Female reproductive fluid and male seminal fluid: A non-gametic conflict for post-mating control
Data files
Sep 05, 2023 version files 7.04 KB
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Dataset.csv
5.08 KB
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README.md
1.96 KB
Abstract
Growing evidence shows that non-gametic components released by both males and females can significantly drive sperm competition outcomes. Seminal fluid (SF) was shown to influence paternity success by affecting rival males’ sperm performance, and, in some species with male alternative reproductive tactics, to selectively decrease the fertilization success of males of the opposite tactic. Female reproductive fluid (FRF) has been proven to differentially influence ejaculates of different males and bias fertilization towards specific partners. Whether, and with what outcome, these two processes can intersect to influence sperm competition is still unknown. Here we explore this scenario in the grass goby (Zosterisessor ophiocephalus), a fish with territorial-sneaker reproductive tactics, where sneaker males can exploit the territorials’ SF while penalizing territorial sperm performance with their own fluid. To test whether FRF can rebalance the ejaculate competition in favour of territorial males, we used in vitro fertilization with a SF mixture (territorial + sneaker), using increasing concentrations of FRF, to simulate the natural conditions that ejaculates encounter towards the eggs. Our findings revealed a differential effect of FRF on the different tactics’ fertilization success, favouring territorial ejaculates, possibly through an attenuation of the detrimental effects of sneaker SF, and enabling females to regain control over the fertilization process.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Title of Dataset: "Female reproductive fluid and male seminal fluid: a non-gametic conflict for post-mating control"
- Author Information
A. Principal Investigator Contact Information
Name: Maria Berica Rasotto
Institution: University of Padova - Department of Biology
Address: Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padova, ITALY
Email: mariaberica.rasotto@unipd.it
DATA & FILE OVERVIEW
File Name: dataset.csv
File description: dataset supporting "Female reproductive fluid and male seminal fluid: a non-gametic conflict for post-mating control"
The dataset contains morphological data of grass goby males and females used for the experiment and in-vitro fertilization success data of each experimental male x two experimental females, under two different treatments (concentrations of female reproductive fluid in the fertilization medium).
DATA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION:
- Number of variables: 13
- Number of cases/rows: 69
- Variable List:
ID - Identity code of the experimental male
TACTIC - Reproductive tactic of the male
male_LT - total body length of the male (in cm)
male_WEIGHT - body weight of the male (in g)
FEMALE - Identity code of the experimental female
female_LT - total body length of the female (in cm)
female_WEIGHT - body weight of the female (in g)
TREATMENT - Concentration of female reproductive fluid (low or high)
TOT - Total number of eggs used in the in-vitro fertilisation trial (coming from the 2 females)
FERT - Number of fertilised eggsNON-FERT - Number of non-fertilised eggsprop.fert - proportion of fertilised eggs
FERT% - percentage of fertilised eggs