Realized reproductive success of polygynous red-winged blackbirds revealed by DNA markers

Hypervariable genetic markers, including a novel locus-specific marker detected by a mouse major histocompatibility complex probe, reveal that multiple paternity is common in families of polygynous red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus). Almost half of all nests contained at least one chick resulting from an extra-pair fertilization, usually by a neighboring male. Genetically based measures of reproductive success show that individual males realize more than 20% of their overall success from extra-pair fertilizations, on average, and that this form of mating behavior confounds traditional measures of male success. The importance of alternative reproductive tactics in a polygynous bird is quantified, and the results challenge previous explanations for the evolution of avian polygny.     

Relationship Between Behavioral Frequency and Reproductive Potential of Female Alpine Musk Deer in Captivity

Between June 2005 and February 2006, focal sampling and all occurrence behavior recording were used to quantify the behavioral patterns of captive female alpine musk deer （Moschus sifanicus） at Xinglongshan Musk Deer Farm, Gansu Province, China. Copulation success was used to differentiate individuals into two groups （successful and unsuccessful） and to provide a basis for behavioral comparisons, throughout both mating （rut） and non mating seasons. The results indicated significant differences between the behavior patterns of successful and unsuccessful females; however, the reproductive season played an important environmental factor. Pooling results across reproductive seasons, successfully copulating females showed significantly higher frequencies of vigilance and lower frequency of feeding behavior as compared with unsuccessfully copulating females. In the non-mating season, unsuccessfully copulating females had higher frequency of self-directed behavior, environment sniffing, and were less aggressive than successful copulating females. Furthermore, females who were successful at copulating also demonstrated tail-pasting behavior; however, this only occurred during the rut season. The results of this study can improve management practices for musk deer farms through increasing mating success and reducing maintenance costs. Furthermore, variation in behavior may also be used as a predictor of copulation success and reproductive potential, whereby females can be grouped and separated according to their reproductive history and past reproduction success.     

Wired for sex: the neurobiology of Drosophila mating decisions

Decisions about whom to mate with can sometimes be difficult, but making the right choice is critical for an animal's reproductive success. The ubiquitous fruit fly, Drosophila, is clearly very good at making these decisions. Upon encountering another fly, a male may or may not choose to court. He estimates his chances of success primarily on the basis of pheromone signals and previous courtship experience. The female decides whether to accept or reject the male, depending on her perception of his pheromone and acoustic signals, as well as her own readiness to mate. This simple and genetically tractable system provides an excellent model to explore the neurobiology of decision making.     

宽体金线蛭生殖系统形态结构与胚胎发育

宽体金线蛭是一种被广泛人工养殖的药用动物,其繁殖力的提高有利于增加养殖者的经济效益,取宽体金线蛭种蛭在室内养殖于自制的水蛭水族箱,取材进行解剖和石蜡切片,观察其生殖系统的形态结构.在宽体金线蛭产下卵茧后,观察其胚胎发育的主要阶段.实验结果表明:(1)宽体金线蛭是雌、雄同体的动物,其雄性生殖系统包括精巢、输精管、贮精囊、射精球、前列腺、阴茎鞘和雄孔几部分,雌性生殖系统包括卵巢、输卵管、蛋白腺、阴道囊和雌孔几部分;(2)宽体金线蛭卵茧产下约3h,受精卵进入二细胞期,约8h进入4细胞期,约12h进入8细胞期,约1d进入多细胞期,约3d进入囊胚期,约5d进入原肠胚期,约28d孵出幼蛭.     

Sperm-female coevolution in Drosophila

Rapid evolution of reproductive traits has been attributed to sexual selection arising from interaction between the sexes. However, little is known about the nature of selection driving the evolution of interacting sex-specific phenotypes. Using populations of Drosophila melanogaster selected for divergent sperm length or female sperm-storage organ length, we experimentally show that male fertilization success is determined by an interaction between sperm and female morphology. In addition, sperm length evolution occurred as a correlated response to selection on the female reproductive tract. Giant sperm tails are the cellular equivalent of the peacock's tail, having evolved because females evolved reproductive tracts that selectively bias paternity in favor of males with longer sperm.     

Prenatal stress reduces fertility and fecundity in female offspring

Female rats subjected to prenatal stress later experienced fewer conceptions, more spontaneous abortions and vaginal hemorrhaging, longer pregnancies, and fewer viable young than nonstressed rats. The offspring of the prenatally stressed rats were lighter in weight and less likely to survive the neonatal period. Prenatal stress may influence the balance of adrenal and gonadal hormones during a critical stage of fetal hypothalamic differentiation, thereby producing a variety of reproductive dysfunctions in adulthood.     

人工巢箱条件下大山雀的窝卵数与繁殖成功的关系

2004—2006年,利用人工巢箱在吉林省左家自然保护区次生林中对大山雀（Parus major）的窝卵数与繁殖成功的关系开展了研究。研究表明：大山雀对人工巢箱的利用率逐年减少,年份间差异显著（P〈0．05）。营巢成功率为74．3％,营巢失败的主要原因是人为破坏和天敌占用。大山雀的窝卵数为6—14枚,平均10．2枚,常见窝卵数为10—12枚,卵质量平均为（1．47±0．12）g,卵大小平均为16．5min×12．9min。孵化期平均为（13．8±1．4）d,平均出雏率为（88．4±1．3）％,育雏期平均为（17．3±0．9）d,平均出飞率为（78．1±2．0）％。大山雀窝卵数与孵化期、出雏率、育雏期和出飞率显著正相关.大山雀繁殖成功率逐年增加,不同年份间繁殖成功率差异极显著（P〈0．01）,窝卵数与繁殖成功率无明显相关性。     

植物生长物质对雄性育性的调控作用

植物雄性不育机制是目前植物生殖生物学研究的重点,植物激素对雄性不育发生的调控是这一领域研究的重点内容。在此,就目前植物雄性败育过程中激素的变化、植物调节物质对雄蕊和花粉发育影响的研究进展进行综述,以为今后更好地开展这一领域研究提供资料。     

Male fertility and sex ratio at birth in red deer

Efforts to test sex ratio theory have focused mostly on females. However, when males possess traits that could enhance the reproductive success of sons, males would also benefit from the manipulation of the offspring sex ratio. We tested the prediction that more-fertile red deer males produce more sons. Our findings reveal that male fertility is positively related to the proportion of male offspring. We also show that there is a positive correlation between the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa (a main determinant of male fertility) and the proportion of male offspring. Thus, males may contribute significantly to biases in sex ratio at birth among mammals, creating the potential for conflicts of interest between males and females.     

额济纳绿洲胡杨种群繁殖物候节律特征的研究

额济纳绿洲分布胡杨种群的繁殖物候节律特征及其与环境条件的相互关系的研究,有助于进一步揭示胡杨生态生物学特性、并为胡杨种群的保护和恢复提供理论依据.结果表明:额济纳绿洲分布的胡插种群的繁殖物候完全适应当地环境条件,并在雌雄不同龄级的个体和群体及种群整体等水平上,形成适应风媒的形态特征和相对稳定独特的"大量、个体相对集中、群体相对分散、雌雄异步开始、近同期结束"的较为独特的开花模式和拥有杨属植物中最长的花果物候期的繁殖物候节律。花期和种子散布期这两个最重要的繁殖物候期在时间位上分别所依托河流的春汛和秋汛相吻合,是胡杨中生起源以及在长期演化过程中,对逐渐形成的环境条件水热变化规律响应的过程中形成的独特适应机制,是其有别于典型荒漠植物和杨属其它植物的重要特征。也揭示了胡杨种群的生存和发展对荒漠内流河的深刻依赖。     

息烽县褐家鼠种群繁殖特征变动规律

为摸清息烽县褐家鼠种群繁殖特征的变动规律,通过对息烽县1986-2008年23年系统监测资料统计分析,结果表明,共解剖褐家鼠标本2 672只,其中,雌鼠1 442只,雄鼠1 230只,全年均可繁殖,每年3-11月为主要繁殖期,3月-5月、10月出现2个繁殖高峰,12月至翌年1月出现繁殖低谷期.种群性比(♀/♂)为1.17,多年平均怀孕率为(31.17±11.68)%,平均胎仔数(6.59±0.27)只,平均繁殖指数1.01±0.39,雄鼠睾九平均下降率为(79.53±5.73)%.可为种群数量预测预报和防治提供科学依据.     

Influence of environmental quality on pollen competitive ability in wild radish

Pollen of Raphanus raphanistrum produced under low nutrient conditions sired fewer seeds than pollen produced under better conditions when the two types were applied on a stigma together. No difference was seen in single-donor crosses. Male mating success can be strongly influenced by the environmental conditions of pollen-bearing plants, a factor overlooked in studies of plant reproductive biology and in standard quantitative genetic crossing designs, where effects of male parent are equated with heritable genetic variation.     

北海文昌鱼雄鱼群体繁殖特性研究

【目的】了解广西北海海区文昌雄鱼性腺发育规律和繁殖生物学特性。【方法】对广西北海海区文昌鱼进行连续3年的跟踪采样和观测,分别测定北海文昌雄鱼群体的体重和成熟系数（GSI）,并对雄鱼精巢组织切片进行连续显微观察。【结果】北海海区文昌雄鱼繁殖季节从每年3月开始,5～6月为繁殖盛期,7月后繁殖基本结束;雄鱼性腺发育的适宜水温为25.0～27.0℃;其精巢发育分为初始期、细胞增殖期、细胞生长期、细胞变态期和精子成熟期5个时期;精子细胞具有在个体内和个体间发育不同步、但在繁殖高峰期能够相对同步成熟的特点。【结论】初步掌握了北海海区文昌雄鱼的繁殖特性和性腺发育规律,为今后开展天然海区北海文昌鱼资源保护和人工繁殖研究奠定了基础。     

北海文昌鱼雄鱼群体繁殖特性研究

【目的】了解广西北海海区文昌雄鱼性腺发育规律和繁殖生物学特性。【方法】对广西北海海区文昌鱼进行连续3年的跟踪采样和观测,分别测定北海文昌雄鱼群体的体重和成熟系数（GSI）,并对雄鱼精巢组织切片进行连续显微观察。【结果】北海海区文昌雄鱼繁殖季节从每年3月开始,5~6月为繁殖盛期,7月后繁殖基本结束;雄鱼性腺发育的适宜水温为25.0~27.0℃;其精巢发育分为初始期、细胞增殖期、细胞生长期、细胞变态期和精子成熟期5个时期;精子细胞具有在个体内和个体间发育不同步、但在繁殖高峰期能够相对同步成熟的特点。【结论】初步掌握了北海海区文昌雄鱼的繁殖特性和性腺发育规律,为今后开展天然海区北海文昌鱼资源保护和人工繁殖研究奠定了基础。     

Sex determination in malaria parasites

A century ago, W. G. MacCallum identified distinct male and female forms in malaria parasites of both birds and humans. Since then, scientists have been puzzled by the high female-to-male ratios of parasites in Plasmodium infections and by the mechanism of sex determination. The sex ratio of malaria parasites was shown to become progressively more male as conditions that allow motility and subsequent fertilization by the male parasites become adverse. This resulted from an increased immune response against male gametes, which coincides with intense host erythropoietic activity. Natural and artificial induction of erythropoiesis in vertebrate hosts provoked a shift toward male parasite production. This change in parasite sex ratio led to reduced reproductive success in the parasite, which suggests that sex determination is adaptive and is regulated by the hematologic state of the host.     

Functional analysis of the orphan genes Tssor-3 and Tssor-4 in male Plutella xylostella

Orphan genes are genes with no sequence homologues in other species. Here, we identified two orphan genes, namely, Tssor-3 and Tssor-4, in Plutella xylostella. Both genes contained a signal peptide sequence, suggesting their functions as secreted proteins. Expression pattern analysis based on real-time quantitative PCR(qPCR) showed that both orphan genes were specifically expressed in all male gonads except the testes. The expression of both the orphan genes peaked at the male adult stage. Immunofluorescence assays suggested that the two proteins were seminal proteins, indicating their potential roles in male reproductive regulation. To further explain their functions, we knocked down the expression of these two genes by RNA interference(RNAi). The results showed that the expression of Tssor-3 and Tssor-4 was significantly downregulated at 24 h after injection compared to that of the controls. Biological assays showed that the number of laid eggs and the hatching rate of offspring eggs were significantly reduced when the expression of Tssor-3 and Tssor-4 was reduced, suggesting that the two orphan genes played a role in male fertility in P. xylostella. Our results provide evidence that orphan genes are involved in male reproductive regulation, which is important for male fitness during evolution.     

Sexual selection,temperature, and the lion's mane

The mane of the African lion (Panthera leo) is a highly variable trait that reflects male condition and ambient temperature. We examined the consequences of this variation in a long-term study of lions in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. Mane darkness indicates nutrition and testosterone and influences both female choice and male-male competition. Mane length signals fighting success and only appears to influence male-male assessment. Dark-maned males enjoy longer reproductive life-spans and higher offspring survival, but they suffer higher surface temperatures, abnormal sperm, and lower food intake during hot months of the year. Maned males are hotter than females, and males have lighter and/or shorter manes in hotter seasons, years, and habitats. This phenotypic plasticity suggests that the mane will respond to forecasted increases in ambient temperature.     

Acoustic communication and reproductive isolation in two species of wolf spiders

Sound production by male wolf spiders during courtship is critical for behavioral reproductive isolation of two sibling species. Females only respond to and copulate with conspecific males, and acoustic signals through a substrate are necessary to induce receptivity. No reproductive barriers that could arise during mating (such as genital or mechanical incompatibility) or after mating (infertility) are in effect between the species, since forced interspecific matings produce viable offspring.     

Adaptive plasticity in female mate choice dampens sexual selection on male ornaments in the lark bunting

Theory on the evolution of ornamental male traits by sexual selection assumes consistency in selection over time. Temporal variation in female choice could dampen sexual selection, but scant information exists on the degree to which individual female preferences are flexible. Here we show that in lark buntings sexual selection on male traits varied dramatically across years and, in some cases, exhibited reversals in the direction of selection for a single trait. We show that these shifts are probably because of flexibility in mate choice by individual females and that they parallel shifts in the male traits that predict female reproductive success in a given year. Plasticity in choice and concomitant reversals in mating patterns across time may weaken the strength of sexual selection and could maintain genetic variation underlying multiple sexual ornaments.     

卵巢移植对雄性受体鼠精子及生殖能力的影响

将1日龄小鼠卵巢移植入成年受体雄鼠肾囊下,分别于移植后21d(A组)和28d(B组),回收卵巢移植体和卵母细胞,采集附睾尾精子,并对睾丸及精子进行形态学检测,计算畸形精子数.移植受体雄鼠的繁殖能力将依据与雌鼠合笼交配后的窝产活仔记录进行评价.结果表明,卵巢移植体生长并有卵泡发育,A、B组回收卵母细胞数组间无显著差异(P0.05);移植组不同时期卵巢移植体对雄鼠睾丸及精子形态无明显影响,其畸形率与对照组(正常雄鼠)相比差异不显著(P0.05);移植受体雄鼠与母鼠配种的窝产活仔数与对照组无显著差异(P0.05).初步证实在卵巢异性移植构建雌、雄性腺同体的生理环境中,卵巢移植体对受体雄鼠精子及生殖能力无明显影响.