| 1. |
- Maklakov, Alexei A., et al.
(författare)
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Ageing and the evolution of female resistance to remating in seed beetles
- 2006
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Ingår i: Biology Letters. - : The Royal Society. - 1744-9561 .- 1744-957X. ; 2:1, s. 62-64
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Female remating behaviour is a key mating system parameter that is predicted to evolve according to the net effect of remating on female fitness. In many taxa, females commonly resist male remating attempts because of the costs of mating. Here, we use replicated populations of the seed beetle Acanthoscelides obtectus selected for either early or late life reproduction and show that 'Early' and 'Late' females evolved different age-specific rates of remating. Early females were more likely to remate with control males as they aged, while Late females were more resistant to remating later in life. Thus, female remating rate decreases with age when direct selection on late-life fitness is operating and increases when such selection is relaxed. Our findings not only demonstrate that female resistance to remating can evolve rapidly, but also that such evolution is in accordance with the genetic interests of females.
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| 2. |
- Maklakov, Alexei A., et al.
(författare)
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The effects of male age at mating on female life-history traits in a seed beetle
- 2007
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Ingår i: Behavioral Ecology. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1045-2249 .- 1465-7279. ; 18:3, s. 551-555
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Age at first reproduction is an important component of life history across taxa and can ultimately affect fitness. Because genetic interests of males and females over reproductive decisions commonly differ, theory predicts that conflict may arise over the temporal distribution of matings. To determine the potential for such sexual conflict, we studied the direct costs and benefits associated with mating at different times for females, using seed beetles (Acanthoscelides obtectus) as a model system. Virgin females were resistant to male mating attempts at a very early age but subsequently reduced their resistance. Although we found no difference in life span or mortality rates between females mated early in life and those mated later, females that mated early in life suffered a 12% reduction in lifetime fecundity. Thus, there are direct costs associated with mating early in life for females. Yet, males mate even with newly hatched females. We suggest that these data indicate a potential for sexual conflict over the timing of first mating and that female resistance to mating, at least in part, may represent a female strategy aimed at delaying mating to a later time in life.
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