Males adjust their manipulation of female remating in response to sperm competition risk.

ABSTRACT: To reduce the potential for sperm competition, male insects are thought to inhibit the post-mating reproductive behaviour of females through receptivity-inhibiting compounds transferred in the ejaculate. Selection is expected to favour phenotypic plasticity in male post-copulatory expenditure, with males investing strategically in response to their perceived risk of sperm competition. However, the impact that socially cued strategic allocation might have on female post-mating behaviour has rarely been assessed. Here, we varied male perception of sperm competition risk, both prior to and during mating, to determine if a male's competitive environment impacts the extent to which he manipulates female remating behaviour. We found that female Australian field crickets (Teleogryllus oceanicu

SUBMITTER: Moschilla JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7542785 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature