Sperm investment in male meadow voles is affected by the condition of the nearby male conspecifics.

ABSTRACT: Sperm competition occurs when 2 or more males copulate with a particular female during the same reproductive cycle, and their sperm compete to fertilize the female's available eggs. One strategy that male voles use to assess the risk and intensity of sperm competition involves responding to the presence of scent marks of conspecific males found near a sexually receptive female. Previously, we have shown that if a male vole copulated with a female while he was in the presence of the odors of another male he increased his sperm investment relative to his investment if another male's odors were not present. The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that males assess differences in the relative quality of competing males and adjust their sperm investment accordingly. We did so by

SUBMITTER: Vaughn AA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2583107 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature