Ecological and evolutionary significance of conspecific sperm precedence

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26840137
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Ecology/Environment
• Research Institution: Rissho University
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Noriyuki 立正大学, 環境科学研究所, 客員研究員 (00724965)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 繁殖干渉

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study examined the effects of conspecific sperm precedence on species coexistence between closely related mating signals. I used generalist and specialist Harmon ladybirds for the mating experiments. Based on the results of the experiments, I developed the mathematical model to predict the population dynamics of the two species. I showed that the two species cannot coexist in the same niche despite the mechanism of conspecific sperm precedence. This study illustrates the underestimated significance of conspecific sperm precedence.

Free Research Field

進化生態学