Publication details
Environmental and genetic male effects on sperm competition in common bedbugs (Cimex lectularius)
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2020 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Even though assortative mating has large implication for mate choice and speciation, it has mainly been examined prior to mating, but less so after mating (assortative fertilisation). Moreover, research on assortative mating has not always separated whether the assortment was based on environmental or genetic effects. In our multiple mating experiment, we used five populations of a common bedbug (Cimex lectularius) that is naturally associated with humans or bats, which can be fed with the blood of the other host. Females and 1st used males (P1) came from one population that was different from the populations of 2nd used males (P2). P2 were fed on either their original diet or that of the other populations (i.e. eight combinations) and thereby we were able to quantify the relative influence of male genetics (sperm) and environment (seminal vesicles) on the outcome of assortative fertilization. Focussing on sperm offence, we genotyped 10 offspring/week/female throughout the whole egg-laying period. The results of this work show that the paternity of P2 increases with time since mating, from 22 % at week 1 to an average of 84 % at week 7. Furthermore, P2 males have a higher proportion of paternity at week 1 on their natural diet regardless of origin (assortative fertilization), but in the coming weeks the effect of diet on the paternity ratio changes with respect to the male P2 lineage. In addition, the results revealed that females mated with males fed on bat blood (regardless of origin) have higher fitness (more fertilized eggs and prolonged laying time). Thus, our study demonstrates the importance of separating environmental and genetic effects on assortative mating and shows that it may not always be constant over time. |
| Related projects: |