Divergent allocation of sperm and the seminal proteome along a competition gradient in Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT: Sperm competition favors large, costly ejaculates, and theory predicts the evolution of allocation strategies that enable males to plastically tailor ejaculate expenditure to sperm competition threat. While greater sperm transfer in response to a perceived increase in the risk of sperm competition is well-supported, we have a poor understanding of whether males (i) respond to changes in perceived intensity of sperm competition, (ii) use the same allocation rules for sperm and seminal fluid, and (iii) experience changes in current and future reproductive performance as a result of ejaculate compositional changes. Combining quantitative proteomics with fluorescent sperm labeling, we show that Drosophila melanogaster males exercise independent control over the tran

SUBMITTER: Hopkins BR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6731677 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature