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Ovarian Fluid Mediates the Temporal Decline in Sperm Viability in a Fish with Sperm Storage

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  • Clelia Gasparini
  • Jonathan P Evans

Abstract

A loss of sperm viability and functionality during sperm transfer and storage within the female reproductive tract can have important fitness implications by disrupting fertilization and impairing offspring development and survival. Consequently, mechanisms that mitigate the temporal decline in sperm function are likely to be important targets of selection. In many species, ovarian fluid is known to regulate and maintain sperm quality. In this paper, we use the guppy Poecilia reticulata, a highly polyandrous freshwater fish exhibiting internal fertilization and sperm storage, to determine whether ovarian fluid (OF) influences the decline in sperm viability (the proportion of live sperm in the ejaculate) over time and whether any observed effects depend on male sexual ornamentation. To address these questions we used a paired experimental design in which ejaculates from individual males were tested in vitro both in presence and absence of OF. Our results revealed that the temporal decline in sperm viability was significantly reduced in the presence of OF compared to a saline control. This finding raises the intriguing possibility that OF may play a role in mediating the decline in sperm quality due to the deleterious effects of sperm ageing, although other possible explanations for this observation are discussed. Interestingly, we also show that the age-related decline in sperm viability was contingent on male sexual ornamentation; males with relatively high levels of iridescence (indicating higher sexual attractiveness) exhibited a more pronounced decline in sperm viability over time than their less ornamented counterparts. This latter finding offers possible insights into the functional basis for the previously observed trade-off between these key components of pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection.

Suggested Citation

  • Clelia Gasparini & Jonathan P Evans, 2013. "Ovarian Fluid Mediates the Temporal Decline in Sperm Viability in a Fish with Sperm Storage," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(5), pages 1-5, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0064431
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064431
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chad C. Smith, 2012. "Opposing effects of sperm viability and velocity on the outcome of sperm competition," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 23(4), pages 820-826.
    2. Andrea Pilastro & Clelia Gasparini & Chiara Boschetto & Jonathan P. Evans, 2008. "Colorful male guppies do not provide females with fecundity benefits," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 19(2), pages 374-381.
    3. Patrice Rosengrave & Neil J. Gemmell & Victoria Metcalf & Katherine McBride & Robert Montgomerie, 2008. "A mechanism for cryptic female choice in chinook salmon," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 19(6), pages 1179-1185.
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