Sperm quality and quantity evolve through different selective processes in the Phasianidae.

ABSTRACT: Sperm competition is often considered the primary selective force underlying the rapid and diversifying evolution of ejaculate traits. Yet, several recent studies have drawn attention to other forms of selection with the potential of exceeding the effects of sperm competition. Since ejaculates are complex, multivariate traits, it seems plausible that different ejaculate components vary in their responses to different selective pressures. Such information, however, is generally lacking as individual ejaculate traits tend to be studied in isolation. Here, we studied the macroevolutionary patterns of ejaculate volume, sperm number, sperm length and the proportion of viable normal sperm in response to varying levels of sperm competition, body size and the duration of female sperm storage in ph

SUBMITTER: Liao WB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6917726 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature