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Tetrapod sperm length evolution in relation to body mass is shaped by multiple trade-offs

Author

Listed:
  • Loren Koçillari

    (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
    University of Padova
    University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE))

  • Silvia Cattelan

    (University of Padova
    Fritz Lipmann Institute–Leibniz Institute on Aging)

  • Maria Berica Rasotto

    (University of Padova)

  • Flavio Seno

    (University of Padova)

  • Amos Maritan

    (University of Padova
    National Biodiversity Future Center)

  • Andrea Pilastro

    (University of Padova
    National Biodiversity Future Center)

Abstract

Sperm length is highly variable across species and many questions about its variation remain open. Although variation in body mass may affect sperm length evolution through its influence on multiple factors, the extent to which sperm length variation is linked to body mass remains elusive. Here, we use the Pareto multi-task evolution framework to investigate the relationship between sperm length and body mass across tetrapods. We find that tetrapods occupy a triangular Pareto front, indicating that trade-offs shape the evolution of sperm length in relation to body mass. By exploring the factors predicted to influence sperm length evolution, we find that sperm length evolution is mainly driven by sperm competition and clutch size, rather than by genome size. Moreover, the triangular Pareto front is maintained within endotherms, internal fertilizers, mammals and birds, suggesting similar evolutionary trade-offs within tetrapods. Finally, we demonstrate that the Pareto front is robust to phylogenetic dependencies and finite sampling bias. Our findings provide insights into the evolutionary mechanisms driving interspecific sperm length variation and highlight the importance of considering multiple trade-offs in optimizing reproductive traits.

Suggested Citation

  • Loren Koçillari & Silvia Cattelan & Maria Berica Rasotto & Flavio Seno & Amos Maritan & Andrea Pilastro, 2024. "Tetrapod sperm length evolution in relation to body mass is shaped by multiple trade-offs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50391-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50391-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Vyacheslav R. Karolis & Maurizio Corbetta & Michel Thiebaut de Schotten, 2019. "The architecture of functional lateralisation and its relationship to callosal connectivity in the human brain," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Jean Hausser & Pablo Szekely & Noam Bar & Anat Zimmer & Hila Sheftel & Carlos Caldas & Uri Alon, 2019. "Tumor diversity and the trade-off between universal cancer tasks," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-13, December.
    3. Ariel F. Kahrl & Rhonda R. Snook & John L. Fitzpatrick, 2022. "Fertilization mode differentially impacts the evolution of vertebrate sperm components," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
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