decreased and mating peak was delayed. An otherwise consistent host preference for oviposition was eliminated when both antennae were completely removed. Furthermore, we found that the number of trichoid sensilla was positively correlated with mating rate and oviposition preference. However, the numbers of basiconic and coeloconic sensilla were not correlated with mating rate and mating peak, but highly correlated with oviposition preference. Taken together, our results indicate that antennal sensory information plays a critical role in the mating and oviposition behaviors of this economically important pest.展开更多
We examined sexual size dimorphism （SSD）, mating pattem, fertilization efficiency and female reproductive traits in two bufonid toads （Bufo gargarizans and Duttaphrynus melanostictus） to test the idea that importa...We examined sexual size dimorphism （SSD）, mating pattem, fertilization efficiency and female reproductive traits in two bufonid toads （Bufo gargarizans and Duttaphrynus melanostictus） to test the idea that importance of male body size for egg fertilization success depends on the mating pattern. Female-biased SSD was evident only in D. melanostictus. Female B. gar- garizans laid fewer larger eggs nearly three months earlier than did female D. melanostictus. Fertilization efficieneies on average were higher in B. gargarizans （95%） than in D. melanostictus （91%）. Though differing in the degree of SSD, body size, breeding season, clutch size, egg size and fertilization efficiency, the two toads were similar in four aspects： （1） both showed size-assortative mating; （2） females did not tradeoff egg size against egg number; （3） male size, clutch size and clutch dry mass were greater in male-larger than in female-larger pairs after accounting for female snout-vent length （SVL）; and （4） the ratio of male to female SVL did not affect fertilization efficiency. Our data show that： （1） a female preference for large males is likely not important in terms of egg fertilization success; （2） a male preference for large females is likely important because larger females are more fecund; and （3） size-assortative mating arises from a male preference for large females. Our study demonstrates that male size is not always important for egg fertilization success in anurans that show size-assortative mating.展开更多
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32271693)the Cultivating Plan Program for the Leader in Science and Technology of Yunnan Province(202405AC350111)to ZQZ.
文摘Mating patterns in angiosperms are typically nonrandom,yet the mechanisms driving nonrandom mating remain unclear,especially regarding the effects of quantitative floral traits on plant mating success across male and female functions.In this study,we investigated how variation in spur length and flower number per plant influences mating patterns in Aquilegia rockii within a natural population.Using marker-based paternity analyses and manipulative experiments,we assessed the role of these traits in mating success across both sexual functions.We found significant variation in the mate composition between male and female function,with spur-length frequency positively associated with female outcrossing rate and mate number,but not with male outcrossing or mate number.Most mating events occurred within 10 m,and spur-length frequency positively correlated with mating distance.Regardless of selfing,there was evidence for assortative mating for spur length.Although spur length did not correlate with pollinator visitation,plants with mid-length spurs had higher seed set than those with shorter or longer spurs when autonomous selfing was excluded.Flowers number per plant was only associated with mating distance and female outcrossing rate.Our results suggest that spur length plays a key role in nonrandom mating by frequency-dependent mating,with implications for stabilizing selection and maintenance of genetic diversity.This study advances our understanding of floral diversity by dissecting the role of quantitative floral traits in plant mating through both female and male functions.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1400700)the Natural Science Foundation of Anhui Province,China(2308085MC89)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(ASTIP)。
文摘The fall armyworm(Spodoptera frugiperda)is an invasive species and a destructive pest of maize,which significantly impacts native species and communities via complex mechanisms like competition for resources.However,the interaction between S.frugiperda and local pests remains unclear.In this study,we determined that Oriental armyworm(Mythimna separata)females with different mating status displayed different approach-avoidance behaviors towards maize which was infested by S.frugiperda larvae.The virgin M.separata females were repelled,while the mated females were attracted by the S.frugiperda-infested maize.To further understand the olfactory mechanism of this phenomenon,seven volatiles induced by S.frugiperda in maize were characterized by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry(GC-MS),including trans-2-hexenal,linalool,trans-β-farnesene,cis-3-hexenyl acetate,β-caryophyllene,trans-α-bergamotene,and isopentyl acetate.Additionally,electrophysiological and behavioral assays of the seven compounds were performed using both virgin and mated females of M.separata.We determined that virgin and mated females displayed different responses to the herbivore-induced plant volatile(HIPV).Trans-β-farnesene was the core compound for repelling virgin females,and trans-2-hexenal was the key attractant for oviposition in mated female M.separata individuals.These findings help our comprehension of the relationships between maize pests and offer new possibilities for controlling them by olfactory-based strategies.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (32370456)the Key Project of Natural Sciences Foundation of Sichuan Province (22NSFSC0011)。
文摘Brain size varies dramatically across populations and species in anuran species.The differences in structure,function,or size of brains are linked to processing specific cognitive tasks by different behaviors.In particular,the causes of how male-male competition promotes the increased cognitive abilities to increase brains are as yet unexplored in anurans.To evaluate the effect of male-male competition on variation in brain size in B.andrewsi,we compared the differences in relative brain size between mated males and unpaired males under natural and experimental conditions.We found that mated males had relatively larger brains than unpaired males in a natural population when controlling the effect of body size.Likewise,we also found that there were larger brains in mated males than in unpaired males in both experiment 1 where two males competed for a female and experiment 2 where three males competed for a female,suggesting that males with mating success during male-male competition possess increased brain size and cognitive abilities.When we compared difference in relative brain size in mated males between experiment2 and experiment 1 we found that males experiencing more intense competition did not display larger brains than males experiencing relatively weak competition,suggesting that low intensity competition is already enough to trigger the increase in relative brain size in B.andrewsi.
基金the Landesamt für Umwelt,Naturschutz und Geologie Mecklenburg-Vorpommern(LUNG M-V)the Orthop?die+Vital Zentrum Piro GmbH+2 种基金the Institut für Vogelforschung“Vogelwarte Helgoland”(IfV)the German Ornithologists’Society(DO-G,project“Migration behaviour of Western Pomeranian terns”)the University of Greifswald(“AG Vogelwarte”)。
文摘Tracking and mating data of Common Terns(Sterna hirundo)breeding in a single colony in north-eastern Germany were used to test for assortative mating in regards to migratory phenotypes.These birds use the eastern and western African migration routes and three different wintering areas along the African coast.However,no assortative mating was found for either migratory route or wintering area,as birds using both flyways and all three wintering areas paired randomly,which might be explained by a lack of difference in the arrival date at the colony between the groups.These results might indicate a low degree of genetic fixation of migratory route and wintering area in the Common Tern,which might hint that migratory direction and wintering sites could be passed to young terns via social learning,either by joining the parents or migratory flocks of conspecifics.If migratory phenotypes are passed on by a parent,it seems more likely that it is passed from father to young,as female Common Terns tend to leave the colony earlier and males provide the majority of post-fledging care.
基金supported by Natural Science Foundation of China(no.32160243,no.32000301,no.32070429,no.31772423,no.82173799)the Science and Technology Foundation of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education(no.GJJ190543).
文摘Theory predicts that males and females of dioecious species typically engage in an evolutionary sexual conflict over the frequency and choice of mating partner.Female sexual cannibalism,a particularly dramatic illustration of this conflict,is widespread in certain animal taxa including spiders.Nevertheless,females of some funnel weaving spiders that are generally aggressive to conspecifics enter a cataleptic state after male courtship,ensuring the males can mate without risk of attack.In this study,we demonstrated that the physical posture and duration,metabo-lites,and central neurotransmitters of females of Aterigena aculeata in sexual catalepsy closely resemble females in thanatosis but are distinct from those in anesthesia,indicating that the courted females feign death to eliminate the risk of potentially aggressive responses and thereby allow preferred males to mate.Unlike the taxonomically widespread thanatosis,which generally represents a deceptive visual signal that acts against the interest of the receivers,sexual catalepsy of females in the funnel weaving spiders may deliver a sexual-receptive signal to the courting males and thereby benefit both the signal senders and receivers.Therefore,sexual catalepsy in A.aculeata may not reflect a conflict butrather a confluence of interest betweenthe sexes.
文摘The mating calls of six forms belonging to four genera Megophrys,Oreloalax,Scutiger and Leptolalax were recorded in Wawu Mountain National Forest Park,Sichuan Province of China,using cassette tape recorder (Aiwa) and Sony tape with an external microphone.All recordings were analyzed with an IBM PC based 'SIGNAL' software analysis system (Engineering Design,USA).The range of analyzed frequency was set as 0-10 kHz.Acoustic analysis shows that the dominant frequency of L.oshanensis,M.minor,M.sp.,S.(S.)chintingensis,O.omeimontis,and O.schmidti is 4521.9,3456.4,2293.8,1076.5,1071.0 and 1849.4 Hz on average respectively;the note duration is 46.2,90.8,99.6,72.2,78.8 and 110.3 millisecond on average respectively;the note interval is 140.4,253.0,681.4,1517.7,461.3 and 619.5 millisecond on average respectively.One-Way ANOVA analysis indicates that there are significant differences among the analyzed six forms on the dominant frequency,the note duration,and the note interval (P<0.01).Multiple comparisons using Least-Significant Difference (LSD) show that the difference of the dominant frequency between S.(S.) chintingensis and O.omeimontis is not significant (P=0.917>0.05);on the note duration,only L.oshanensis is significantly different from M.minor,M.sp.,O.omeimontis and O.schmidti (P<0.01);on the note interval,L.oshanensis is not significantly different from M.minor,the same with M.sp.versus O.schmidti and O.omeimontis versus O.schmidti (P>0.05).Correlation analysis indicates that there are no significant correlation among the three acoustic characters of dominant frequency,note duration and note interval,and two environmental factors of the elevation and air temperature (P>0.05) except that the note interval is significantly linear correlated with the elevation (r=0.943,P=0.005<0.01).In the light of above,it is suggested that acoustic characteristics of calls are useful in distinguishing forms;the change of the note interval with the elevation may be a kind of strategy of reproduction.
基金Natural Science Foundation of China (30670273)Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi (2008C269)+1 种基金Science and Technology Plan Project of Xi'an Bureau of Science and Technology (YF07194)Special Science Research Fund for Xi'an University of Arts and Science (KY200520)~~
文摘In order to investigate the estrogen and estrogen receptor β changes after mating behavior of male mandarin vole （Microtus mandarinus）, the radioimmunoassay （RIA） and immunohistochemistry methods were used to investigate changes of the serum estrogen （E） concentrations, estrogen immunoreactive neurons （E-IRs） and estrogen receptor β immunoreactive neurons （ERβ-IRs） in the relevant brain regions following mating behavior. Fifteen sexually matured male voles were randomly divided into three groups and treated differently： （1） control group： voles were exposed to clean hard-wood shavings （n=5）, （2） exposure group： voles were exposed to the soiled bedding for more than 24h on which estrous females had been placed （n=5）, and （3） mating group： voles were placed with an estrous female for more than 24h （n=5）. The results showed circulating serum E concentrations were significantly higher in the mating group than in the exposure group and the control group, and there were no significant difference between the exposure group and the control group. E-IRs and ERβ-IRs were detected in the following brain regions related to mating behavior： the arcuate nucleus （ARC）, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis （BST）, lateral septal nucleus （LS）, medial amygdaloid nucleus （ME）, medial preoptic area （MPO） and ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus （VMH）. The results showed that there were significantly more E-IRs in the six brain regions in the mating group than in the control group and the exposure group, and there were no significant difference between the exposure group and the control group except for LS. There was no significant difference in ERβ-IRs in the six brain regions among the three groups, and there were some lighter -stained ERβ-IRs in these brain regions. The results suggested that estrogen affect mating activity of male mandarin voles, but ERβ might not play an important role in mating behavior of male mandarin voles. Instead, it might be through other receptors.
基金Supported by National Science and Technology Support Program"Regional Development of Chinese Traditional Medicine Industry and Research of Characteristic Product"(2006BIA06A20)Personnel Services Business Action Plan of Ministry ofScience and Technology "Development of Series Products of Rare Edible Fungus"(2009GJD20012)~~
文摘[Objective] The mating genotype was studied and compared with esterase isozyme of Ganoderma lucidum populations between groups in order to clarify their differences in genetic relationship analysis. [Method] OWE-SOJ technique was applied to identify standard mating types and determinate mating genotype between groups of monokaryons isolates from 24 G. lucidum stains. Genetic relationships were analyzed by combined group mating genotype determination with esterase isozyme assay. [Result] All strains of G. lucidum could be divided into 7 large groups of the mating genotype. Four alleles of A factor, four alleles of B factor and one mixed alleles of A factor were found in this study. Distorted segregation ratio among monokaryon mycelia of G. lucidum had been observed in four kinds of mat- ing types to some extent. Twenty-eight different types of enzyme bands were determined in esterase isozyme test, Twenty-four strains of G. lucidum could be divided into 9 large groups through the cluster analysis when the genetic similarity coefficient was 0.73214. Comparing the results of mating genotype analysis and esterase isozyme analysis, it showed great similarity. [Conclusion] Mating genotype analysis could be used as an important supplementary method for strain identification and genetic diversity research.
文摘Upon the analogy of definition of heterosis and inbreeding depresstion in terms of population genetics, the heterosis is thought to be evaluated overall with fitness. By establishing a mathematical model, the equilibrium status of three genotypes of random mating population （i. e. RR, Rr and rr） under different fitness, which exposes that heterosis is the precondition for multiallele to exist in the population. The heterosis protects the genetic diversity and makes the population owning a stronger self-control and evolution potential by improving the hetemzygote＇s fithess so as not to wash out different types of genes. It deepens Darwin＇s thoughts of individual section by making the individual fitness consonant with population fitness.
文摘The term ＇assortative mating＇ has been applied to describe two very different phenomena： （1） the tendency for indi- viduals to choose phenotypically similar mates from among conspecifics; or （2） the tendency to prefer conspecific over hete- rospecific mates （behavioral reproductive isolation）. Both forms of assortative mating are widespread in nature, but the relation- ship between these behaviors remains unclear. Namely, it is plausible that a preference for phenotypically similar conspecifics in cidentally reduces the probability of mating with phenotypically divergent heterospecifics. We present a model to calculate how the level of reproductive isolation depends on intraspecific assortative mating and the phenotypic divergence between species. For empirically reasonable levels of intraspecific assortment on a single trait axis, we show that strong reproductive isolation requires very substantial phenotypic divergence. We illustrate this point by applying our model to empirical data from threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus and Darwin＇s Finches （Geospiza spp）. We conclude that typical levels of intraspecific assortment cannot generally be extrapolated to explain levels of interspecific reproductive isolation. Instead, reproductive isolation between species likely arises from different mate choice behaviors, or multivariate assortative mating [Current Zoology 58 （3）： 484-492, 2012].
文摘From the random mating population of maize, the relationship between heterosis and albino seedling was analyzed by means of mathematical theory, further the square logistic model for the appearance of lethal recessive homozygous genotype was deduced. The model shows that heterosis can determine the genetic structure and proportion of population. It approves, that the proportion of aa in each generation of maize seedlings shows a similar Logistic curve in growth process till equilibrium, so long as Aa containins lethal gene a from mutation presents heterosis. The ratio of equilibrium state of aa is determined by the ratio of AA-Aa fitness. Heterosis is helpful for the keeping of genetic diversity of population.
文摘Anthropogenic pollutants have the potential to disrupt reproductive strategies. Little is known about how lead （Pb2＋） exposure disrupts individual-level responses in reproductive behaviors, which are important for fitness. Drosophila melanogaster was used as a model system to deter- mine the effects of： 1） developmental lead exposure on pre-mating reproductive behaviors （i.e., mate preference）, and 2） lead exposure and mating preferences on fitness in the F0 parental generation and F1 un-exposed offspring. Wild-type strains of D. melanogaster were reared from egg stage to adulthood in control or leaded medium （250 μM PbAc） and tested for differences in： mate preference, male song performance, sex pheromone expression, fecundity, mortality, and body weight. F0 leaded females preferentially mated with leaded males （i.e., asymmetrical positive assortative mating） in 2-choice tests. This positive assortative mating was mediated by the females （and not the males） and was dependent upon context and developmental exposure to Pb. Neither the courtship song nor the sex pheromone profile expressed by control and leaded males medi- ated the positive assortative mating in leaded females. Leaded females did not incur a fitness cost in terms of reduced fecundity, increased mortality, or decreased body weight by mating with leaded males. These results suggest that sublethal exposure to lead during development can alter mate preferences in adults, but not fitness measures once lead exposure has been removed. We suggest that changes in mate preference may induce fitness costs, as well as long-term population and multi-generational implications, if pollution is persistent in the environment.
基金Supported by National"973"Project(No.2006CB102006)Special Research Project in Public Service Sectors(Agriculture)(201103012)~~
文摘[ Objective ] The paper was to confirm the effect of mating and black light treatment on cryptochromes mRNA expression of Hclicoverpa armigera. [ Method ] Quantitative real-time PCR （ SYBR Green） technique was applied to detect the expression of cryptochromes gene （ cryl and cry2 ） of H. armigera under different conditions. Total RNA was extracted from the head of H. armigera, and carried out reverse transcription to synthesize cDNA after digested by DNase I. Specific primers were used to carry out quantitative real-time PCR on cryl, cry2 and EF-Ict gene, respectively. [ Result] The expression of cryl mRNA of H. ar- migera significantly decreased after exposure to black light for 2 h, the mRNA expression of cry2 was smaller than control, they had no significant difference with each other. Mating had significant effect on mRNA expression of cryl and cry2 of H. armigera, and the mRNA expression of cryl and cry2 of male and female adults showed decreasing trend with the prolongation of time after mating. [ Conclusion] The result had important significance for further studying on function of cry gene and the control of cotton bollwonn.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.31470442)。
文摘Attendance patterns are a key factor affecting sexual selection and mating systems in lekbreeding species.However,there are few systematic studies on attendance patterns in lek-breeding anurans.In this study,we monitored a population of Omei treefrogs(Rhacophorus omeimontis) for four consecutive years to reveal in detail the effects of attendance patterns on mating systems.We found that(1) female nightly attendance was affected by male nightly attendance,and operational sex ratios(determined by male and female nightly attendance) ultimately determined the extent of female polyandry;(2) males surviving more than one breeding season maintained high chorus attendance and mating success,suggesting that male chorus attendance is a good predictor of male genetic quality;(3) the distributions of male mating success were not significantly different from a Poisson distribution,indicating a random mating pattern;and male mating success was not related to body size(size-assortative mating was not evident) but was significantly correlated with chorus attendance.Since the chorus attendance is a predictor of male genetic quality,females performing random mating were more likely to mate with more frequently present males and could therefore gain indirect benefits from mating with higher-than-average quality males,thereby producing good offspring without incurring the significant costs involved in prolonged searching for,and assessing males.Our systematic survey on the relationship between attendance patterns and the lek mating system in R.omeimontis could help us better understand in-depth anuran lek mating systems.
基金This research was funded by the McPherson College Department of Natural Sciences.
文摘Males and females have conflicting interests on the frequency and outcomes of mating interactions.Males maximize their fitness by mating with as many females as possible,whereas choosy females often reduce receptivity following copulation.Alternative male mating tactics can be adaptive in their expression to a variety of mating contexts,including interactions with a relatively unreceptive mated female.Male Rabidosa punctulata wolf spiders can adopt distinctive mating tactics when interacting with a female,a complex courtship display,and/or a more coercive direct mount tactic that often involves grappling with females for copulation.In this study,we set up female mating treatments with initial trials and then paired mated and unmated females with males to observe both female remating frequencies and the male mating tactics used during the interactions.Males adopted different mating tactics depending on the mating status of the female they were paired with.Males were more likely to adopt a direct mount tactic with already-mated females and courtship with unmated females.Already-mated females were considerably less receptive to males during experimental trials,although they did remate 34%of the time,the majority of which were with males using a direct mount tactic.Whereas males adjusting to these contextual cues were able to gain more copulations,the observation of multiple mating in female R.punctulata introduces the potential for sperm competition.We discuss this sexual conflict in terms of the fitness consequences of these mating outcomes for both males and females.
文摘Recent transcription profiling studies have revealed an unexpectedly large proportion of antisense transcripts in eukaryotic genomes. These antisense genes seem to regulate gene expression by interacting with sense genes. Previ- ous studies have focused on the non-coding antisense genes, but the possible regulatory role of the antisense protein is poorly understood. In this study, we found that a protein encoded by the antisense gene ADF1 acts as a transcription suppressor, regulating the expression of sense gene MDF1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on the evolutionary, ge- netic, cytological and biochemical evidence, we show that the protein-coding sense gene MDF1 most likely originated de novo from a previously non-coding sequence and can significantly suppress the mating efficiency of baker＇s yeast in rich medium by binding MATa2 and thus promote vegetative growth. These results shed new light on several im- portant issues, including a new sense-antisense interaction mechanism, the de novo origination of a functional gene, and the regulation of yeast mating pathway.
基金funded by the Natural Science Foundations of China(No.32172702)National Key Research and Development Program of China(2021YFD1301101)Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program(ASTIP-IAS02)。
文摘Background Genomic selection involves choosing as parents those elite individuals with the higher genomic estimated breeding values(GEBV)to accelerate the speed of genetic improvement in domestic animals.But after multi-generation selection,the rate of inbreeding and the occurrence of homozygous harmful alleles might increase,which would reduce performance and genetic diversity.To mitigate the above problems,we can utilize genomic mating(GM)based upon optimal mate allocation to construct the best genotypic combinations in the next generation.In this study,we used stochastic simulation to investigate the impact of various factors on the efficiencies of GM to optimize pairing combinations after genomic selection of candidates in a pig population.These factors included:the algorithm used to derive inbreeding coefficients;the trait heritability(0.1,0.3 or 0.5);the kind of GM scheme(focused average GEBV or inbreeding);the approach for computing the genomic relationship matrix(by SNP or runs of homozygosity(ROH)).The outcomes were compared to three traditional mating schemes(random,positive assortative or negative assortative matings).In addition,the performance of the GM approach was tested on real datasets obtained from a Large White pig breeding population.Results Genomic mating outperforms other approaches in limiting the inbreeding accumulation for the same expected genetic gain.The use of ROH-based genealogical relatedness in GM achieved faster genetic gains than using relatedness based on individual SNPs.The GROH-based GM schemes with the maximum genetic gain resulted in 0.9%-2.6%higher rates of genetic gainΔG,and 13%-83.3%lowerΔF than positive assortative mating regardless of heritability.The rates of inbreeding were always the fastest with positive assortative mating.Results from a purebred Large White pig population,confirmed that GM with ROH-based GRM was more efficient than traditional mating schemes.Conclusion Compared with traditional mating schemes,genomic mating can not only achieve sustainable genetic progress but also effectively control the rates of inbreeding accumulation in the population.Our findings demonstrated that breeders should consider using genomic mating for genetic improvement of pigs.
