Sperm morphology and performance in relation to postmating prezygotic isolation in two recently diverged passerine species.

ABSTRACT: Divergence in sperm phenotype and female reproductive environment may be a common source of postmating prezygotic (PMPZ) isolation between species. However, compared to other reproductive barriers it has received much less attention. In this study, we examined sperm morphology and velocity in two hybridizing passerine species, the common nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) and thrush nightingale (L. luscinia). In addition, we for the first time characterized a passerine female reproductive tract fluid proteome. We demonstrate that spermatozoa of the common nightingale have significantly longer and wider midpiece (proximal part of the flagellum containing mitochondria) and longer tail compared to spermatozoa of thrush nightingale. On the other hand, they have significantly shorter and narro

SUBMITTER: Poignet M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9789955 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature