Sperm storage: distinguishing selective processes and evaluating criteria

Teri J Orr; Patricia L R Brennan

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2015.03.006

Sperm storage: distinguishing selective processes and evaluating criteria

Trends Ecol Evol. 2015 May;30(5):261-72. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.03.006. Epub 2015 Apr 3.

Authors

Teri J Orr¹, Patricia L R Brennan²

Affiliations

¹ Departments of Psychology and Biology, and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA. Electronic address: tjorr@cns.umass.edu.
² Departments of Psychology and Biology, and Organismic and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.

PMID: 25843274
DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.03.006

Abstract

Sperm storage, the extended maintenance of viable sperm, probably occurs in most internally fertilizing animals. Because it temporally separates mating from conception, sperm storage can be adaptive in ecologically diverse habitats and affect life histories, mating systems, cryptic female choice, sperm competition, and sexual conflict. Sperm storage can result from different selective forces acting on females and/or males, sometimes resulting in coevolution. The various criteria often used to determine the presence of sperm storage in any given taxon can result from the action of any one or all of these selective forces. Here we discuss the criteria used to study sperm storage and how we can use these to better understand the evolution of diversity in sperm-storage adaptations.

Keywords: delayed fertilization; postcopulatory sexual selection; reproductive delays; sexual conflict; sperm competition; sperm longevity; sperm storage.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Biological Evolution
Coitus
Copulation
Female
Fertilization
Humans
Male
Mating Preference, Animal
Selection, Genetic
Spermatozoa / physiology*