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2000 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Dynamics of Eupyrene and Apyrene Sperm in the Spermatophore of the Swallowtail Butterfly and the Investment of Males

Research Project

Project/Area Number 10640612
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeSingle-year Grants
Section一般
Research Field 生態
Research InstitutionMie University

Principal Investigator

WATANABE Mamoru  Faculty of Education, Mie University Professor, 教育学部, 教授 (80167171)

Project Period (FY) 1998 – 2000
Keywordsapyrene sperm / bursa copulatrix / copulation interruption / eupyrene sperm / eupyrene sperm bundle / spermatheca / spermatophore / swallowtail butterfly
Research Abstract

When the swallowtail butterflies, Papilio xuthus, are mated by the hand-pairing method, both types of sperm, eupyrene and apyrene sperm, are transferred from the male to the spermatheca via the spermatophore in the bursa copulatrix. This is demonstrated by two different kinds of experiments. The first set of experiments employed interrupted copulation, and the second set was examination of the sperm in the spermatophore and spermatheca after the termination of copulation. The sperm was transferred 30 min after the start of copulation. The eupyrene sperm was still in the bundle, the number of the bundles ranged from 9 to 108 (mean 42.7, n=27) . The bundles were gradually released after the completion of copulation, and then the free eupyrene spermatozoa remained in the spermatophore at least 2 h before migrating to the spermatheca. On the other hand, about 160,000 apyrene spermatozoa were transferred to the spermatophore and remained there for more than 1 h. 11,000 apyrene spermatozoa in the spermatheca were observed 12 h after the completion of copulation, but most of this type of sperm disappeared shortly thereafter. In contrast, the eupyrene sperm arrived in the spermatheca more than 1 day after the completion of copulation, and remained there at least one week. Therefore, these findings suggest that apyrene sperm migrate from the spermatophore to the spermatheca earlier than eupyrene sperm. Accordingly, if females mated multiply, the time difference might avoid the mixing of sperm. In addition, the predominance of sperm from the last mating session may occur not in the bursa copulatrix but in the spermatheca.

  • Research Products

    (8 results)

All Other

All Publications (8 results)

  • [Publications] Watanabe,M.& M.Hirota: "Effects of sucrose intake on spermatophore mass produced by male swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus L."Zoological Science. 16. 55-61 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Watanabe,M.,M.Bon'no & A.Hachisuka: "Eupyrene sperm migrates to spermatheca after apyrene sperm in the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus L. (Lepidoptera : Papilionidae)"J.Ethol.. 18. 91-99 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 渡辺守: "チョウの配偶行動-昆虫の配偶行動の最近の話題"昆虫と自然. 33(2). 4-8 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] 渡辺守: "アゲハ類の個体群動態「蝶の自然史:行動と生態の進化学」"北海道大学図書出版会. 199-213 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(和文)」より
  • [Publications] Watanabe, M.& M.Hirota: "Effects of sucrose intake on spermatophore mass produced by male swallowtail butterfly"Papilio xuthus L.Zoological Science. 16. 55-61 (1999)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Watanabe, M., M.Bon'no & A.Hachisuka: "Eupyrene sperm migrates to spermatheca after apyrene sperm in the swallowtail butterfly"Papilio xuthus L.(Lepidoptera : Papilionidae). J.Ethol.. 18. 91-99 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Watanabe, M.: "Mating Behvaiour in Butterflies"Nature and Insects. 33(2). 4-8 (1998)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より
  • [Publications] Watanabe, M.: "Population Dynamics in Swallowtail Butterflies. in "Natural History of Butterflies", (ed.N.Osaki)"Hokkaido Univ.Pub.. 199-213 (2000)

    • Description
      「研究成果報告書概要(欧文)」より

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Published: 2002-03-26  

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