Sperm morphology, sperm motility and paternity success in the bluethroat (Luscinia svecica).

ABSTRACT: Postcopulatory sexual selection may select for male primary sexual characteristics like sperm morphology and sperm motility, through sperm competition or cryptic female choice. However, how such characteristics influence male fertilization success remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigate possible correlations between sperm characteristics and paternity success in the socially monogamous bluethroat (Luscinia svecica svecica), predicting that sperm length and sperm swimming speed is positively correlated with paternity success. In total, 25% (15/61) of broods contained extra-pair offspring and 10% (33/315) of the offspring were sired by extra-pair males. Paternity success did not correlate significantly with sperm morphology or any aspects of sperm motility. Furthermore, sper

SUBMITTER: Sætre CLC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5839561 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature