Data from: Sperm morphology, sperm motility and paternity success in the bluethroat (Luscinia svecica)
Data files
Feb 16, 2019 version files 483.09 KB
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Genotypes.xlsx
115.98 KB
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Nest_info.xlsx
11.78 KB
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Sperm_measurements.xlsx
355.33 KB
Jan 14, 2022 version files 424.19 KB
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Genotypes.xlsx
115.68 KB
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Nest_info.xlsx
11.78 KB
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README_Genotypes.docx
14.77 KB
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README_Sperm_measurements.docx
16.55 KB
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Sperm_measurements.xlsx
265.41 KB
Abstract
Postcopulatory sexual selection may select for male primary sexual characteristics like sperm morphology and sperm motility, through sperm competition or cryptic female choice. However, how such characteristics influence male fertilization success remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigate possible correlations between sperm characteristics and paternity success in the socially monogamous bluethroat (Luscinia svecica svecica), predicting that sperm length and sperm swimming speed is positively correlated with paternity success. In total, 25 % (15/61) of broods contained extra-pair offspring and 10 % (33/315) of the offspring were sired by extra-pair males. Paternity success did not correlate significantly with sperm morphology or any aspects of sperm motility. Furthermore, sperm morphology and sperm motility did not correlate significantly with male morphological characters that previously have been shown to be associated with paternity success. Thus, the sperm characteristics investigated here do not appear to be strong predictors of paternity success in bluethroats.