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Bioscience Horizons Advance Access originally published online on April 10, 2009
Bioscience Horizons 2009 2(2):164-171; doi:10.1093/biohorizons/hzp019
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© 2009 The Author(s)
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/uk/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Pre- and post-copulatory mate choice in Platygryllus primiformis: cryptic female choice and sexual conflict

Darren Parker*

University of Derby, Derby, UK

* Corresponding author: 45 Wild Street, Derby DE1 1GP, UK. Tel: +44 7929528965. Email: dazparker14{at}hotmail.com

Supervisor: Dr Karim Vahed, N610, University of Derby, Kedleston Road, Derby DE22 1GB, UK.


  Abstract

The effect of sexual conflict upon mating systems is a controversial topic. The aim of this study was to determine whether post-copulatory choice by females (spermatophore removal) reinforces pre-copulatory choice with respect to male body size and fighting ability, and whether such post-copulatory female choice is influenced by post-copulatory mate guarding by males using Platygryllus primiformis (Orthoptera: Gryllidae; Gryllinae). A no-choice test was used to determine the attractiveness of males and spermatophore attachment time was recorded as a measure of cryptic female choice. Females maintained a pre-copulatory mate choice for large males that were more successful in fighting, shown by a shorter latency to copulation. Larger, males that were more successful in fighting were also preferred by post-copulatory cryptic female choice, shown by a longer spermatophore attachment time, reinforcing pre-copulatory mate choice. Males attempted to counter this selection by guarding females, which increased their spermatophore attachment time. Interestingly, spermatophore attachment time increased similarly for all sizes of male as a result of mate guarding, meaning that females maintained their original choice.

Key words: Platygryllus primiformis, mate choice, sexual conflict, cryptic female choice, male manipulation, sexually antagonistic coevolution

Submitted on 30 September 2008; accepted on 18 December 2008


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