Sexual selection and the temporal separation of reproductive events: sperm storage data from reptiles, birds and mammals

Abstract

The duration of sperm storage by females differs markedly between reptiles (maximum: 2555 d [7 years] and birds (maximum: 117d), with mammals showing both very short (< 1 d) and relatively long periods (maximum: 198 days). The females of many reptiles, probably all birds and some mammals have specialized structures for storing sperm, suggesting that selection for sperm storage has operated on females. Sperm storage, together with delayed implantation and delayed development, separates copulation from fertilization, and hence, copulation from the timing of birth. All three types of separation mechanism occur in mammals. Delayed implantation cannot occur in reptiles and birds because their eggs do not implant, but delayed development occurs in some reptiles. Comparisons among vertebrate classes suggest that sperm storage in the female tract may have an upper limit of a little over 100 days in endotherms: non-hibernating mammals have circumvented this limit by using delayed implantation as an uncoupling mechanism. A long reproductive cycle (up to four years) probably makes sperm storage obligatory for some reptiles. We consider existing hypotheses for prolonged sperm storage and the other reproductive delays, and propose a new hypothesis. Our hypothesis extends Sandell's (1990) hypothesis which states that in mammals delayed implantation has evolved to allow females to time both their copulation and birth seasons optimally. We propose that the other separation mechanisms, namely sperm storage and delayed development, have also evolved for this reason. Sandell suggested that the optimal time for females to copulate is when the opportunities to obtain the best quality male exist, and thus the dislocation of copulation and birth seasons has occurred through sexual selection. We propose that the other two separation mechanisms may also have evolved through sexual selection, in part at least. Of the three separation mechanisms, sperm storage has additional advantages for females in that it also allows them to modify their choice of male after copulation has occurred, through sperm competition. Thus we propose that: (1) all separation mechanisms have evolved when the optimal time for copulation is not compatible with either the optimal time for fertilization (birds) or the optimal time for birth, given a constant gestation period (reptiles, birds and mammals); (2) separation mechanisms have evolved through sexual selection enabling females to improve the quality of the male that fertilizes their eggs, either through pre-copulatory male-male competition (via any of the separation mechanisms) or through post-copulatory sperm competition (via sperm storage).