Date of Award
10-19-2015
Publication Type
Master Thesis
Degree Name
M.Sc.
Department
Biological Sciences
Supervisor
Pitcher, Trevor
Rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Abstract
Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) exhibit male alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs), in which males are either large, dominant hooknoses, or small precocious jacks. Multiple mating (or polyandry) is common by females, which partly explains the intense sperm competition. I examined whether females benefit genetically by mating with multiple males thus promoting sperm competition and whether males can use seminal plasma to influence the potential outcome during sperm competition. I found that polyandrous females do indeed benefit genetically compared to monandrous (singly mated) females through an increase in offspring hatching success. The benefits received by polyandrous females varied significantly depending on the ARTs used during sperm competition trials, with crosses involving a jack and a hooknose producing the offspring with the highest hatching success. I also found that jack seminal plasma decreases hooknose sperm velocity, with potential implications on the outcome of sperm competition between the two tactics.
Recommended Citation
Lewis, Jason, "Polyandry and sperm competition in the alternative reproductive tactics in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)" (2015). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5448.
https://scholar.uwindsor.ca/etd/5448