Mate Choice in Molluscs of the Genus Littorina (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from White Sea
We studied the reproductive behaviour associated with mate choice by size in three species of White Sea molluscs of the genus Littorina — L. saxatilis , L. obtusata and L. fabalis . Three behavioural patterns were revealed after a comparative analysis of the behaviour of the male snails. The males o...
Published in: | Diversity |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2023
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020297 https://doaj.org/article/172028600dd04120b43a18f881355d0a |
id |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:172028600dd04120b43a18f881355d0a |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:172028600dd04120b43a18f881355d0a 2023-05-15T18:43:48+02:00 Mate Choice in Molluscs of the Genus Littorina (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from White Sea Eugene V. Kozminsky Elena A. Serbina Alexey O. Smurov 2023-02-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020297 https://doaj.org/article/172028600dd04120b43a18f881355d0a EN eng MDPI AG https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/297 https://doaj.org/toc/1424-2818 doi:10.3390/d15020297 1424-2818 https://doaj.org/article/172028600dd04120b43a18f881355d0a Diversity, Vol 15, Iss 297, p 297 (2023) Littorina White Sea reproductive behaviour mate choice size-assortative mating sexual selection Biology (General) QH301-705.5 article 2023 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020297 2023-02-26T01:30:39Z We studied the reproductive behaviour associated with mate choice by size in three species of White Sea molluscs of the genus Littorina — L. saxatilis , L. obtusata and L. fabalis . Three behavioural patterns were revealed after a comparative analysis of the behaviour of the male snails. The males of L. obtusata , regardless of their size, could mate with all females but preferred to mate with larger ones. The males of L. fabalis chose females of their own size or larger. The males of L. saxatilis mated with females of approximately their own size. In the first case ( L. obtusata ), there is a free exchange of genes between all the size groups in the population. In the second case ( L. fabalis ), the gene transfer from small males to females of any size is free but the gene transfer from large males to small females is limited. In the third case ( L. saxatilis ), the gene flow is limited between groups of individuals of dramatically different size. Thus, in the case of L. saxatilis and L. fabalis , to varying degrees restriction of random mating associated with size assortativity in choosing a mating partner was expressed, which under certain circumstances (divergence of individuals in different econiches, the presence of ecotypes differing in size, lack of stronger natural selection in the other direction) can favour sympatric speciation. The males of all the three periwinkles’ species preferred larger females but sexual selection in favour of larger females was found only in L. obtusata . In the other two species, there were no statistically significant size differences between copulating and non-copulating females. This appears to be due to the occurrence of size-assortative mating in these species, which limits the ability of males to choose larger female partners. Article in Journal/Newspaper White Sea Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles White Sea Diversity 15 2 297 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Littorina White Sea reproductive behaviour mate choice size-assortative mating sexual selection Biology (General) QH301-705.5 |
spellingShingle |
Littorina White Sea reproductive behaviour mate choice size-assortative mating sexual selection Biology (General) QH301-705.5 Eugene V. Kozminsky Elena A. Serbina Alexey O. Smurov Mate Choice in Molluscs of the Genus Littorina (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from White Sea |
topic_facet |
Littorina White Sea reproductive behaviour mate choice size-assortative mating sexual selection Biology (General) QH301-705.5 |
description |
We studied the reproductive behaviour associated with mate choice by size in three species of White Sea molluscs of the genus Littorina — L. saxatilis , L. obtusata and L. fabalis . Three behavioural patterns were revealed after a comparative analysis of the behaviour of the male snails. The males of L. obtusata , regardless of their size, could mate with all females but preferred to mate with larger ones. The males of L. fabalis chose females of their own size or larger. The males of L. saxatilis mated with females of approximately their own size. In the first case ( L. obtusata ), there is a free exchange of genes between all the size groups in the population. In the second case ( L. fabalis ), the gene transfer from small males to females of any size is free but the gene transfer from large males to small females is limited. In the third case ( L. saxatilis ), the gene flow is limited between groups of individuals of dramatically different size. Thus, in the case of L. saxatilis and L. fabalis , to varying degrees restriction of random mating associated with size assortativity in choosing a mating partner was expressed, which under certain circumstances (divergence of individuals in different econiches, the presence of ecotypes differing in size, lack of stronger natural selection in the other direction) can favour sympatric speciation. The males of all the three periwinkles’ species preferred larger females but sexual selection in favour of larger females was found only in L. obtusata . In the other two species, there were no statistically significant size differences between copulating and non-copulating females. This appears to be due to the occurrence of size-assortative mating in these species, which limits the ability of males to choose larger female partners. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Eugene V. Kozminsky Elena A. Serbina Alexey O. Smurov |
author_facet |
Eugene V. Kozminsky Elena A. Serbina Alexey O. Smurov |
author_sort |
Eugene V. Kozminsky |
title |
Mate Choice in Molluscs of the Genus Littorina (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from White Sea |
title_short |
Mate Choice in Molluscs of the Genus Littorina (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from White Sea |
title_full |
Mate Choice in Molluscs of the Genus Littorina (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from White Sea |
title_fullStr |
Mate Choice in Molluscs of the Genus Littorina (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from White Sea |
title_full_unstemmed |
Mate Choice in Molluscs of the Genus Littorina (Gastropoda: Littorinidae) from White Sea |
title_sort |
mate choice in molluscs of the genus littorina (gastropoda: littorinidae) from white sea |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020297 https://doaj.org/article/172028600dd04120b43a18f881355d0a |
geographic |
White Sea |
geographic_facet |
White Sea |
genre |
White Sea |
genre_facet |
White Sea |
op_source |
Diversity, Vol 15, Iss 297, p 297 (2023) |
op_relation |
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/15/2/297 https://doaj.org/toc/1424-2818 doi:10.3390/d15020297 1424-2818 https://doaj.org/article/172028600dd04120b43a18f881355d0a |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3390/d15020297 |
container_title |
Diversity |
container_volume |
15 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
297 |
_version_ |
1766234290029330432 |