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Mechanisms enabling sperm economy in blenniid fishes

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Abstract

Sperm competition, cost of spermatogenesis and spawning frequency are known to influence ejaculate expenditure. Accordingly, males, particularly those with high reproductive costs, are expected to have evolved mechanisms enabling them to prudently allocate sperm, such as the fractioning of ejaculate expenditure or the semi-cystic type of spermatogenesis, hypothesised to favour the production of small ejaculates. In this study, we investigate sperm competition risk, ejaculate size and mode of ejaculate release in seven polygynous blenniid fish where males provide sole paternal care of eggs. In addition, we estimated the relative size of the two parts composing the male gonad, the strictly testicular (testicular lobules or testis) and the glandular (testicular gland), as the development of the latter is indicative of the level of semi-cystic spermatogenesis. In all the examined species, eggs were laid one by one, and the sperm expenditure at mating, evaluated as the total number of sperm released per mating, was parcelled out in several successive ejaculations, allowing males to adjust the release of sperm to the duration of egg deposition. In accordance with sperm competition theory, species experiencing higher sperm competition risk allocated more in sperm, both considering ejaculate size and ejaculate expenditure per mating. An increase in sperm expenditure was paralleled by the development of the testis at the expense of the testicular gland. Smaller species, whose males do not face sperm competition risk and fecundity is low, produced smaller ejaculates and exhibited a more developed testicular gland, supporting the hypothesis that a semi-cystic type of spermatogenesis is a mechanism allowing sperm economy.

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Acknowledgments

FCN was supported by an EC Marie Curie fellowship (contract EVK2-CT-2000-50005). We thank I. Zeilstra and L. Locatello for help collecting data in the field and WWF Miramare for permission to work in the reserve. We are grateful to C. Mazzoldi and two anonymous Referees whose suggestions greatly improved the manuscript. The experiments comply with the current Italian and French laws on the use of animals in scientific work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, University of Padova, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35121, Padova, Italy

    Eva Giacomello & Maria B. Rasotto

  2. FRS Marine Laboratory, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen, AB11 9DB, UK

    Francis C. Neat

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  1. Eva Giacomello
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  2. Francis C. Neat
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  3. Maria B. Rasotto
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Correspondence to Maria B. Rasotto.

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Communicated by T. Bakker

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Giacomello, E., Neat, F.C. & Rasotto, M.B. Mechanisms enabling sperm economy in blenniid fishes. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 62, 671–680 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-007-0491-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00265-007-0491-2

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