The function of prolonged copulations in Enchenopa treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae).
J Evol Biol
; 2024 Jun 06.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38842091
ABSTRACT
Copulations are very brief in many species, sometimes taking only seconds, but in other species they can be quite prolonged. Potential explanations for prolonged copulations include time requirements for the transfer of sperm and/or other ejaculate substances. Ejaculate substances could function to regulate female receptivity to subsequent matings, provide nutritional nuptial gifts, or hasten egg oviposition at a potential survival cost to the female. We investigated prolonged copulation in a member of the Enchenopa binotata complex of treehoppers (Hemiptera Membracidae), in which females rarely remate and copulation can last several hours. We assigned females to treatments in which we interrupted copulation at different times. We also included a control where copulation was not interrupted. We found that females that experienced shorter copulations were more likely to be subsequently receptive to an attractive male. We also found that few females produced offspring when they engaged in short copulations compared to those with longer copulations. We did not find any differences in female survival. Our results support the sperm transfer and receptivity regulation hypotheses. We discuss potential reasons for why these processes should take so long in a species with low female remating.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Evol Biol
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article