Fachbereich 13 - Biologie
Institut für Evolution und Ökologie der Tiere
Evolutionsbiologie

Sex allocation and reproductive success in hermaphrodites (theory)

How costly is mating? Theoretical models show that the investment in the male function of a hermaphrodite may be much higher than previously thought, due to frequent mating and sperm competition, sperm digestion and sperm trading. This is expected to lead to increased reluctance to donate sperm, which results in reduced variance in male reproductive success and reduced sexual selection on the male function (genitalia, behaviour).

Drittmittelgeber:

Deutsche Forschungsgesellschaft

Beteiligte Wissenschaftler:

Prof. Nico K. Michiels (Leiter), Dr. Jaco M. Greeff, Dr. Norbert Pongratz

Veröffentlichungen:

Greeff, J.M., N.K. Michiels: Sperm digestion and reciprocal sperm transfer can drive hermaphrodite sex allocation to equality. American Naturalist 153(4): 421-430. (1999)

Michiels, N.K.: Sexual adaptation to high density in hermaphrodites. Invertebrate Reproduction and Development 36(1-3): 35-40. (1999)

Greeff, J.M., N.K. Michiels: Low potential for sexual selection in simultaneously hermaphroditic animals. Proceedings of the Royal Society, Series B 266: 1671-1676. (1999)