Sperm reduces female longevity and increases melanization of the spermatheca in the bumblebee Bombus terrestris L.
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Date
2008-09
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
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Abstract
Here we present evidence that the male mating products (sperm and gland products) reduce survival during hibernation of queens of the bumblebee B. terrestris. Most remarkably, the inseminated queens are significantly more likely to have melanized spermathecae than their virgin sisters. Although we could not detect a direct relationship between these two findings they are quite remarkable since B. terrestris is a monandrous and comparably long-lived insect where sexual conflict is unlikely to evolve. The reduced survival can probably be attributed to a general cost of maintaining the sperm, whereas the presence of melanized spermathecae in the inseminated queens may indicate a pathogen transferred during mating or genetic incompatibilities between males and queens. © 2008 Birkhaeuser.
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Publication status
published
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Book title
Journal / series
Volume
55 (3)
Pages / Article No.
313 - 319
Publisher
Birkhäuser
Event
Edition / version
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Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Bombus terrestris; bumblebees; melanization; longevity; spermatheca
Organisational unit
03330 - Schmid-Hempel, Paul (emeritus)
Notes
It was possible to publish this article open access thanks to a Swiss National Licence with the publisher