Sexual cannibalism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The prevalence of sexual cannibalism gives several species of Latrodectus the colorful common name "black widow spider".

Sexual cannibalism refers to a female’s cannibalizing of her male mate prior to, during or after copulation.[1] It is a phenomenon characterized primarily by members of arachnid orders as well as several insect orders.[2] The adaptive foraging hypothesis,[3] aggressive spillover hypothesis[4] and mistaken Identity hypothesis[5] are several hypotheses that have been proposed to explain how sexual cannibalism evolved. This behavior is believed to have evolved as a manifestation of sexual conflict, occurring when the reproductive interests of males and females differ.[6] In many of the species that exhibit sexual cannibalism, the female will cannibalize the male upon detection. Females of cannibalistic species are generally hostile and unwilling to mate; thus many males of these species have developed adaptive behaviors to counteract female aggression.[7][8]

Contents

Prevalence [edit]

Sexual cannibalism is common among insects, arachnids[9] and amphipods.[9] There is also evidence of sexual cannibalism in gastropods and copepods.[10] Sexual cannibalism is common among species with prominent sexual size dimorphism (SSD); extreme SSD likely drove the evolution of sexual cannibalism in spiders.[11]

Evolution and maintenance [edit]

Female Chinese mantis eats a male copulating with her

Adaptive foraging hypothesis [edit]

The adaptive foraging hypothesis is a proposed pre-copulatory explanation in which females assess the nutritional value of a male compared to the male’s value as a mate.[12] Starving females are usually in poor physical condition and are therefore more likely to cannibalize a male than mate with him.[13] Cannibalism by females in the Pseudomantis albofimriata species has improved fecundity, overall growth, and body condition.[12] In the Dolomedes triton species, a female in need of additional energy and nutrients for egg development would choose to consume the closest nutritional source even if this meant cannibalizing a potential mate.[14] In Agelenopsis pennsylvanica and Lycosa tarantula, a significant increase in fecundity, egg cases size, hatching success, and survivorship of offspring has been observed when hungry females choose to cannibalize smaller males before copulating with larger, genetically superior males.[15][16] This reproductive success was largely due to the increased energy uptake by cannibalizing males and investing that additional energy (joules) in the development of egg cases size and quality.[15] [17] In D. triton, post-copulatory sexual cannibalism was observed in the females that had a limited food source; these females would copulate with the males and then cannibalize them.[14]

The adaptive foraging hypothesis has been criticized because males are considered poor meals when compared to crickets; however, recent findings discovered males of the hogna helluo species have nutrients crickets lack, including various proteins and lipids.[17][18] In H. helluo, females have a higher protein diet when cannibalizing males than when consuming only crickets (Acheta domesticus).[17] Further studies show that female spiders (A. keyserlingi) with high-protein/low-lipid diets resulting from sexual cannibalism may produce eggs of greater egg energy density (yolk investment).[3]

Aggressive spillover hypothesis [edit]

The aggressive spillover hypothesis suggests that the more aggressive a female is concerning prey, the more likely the female is to cannibalize a potential mate.[14] The decision of a female to cannibalize a male is not defined by the nutritional value or genetic advantage (courtship dances, male aggressiveness, & large body size) of males but instead depends strictly on her aggressive state.[9] [14] Aggression of the female is measured by latency (speed) of attack on prey. The faster the speed of attack and consumption of prey, the higher the aggressiveness level.[19] Females displaying aggressive characteristics tend to grow larger than other females and display continuous cannibalistic behavior. Such behavior may drive away potential mates, reducing chances of mating.[20] Aggressive behavior is less common in an environment that is female-biased, because there is more competition to mate with a male. Such aggressive behavior would scare off potential mates and therefore make these traits unsuccessful.[16][21]

Males of the P. mirablis species feign death to avoid being cannibalized by a female prior to copulation.[10] When males feign death, their success in reproduction depends on the level of aggressiveness the female displays.[10][22] Research has shown that in the Nephilengys livida species, female aggressiveness had no effect on the likelihood of her cannibalizing a potential mate; male aggressiveness and male-male competition determined which male the female would cannibalize. Males with aggressive characteristics were favored and had more chance of mating with a female.[18]

Nephila sp. eating a conspecific

Mate choice [edit]

Females use mate choice to reject unwanted and unfit males by cannibalizing them.[23][24]. Mate choice often correlates size with fitness level; smaller males tend to be less aggressive and display low level of fitness; smaller males are therefore eaten more often because of their undesirable traits.[23] Males perform elaborate courtship dances to display fitness and genetic advantage.[25] Female orb-web spiders (Nephilengys livida) tend to cannibalize males displaying less aggressive behavior and mate with males displaying more aggressive behavior, showing a preference for this trait,[18] which, along with large body size, displays high male quality and genetic advantage.[26] [27]

Indirect mate choice can be witnessed in fishing spiders, Dolomedes fimbriatus, where females do not discriminate against smaller body size, attacking males of all sizes. Females had lower success rates cannibalizing large males, which managed to escape where smaller males could not.[4] It was shown that males with desirable traits (large body size, high aggression, and long courtship dances) would have longer copulation duration than males with undesirable traits[18] [26]. In A. keyserlingi and Nephila edulis females allow longer copulation duration and a second copulation for smaller males [28]. The gravity hypothesis suggests that some species of spiders may favor smaller body sizes because it would enable them to climb up plants more efficiently and find a mate faster[29]. Also smaller males may be favored because they hatch and mature faster, giving them a direct advantage in finding and mating with a female[30]. In Latrodectus revivensis females tend to limit copulation duration for small males and deny them of a second copulation, showing preference for larger body size[26]. Another form of mate choice is the genetic bet-hedging hypothesis in which a female consumes males to prevent them from exploiting her [31]. It is not beneficial for a female exploited by multiple males because it may result in prey theft, reduction in web, and reduced time of foraging [32]. Sexual cannibalism might have promoted the evolution of some behavioral and morphological traits exhibited by spiders today[26].

Mistaken identity hypothesis [edit]

The mistaken identity hypothesis suggests that sexual cannibalism occurs when females fail to identify males that try to court[5]. This hypothesis suggests that a cannibalistic female attacks and consumes the male without the knowledge of mate quality. In pre-copulatory sexual cannibalism, mistaken identity can be seen when a female does not allow the male to perform the courtship dance and engages in attack[14]. There is no conclusive evidence for this hypothesis because scientists struggle to distinguish between mistaken identity and the other hypotheses (aggressive spillover, adaptive foraging, and mate choice)[33].

Male adaptive behaviors [edit]

In some cases, sexual cannibalism may characterize an extreme form of male monogamy, in which the male will sacrifice itself to the female. Males may gain reproductive success from being cannibalized by either providing nutrients to the female (indirectly to the offspring), or through enhancing the probability that their sperm will be used to fertilize the female's eggs.[34] Although sexual cannibalism is fairly common in spiders, male self-sacrifice has only been reported in six genera of araneoid spiders.

Members of cannibalistic species have adapted different mating tactics as a mechanism for escaping the cannibalistic tendencies of their female counterparts. Current theory suggests antagonistic co-evolution has occurred, where adaptations seen in one sex will produce adaptations in the other [8]. Adaptations consist of: courtship displays, opportunistic mating tactics, and mate binding.

Opportunistic mating [edit]

The risk of cannibalism becomes greatly reduced when opportunistic mating is practiced [8]. Opportunistic mating has been characterized in numerous orb-weaving spider species, such as Nephila fenestrata, where the male spider waits until the female is feeding or distracted, and then proceeds with copulation; this greatly reduces the chances of cannibalization. This distraction can be facilitated by the male’s presentation of nuptial gifts, where they provide a distracting meal for the female in order to prolong copulation and increase paternity. [8]

Altered sexual approach [edit]

Multiple methods of sexual approaches have evolved in cannibalistic species as a result of sexual cannibalism [35]. The mechanism by which the male approaches the female is imperative for his survival. If the female is unable to detect his presence, the male is less likely to face cannibalization. This is evident in the mantid species,Tenodera aridifolia , where the male alters his approach utilizing the surrounding windy conditions. The male attempts to avoid detection by approaching the female when the wind impairs her ability to hear him [36]. In the praying mantid species, Pseudomantis albofimbrata, the males approach the female either from a "slow mounting from the rear" or a "slow approach from the front" position to remain undetected [35]. The male alters his approach through the utilization of the surrounding windy conditions, thus the risk of facing cannibalization is reduced [35]

Mate guarding [edit]

Sexual cannibalism has impaired the ability of the orb-weaving spider, N. fenestrata, to perform mate guarding. If a male successfully mates with a female, he then exhibits mate guarding, inhibiting the female from re-mating, thus ensuring his paternity and eliminating sperm competition [37]. Guarding can refer to the blockage of female genital openings to prevent further insertion of a competing male pedipalps, or physical guarding from potential mates. Guarding can decrease female re-mating by fifty percent [8]. Males who experience genital mutilation can sometimes exhibit the "gloves off" hypothesis which states that a male’s body weight and his endurance are inversely proportional. Thus when a male’s body weight decreases substantially, his endurance increases as a result, allowing him to guard his female mate with increased efficiency [38].

Mate binding [edit]

Mate binding refers to a pre-copulatory courtship behavior where the male deposits silk onto the abdomen of the female while simultaneously massaging her in order to reduce her aggressive behavior. This action allows for initial and subsequent copulatory bouts [7]. While both chemical and tactile cues are important factors for reducing cannibalistic behaviors, the latter functions as a resource to calm the female, exhibited in the orb-weaver spider species, Nephila pilipes [7]. Additional hypotheses suggest that male silk contains pheromones which seduce the female into submission. However, silk deposits are not necessary for successful copulation [7]. The primary factor in successful subsequent copulation lies in the tactile communication between the male and female spider that results in female acceptance of the male [39]. The male mounts the posterior portion of the female’s abdomen, while rubbing his spinnerets on her abdomen during his attempt at copulation [7]. Mate binding was not necessary for the initiation of copulation in the golden orb-weaving spider, except when the female was resistant to mating. Subsequent copulatory bouts are imperative for the male’s ability to copulate due to prolonged sperm transfer, therefore increasing his probability of paternity [7]

Courtship displays [edit]

Courtship displays in sexually cannibalistic spiders are imperative in order to ensure the female is less aggressive. Additional courtship displays include pre-copulatory dances such as those observed in the Australian redback spider, and vibrant male coloration morphologies which function as female attraction mechanisms, as seen in the peacock spider, Maratus volans [39]. Nuptial gifts play a vital role in safe copulation for males in some species. Males present meals to the female to facilitate opportunistic mating while the female is distracted [8]. Subsequent improvements in male adaptive mating success includes web reduction, as seen in the Western black widow, Latrodectus hesperus [40]. Once mating occurs, the males destroy a large portion of the females web to discourage the female from future mating, thus reducing polyandry, which has been observed in the Australian redback spider, Latrodectus hasselti [41]

Male-induced cataleptic state [edit]

In some species of spiders, such as Agelenopsis aperta, the male induces a passive state in the female prior to copulation [42] It has been hypothesized that the cause of this "quiescent" state is male’s massaging of the female’s abdomen, following male vibratory signals on the web. The female enters a passive state, and the male’s risk of facing cannibalism is reduced. This state is most likely induced as a result of a male volatile pheromone [42]. The chemical structure of the pheromone utilized by the male A. aperta is currently unknown; however, physical contact is not necessary for the induced passive state. Eunuch males, or males with partially or fully removed palps, are unable to induce the passive state on females from a distance, but can induce quiescence upon physical contact with the female; this suggests that the pheromone produced is potentially related to sperm production, since the male inserts sperm from his pedipalps, structures which are removed in eunuchs [42]. This adaptation has most likely evolved in response to the overly aggressive nature of female spiders.

Costs and benefits for males [edit]

The physiological impacts of cannibalism on male fitness include his inability to father any offspring if he is unable to mate with a female. There are males in species of arachnids, such as N. plumipes, that sire more offspring if the male is cannibalized after or during mating; copulation is prolonged and sperm transfer is increased [37]. In the species of orb-weaving spider, Argiope arantia, males prefer short copulation duration upon the first palp insertion in order to avoid cannibalism. Upon the second insertion, however, the male remains inserted in the female. The male exhibits a "programmed death" to function as a full-body genital plug. This causes it to become increasingly difficult for the female to remove him from her genital openings, discouraging her from mating with other males [43]. An additional benefit to cannibalization is the idea that a well-fed female is less likely to mate again [44]. If the female has no desire to mate again, the male who has already mated with her has his paternity ensured.

Genital mutilation [edit]

In spiders, genital mutilation involves the male using his two pedipalps to plug the female’s copulatory organs, located on either side of her abdomen. This behavior is seen in sexually cannibalistic spiders, causing them to exhibit the "eunuch phenomenon" [38]. This phenomenon describes males with partially or fully mutilated pedipalps resulting from copulation with a female. The male can ensure his paternity if the female’s copulatory organs are blocked, discouraging sperm competition and mating with other males. Plugging the female’s genitalia with palps decreases re-mating with a different male by 75% [45]. Some males, as in the orb-weaving spider, Argiope arantia, have been found to spontaneously die within fifteen minutes of their second copulation with a female [43]. The male dies while his pedipalps are still intact with the female, as well as still swollen from copulation. In this "programmed death", the male is able to utilize his entire body as a genital plug for the female, causing it to be much more difficult for her to remove him from her copulatory ducts [43]

Male self-sacrifice [edit]

Male reproductive success can be determined by their number of fathered offspring, and monogyny is seen quite often in sexually cannibalistic species. Males are willing to sacrifice themselves, or lose their reproductive organs in order to ensure their paternity from one mating instance [43] [45]. Whether it is by spontaneous programmed death, or the male catapulting into the mouth of the female, these self-sacrificing males will die in order for prolonged copulation to occur. Males of many of these species cannot replenish sperm stores, therefore they must exhibit these extreme behaviors in order to ensure sperm transfer and fathered offspring during their one and only mating instance. An example of such behavior can be seen in the Australian redback spider. The males of this species "somersault" into the mouths of the female after copulation has occurred, which has been shown to increase paternity by sixty five percent when compared to males that are not cannibalized. A majority of males in this species are likely to die on the search for a mate, so the male must sacrifice himself as an offering if it means prolonged copulation and doubled paternity . It is seen in many species that cannibalized males can mate for longer, thus have longer sperm transfers [46].

Monogamy [edit]

Males in these mating systems are generally monogamous, if not bigynous, and have sexually evolved accordingly [38]. Since males of these cannibalistic species have adapted to the extreme mating system, and usually mate only once with a polyandrous female, they are considered monogynous [47].

See also [edit]

Portal icon Arthropods portal

References [edit]

  1. ^ Polis, G.A. & Farley, R.D. BEHAVIOR AND ECOLOGY OF MATING IN TH E. The journal of Arachnology 33-46 (1979).
  2. ^ Buskirk, R. E., Frohlich, C. & Ross, K. G. The Natural Selection of Sexual Cannibalism. The American naturalist 123, 612-625 (1984).
  3. ^ a b Blamires, S.J. Nutritional implications for sexual cannibalism in a sexually dimorphic orb web spider. Austral Ecology 36, 389-394 (2011).
  4. ^ a b Arnqvist, G. Courtship behaviour and sexual cannibalism in the semi-aquatic fishing spider, DOLOMEDES FIMBRIATUS (CLERCK) (ARANEAE: PISAURIDAE).pdf. The journal of Arachnology 20, 222-226 (1992).
  5. ^ a b Gould, S. Only his wings remained. Natural History 93, 10-18 (1984).
  6. ^ Sexual conflict. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 18, 41–47 (2003)
  7. ^ a b c d e f Mate binding: male adaptation to sexual conflict in the golden orb-web spider (Nephilidae: Nephila pilipes). Animal Behaviour 82, 1299–1304 (2011)
  8. ^ a b c d e f Safer sex with feeding females: sexual conflict in a cannibalistic spider. Behavioral Ecology 16, 377–382 (2004)
  9. ^ a b c Polis, G.A. The evolution and dynamics of intraspecific +4193 predation. Annual Reviews Ecological Systems 51, 225-251 (1981).
  10. ^ a b c Bilde, T., Tuni, C., Elsayed, R., Pekár, S. & Toft, S. Death feigning in the face of sexual cannibalism. Biology letters 2, 23-5 (2006).
  11. ^ Wilder, S.M. & Rypstra, A.L. Sexual size dimorphism predicts the frequency of sexual cannibalism within and among species of spiders. The American naturalist 172, 431-40 (2008).
  12. ^ a b Barry, K.L., Holwell, G.I. & Herberstein, M.E. Female praying mantids use sexual cannibalism as a foraging strategy to increase fecundity. Behavioral Ecology 19, 710-715 (2008).
  13. ^ Andrade, M.C.B. Female hunger can explain variation in cannibalistic behavior despite male sacrifice in redback spiders. Behavioral Ecology 9, 33-42 (1988).
  14. ^ a b c d e Johnson, J.C. Sexual cannibalism in fishing spiders (Dolomedes triton): an evaluation of two explanations for female aggression towards potential mates. Animal Behaviour 61, 905-914 (2001).
  15. ^ a b Berning, A.W. et al. Sexual cannibalism is associated with female behavioural type, hunger state and increased hatching success. Animal Behaviour 84, 715-721 (2012).
  16. ^ a b Rabaneda-Bueno, R. et al. Sexual cannibalism: high incidence in a natural population with benefits to females. PloS one 3, e3484 (2008).
  17. ^ a b c Wilder, S.M. & Rypstra, A.L. Males make poor meals: a comparison of nutrient extraction during sexual cannibalism and predation. Oecologia 162, 617-25 (2010).
  18. ^ a b c d Kralj-Fišer, S. et al. Mate quality, not aggressive spillover, explains sexual cannibalism in a size-dimorphic spider. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 66, 145-151 (2011).
  19. ^ Barry, K.L., Holwell, G.I. & Herberstein, M.E. Male mating behaviour reduces the risk of sexual cannibalism in an Australian praying mantid. Journal of Ethology 27, 377-383 (2008).
  20. ^ Riechert, S.E., Singer, F.D. & Jones, T.C. High gene flow levels lead to gamete wastage in a desert spider system. Genetica 112-113, 297-319 (2001).
  21. ^ Morse, D.H. A test of sexual cannibalism models, using a sit-and-wait predator. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 81, 427-437 (2004).
  22. ^ Dougherty, L.R., Burdfield-Steel, E.R. & Shuker, D.M. Sexual stereotypes: the case of sexual cannibalism. Animal Behaviour 85, 313-322 (2013).
  23. ^ a b Gatz, A.J. Non-random mating by size in American toad, Bufo americanus. Animal Behaviour 1004-1012 (1981).doi:10.1016/j.jat.2012.07.002
  24. ^ Persons, M.H. & Uetz, G.W. Sexual cannibalism and mate choice decisions in wolf spiders: influence of male size and secondary sexual characters. Animal Behaviour 69, 83-94 (2005).
  25. ^ Maklakov, A. a., Bilde, T. & Lubin, Y. Vibratory courtship in a web-building spider: signalling quality or stimulating the female? Animal Behaviour 66, 623-630 (2003).
  26. ^ a b c d Prenter, J., MacNeil, C. & Elwood, R.W. Sexual cannibalism and mate choice. Animal Behaviour 71, 481-490 (2006).
  27. ^ Kralj-Fišer, S. et al. Mate quality, not aggressive spillover, explains sexual cannibalism in a size-dimorphic spider. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology 66, 145-151 (2011).
  28. ^ Elgar, M. a, Schneider, J.M. & Herberstein, M.E. Female control of paternity in the sexually cannibalistic spider Argiope keyserlingi. Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society 267, 2439-43 (2000).
  29. ^ Moya-Laraño, J., Halaj, J. & Wise, D.H. Climbing to reach females: Romeo should be small. Evolution; international journal of organic evolution 56, 420-5 (2002).
  30. ^ Vollrath, F. & Parker, G. Sexual Dimorphism and Distorted Sex Ratios in Spiders. Nature 350, 156-159 (1992).
  31. ^ Watson, P. Multi-male mating and female choice increase offspring growth in the spider Neriene litigiosa (Linyphiidae). Animal behaviour 55, 387-403 (1998).
  32. ^ Schneider, J.M. & Lubin, Y. Intersexual Conflict in Spiders. Oikos 83, 496 (1998).
  33. ^ Aisenberg, A., Costa, F.G. & González, M. Male sexual cannibalism in a sand-dwelling wolf spider with sex role reversal. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 68-75 (2011).
  34. ^ Michal Segoli, Ruthie Arieli, Petra Sierwald, Ally R. Harari & Yael Lubin (2008). "Sexual cannibalism in the brown widow spider (Latrodectus geometricus)". Ethology 114 (3): 279–286. doi:10.1111/j.1439-0310.2007.01462.x. 
  35. ^ a b c Male mating behaviour reduces the risk of sexual cannibalism in an Australian praying mantid. Journal of Ethology 27, 377–383 (2008)
  36. ^ Behavioral response of male mantid Tenodera aridifolia (Mantodea: Mantidae) to windy conditions as a female approach strategy. Entomological Science 15, 384–391 (2012)
  37. ^ a b Sexual cannibalism and sperm competition in the golden orb-web spider Nephila plumipes ( Araneoidea ): female and male perspectives. 12, 547–552 (2000)
  38. ^ a b c Emasculation: gloves-off strategy enhances eunuch spider endurance. Biology letters 8, 733–5 (2012)
  39. ^ a b Courtship and mating behavior of araneids. Pacific Insects (1980)
  40. ^ Evidence that web reduction by western black widow males functions in sexual communication The Canadian Entomologist 144, 672–678 (2012)
  41. ^ Males assess chemical signals to discriminate just-mated females from virgins in redback spiders. Animal Behaviour 74, 1669–1674 (2007)
  42. ^ a b c Male induction of female quiescence / catalepsis during courtship in the spider, Agelenopsis aperta. 142, 57–70 (2004)
  43. ^ a b c d Spontaneous male death during copulation in an orb-weaving spider. Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society 270 Suppl , S183–5 (2003)
  44. ^ Female hunger can explain variation in cannibalistic behavior despite male sacrifice in redback spiders. 9, 33–42 (1988)
  45. ^ a b Eunuchs are better fighters. Animal Behaviour 81, 933–939 (2011)
  46. ^ ="Andrade, M. C. B." Risky mate search and male self-sacrifice in redback spiders. Behavioral Ecology 14, 531–538 (2003)
  47. ^ . Live for the moment--Adaptations in the male genital system of a sexually cannibalistic spider (Theridiidae, Araneae). Tissue & cell 42, 32–6 (2010)

External links [edit]
Carnivores
adult
reproductive
cannibalistic
Starling Feeding Offspring.jpg
Herbivores
Cellular
Others
Methods
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sexual_cannibalism&oldid=554412150"