Abstract
THE opisthobranch gastropod Aplysia is a simultaneous hermaphrodite with internal fertilisation. The functional morphology of the reproductive system1–4 has been well studied and oviposition is known to be under some hormonal control5–7. Adults may assume the role of sperm donor or recipient, or both at the same time. Recent discussions of the evolutionary significance of simultaneous hermaphroditism2,8–14 as well as considerations of the relative roles of sperm donors and recipients in selecting partners15,16, have suggested that Aplysia offers an opportunity to investigate the processes involved in the assumption of different sex roles in the same animal. Accordingly we analysed data collected several years ago during other field studies of Aplysia dactylomela17,18. We found that most animals were as likely to be sperm donors as recipients during different copulations, and there was a significant relationship between frequency of copulation and number of different partners in the total population studied. A few individuals, however, were found to copulate with fewer partners than sperm recipients.
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