Post-copulatory competition in a social monogamy system: Sperm morphology correlates with components of reproductive success.

ABSTRACT: Males in socially monogamous species can achieve reproductive success through multiple tactics- by defending paternity within the social nest and siring extra-pair offspring, or both. Previous studies have found that sperm morphology may differentially affect fertilization success in extra-pair compared to within-pair matings; therefore, we explored whether sperm morphological traits can predict the probability of success within components of reproductive success. Here, we measured sperm component traits (head length and flagellum length) and derived traits (total length and flagellum:head ratio) in free-living Mountain White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha) and examined how these morphological traits relate to extra-pair and within-pair reproductive components of reprodu

SUBMITTER: Hawkins CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12668552 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature