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Biol Lett. 2010 October 23; 6(5): 593–596.
Published online 2010 April 14. doi:  10.1098/rsbl.2010.0225
PMCID: PMC2936159
Ejaculatory strategies associated with experience of losing
Kensuke Okada,* Takashi Yamane, and Takahisa Miyatake
Laboratory of Evolutionary Ecology, Graduate School of Environmental Science, Okayama University, Tsushima-naka 111, Okayama 700-8530, Japan
*Author for correspondence (okaken/at/cc.okayama-u.ac.jp).
Received March 4, 2010; Accepted March 22, 2010.
Abstract
Modulation of behaviours as a result of fighting experience has been observed in many animals and can influence pre-copulatory sexual selection. This study investigated how fighting experience affects ejaculatory strategies. In male flour beetles, Gnatocerus cornutus, experience of losing a fight decreases a male's aggressiveness for up to 4 days. We found that males losing a fight show increased ejaculatory investment, but there was no ejaculatory modulation owing to winning. However, the increase in ejaculate investment following a loss was no longer observed after 5 days. These results indicate that males adjust their investment in sperm competition according to their experience, and that fighting experience can significantly influence pre- and post-copulatory reproductive tactics.
Keywords: alternative tactics, phenotypic plasticity, sperm competition, winner and loser effects
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