Reproductive investment patterns and comparison of sperm quality in the presence and absence of ovarian fluid in alternative reproductive tactics of masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou

Abstract

In most teleost fish species, sperm competition is a key factor in determining male reproductive success, leading to selection on males to increase their reproductive investment in gonads and ejaculate competitiveness. In this study, reproductive investment patterns were assayed by examining the relative investment in gonads and sperm quality metrics (in river water and in the presence of ovarian fluid) of masu salmon, Oncorhynchus masou, representing two fixed male alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs; small sneaking parr males and large dominant anadromous males). Although anadromous males were significantly larger in body size compared to parr males, the latter invested significantly more in relative gonad mass than the former. Sperm velocity and motility were significantly higher, and longevity was significantly lower in parr males than in anadromous males in river water. However, no difference in any of these sperm quality metrics was detected between the ARTs in the presence of ovarian fluid. Sperm velocity and motility were not affected by the presence of ovarian fluid compared to river water for parr males, but both traits increased significantly for anadromous males in ovarian fluid relative to river water, whereas longevity significantly increased in the presence of ovarian fluid compared to river water for both ARTs. We interpret these findings in light of potential cryptic female choice mechanisms and the sneak-guard model of sperm competition that is based on differences in sperm competition risk and alternative investment possibilities among ARTs.