Sperm Competition and the Evolution of Ejaculates: Towards a Theory Base
1998; Elsevier BV; Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/b978-012100543-6/50026-x
Autores Tópico(s)Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
ResumoThe chapter focuses on how a male allocates sperm among different ejaculates and summarizes a model framework for the analysis of this problem. It consolidates a prospective theory base for empirical advances. Since the sperm competition involves sexual conflict, the interests of male and female differ. However, it is clear that the mating or ejaculatory strategy, which is best for a male need not be best for the female. Moreover, the resolution of mating conflict depends on the circumstances, and that either sex can exert a strong or even overriding influence. It also illustrates, whether the female has a strong influence on the evolution of ejaculate characteristics, depending on how much control she can exercise on an ejaculate within her reproductive tract. In many cases, there are no conflicts between the male strategy and female interests, and thus, the present models serve a fair approximation of the selective forces shaping ejaculate characteristics. There is now ample evidence, particularly from heterospermic inseminations (females inseminated with ejaculates from different males) in domestic mammals that genetic variation among males is correlated with differences in paternity prospects.
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