基金supported by the grants from the National Swine Industry Technology System,China (CARS-36)the Guangdong Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System,Chinathe project from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2014 FY120800 and 2013 GA790001)
文摘In the present study, genetic parameters for longevity and genetic correlations with back fat （BF）, average daily gain （ADG）, and first mating age （FMA） were estimated from 19 300 Yorkshire and 18 378 Landrace sows from 12 farms derived from one breeding system. General linear models （GLM） were employed to estimate genetic correlations with heritability （h2）. Longevity was defined by six different parameters （i.e., traits） and heritability ranged from h2=0.13 to 0.16 （P〈0.05） in both swine breeds. Genetic correlations between different longevity definitions were positive and high （r=0.79 to 0.99; P〈0.05）. BF exhibited low positive genetic correlations （r=0.12 to 0.15; P〈0.05） with longevity traits identified in both pig breeds which were dependent on trait definition, whereas ADG and FMA showed weak negative genetic correlations with longevity traits. The influence of BF, ADG, and FMA on longevity traits was examined by dividing the production and reproductive traits into several numerical groups; the influence of each longevity trait was subsequently analyzed among the different groups. The results indicated BF was the best trait to improve longevity among BF, ADG, and FMA, which showed positive effects for almost all longevity traits. For Yorkshire sows, gilts with over 18 mm BF were most desirable; Landrace with 10.6-13 mm BF were suitable for longevity. ADG was not favorable for gilt selection, because the correlation between growth rate and longevity very low. For FMA, our results indicated gilts mating before 230 days exhibited a longer life span. Therefore, we suggest farmers should select for thicker back fat and mate at an earlier age to improve sow longevity.
基金supported by the One Hundred Talents Program of Shanxi Province,China (201144)the Key Science and Technology Project of Shanxi Province,China (200903110300)
文摘Using scanning electron microscopy, we investigated the distribution of the trichoid, basiconic, and coeloconic sensilla on the antennae of the diamondback moth （DBM;Plutella xylostella）. The trichoid sensilla were the most abundant sensory organ, and the male moth antennae host signiifcantly more trichoid sensilla than female moth antennae. Conversely, basiconic and coeloconic sensilla were found more frequently on female than on male antennae. We performed experiments with various degrees of antennal ablation and demonstrated that DBM antennae played a key role in the control of mating and oviposition. We found that neither oviposition preference nor mating behaviors changed signiifcantly when less than 1/4 of both antennae were removed. However, there was a signiifcant behavioral change when the antennae were ablated by more than half. As the length of the antenna was shortened, the successful mating rate decreased and mating peak was delayed. An otherwise consistent host preference for oviposition was eliminated when both antennae were completely removed. Furthermore, we found that the number of trichoid sensilla was positively correlated with mating rate and oviposition preference. However, the numbers of basiconic and coeloconic sensilla were not correlated with mating rate and mating peak, but highly correlated with oviposition preference. Taken together, our results indicate that antennal sensory information plays a critical role in the mating and oviposition behaviors of this economically important pest.
文摘We examined sexual size dimorphism （SSD）, mating pattem, fertilization efficiency and female reproductive traits in two bufonid toads （Bufo gargarizans and Duttaphrynus melanostictus） to test the idea that importance of male body size for egg fertilization success depends on the mating pattern. Female-biased SSD was evident only in D. melanostictus. Female B. gar- garizans laid fewer larger eggs nearly three months earlier than did female D. melanostictus. Fertilization efficieneies on average were higher in B. gargarizans （95%） than in D. melanostictus （91%）. Though differing in the degree of SSD, body size, breeding season, clutch size, egg size and fertilization efficiency, the two toads were similar in four aspects： （1） both showed size-assortative mating; （2） females did not tradeoff egg size against egg number; （3） male size, clutch size and clutch dry mass were greater in male-larger than in female-larger pairs after accounting for female snout-vent length （SVL）; and （4） the ratio of male to female SVL did not affect fertilization efficiency. Our data show that： （1） a female preference for large males is likely not important in terms of egg fertilization success; （2） a male preference for large females is likely important because larger females are more fecund; and （3） size-assortative mating arises from a male preference for large females. Our study demonstrates that male size is not always important for egg fertilization success in anurans that show size-assortative mating.
