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Sexual conflict in Neptunea arthritica: the power asymmetry and female resistance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 May 2010

Lombardo Roberto Carlos*
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Biology and Biodiversity, Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3–1–1 Minato, Hakodate 041–8611, Hokkaido, Japan
Goshima Seiji
Affiliation:
Department of Marine Biology and Biodiversity, Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3–1–1 Minato, Hakodate 041–8611, Hokkaido, Japan
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: Lombardo Roberto Carlos, Department of Marine Biology and Biodiversity, Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3–1–1 Minato, Hakodate 041–8611, Hokkaido, Japan email: rlombardo09@gmail.com

Abstract

Copula trials in Neptunea arthritica were conducted to provide possible hypotheses explaining the outcomes of reproductive interaction with regards to size differences and female resistance in the context of conflict over copula duration between the sexes. Size asymmetry predicted the outcome of copula duration to favour the largest individuals. Female resistance was expressed consistently and increased with consecutive copulas, generating variation in copula duration. When resistance was removed, copula duration increased in contrast with natural trials suggesting intense conflict. Overall, males showed a tendency to mate with large females, which represents higher rejection risk, indicating that benefits from mating with large females might offset the risk of failure against resistance. Conflict possibly stems from a ‘power asymmetry’ in which individuals of one sex could sequester control over some aspects of mating to the detriment of the opposite sex.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2010

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