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image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao The Science of Natur...arrow_drop_down
image/svg+xml Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao Closed Access logo, derived from PLoS Open Access logo. This version with transparent background. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Closed_Access_logo_transparent.svg Jakob Voss, based on art designer at PLoS, modified by Wikipedia users Nina and Beao
The Science of Nature
Article . 2020 . Peer-reviewed
License: Springer TDM
Data sources: Crossref
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Immature mating as a tactic of polygynous male western widow spiders

Authors: Luciana Baruffaldi; Maydianne C. B. Andrade;

Immature mating as a tactic of polygynous male western widow spiders

Abstract

In polygynous species, males typically mate with more than one female, and male investment in any one mating should decrease if securing that mating reduces future mating opportunities. In contrast, monogynous males mate only once, so they should invest maximally in that single mating. In two monogynous, sexually cannibalistic Latrodectus spider species (L. geometricus, L. hasselti), males can mate and fertilize immature females. This recently described tactic is time-consuming because males must wait days for females to be capable of mating. It is also risky since immature females approached too early may kill males outright. However, if males typically find only one female in their lifetime, increasing the opportunity to mate may be worth these costs. We investigated whether this tactic is also practiced by a polygynous congener, L. hesperus, in which males typically mate more than once and may avoid time-consuming, risky encounters. In laboratory trials, we showed that males copulate with immature females. Moreover, males mounted immatures more rapidly, copulated for longer, and fathered more offspring than males that mated adults females. We concluded that monogyny is not a necessary condition for immature mating to be favored as an alternative reproductive tactic and suggest that it may be common in other spider taxa.

Related Organizations
Keywords

Sexual Behavior, Animal, Reproduction, Animals, Spiders

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
9
Top 10%
Average
Top 10%
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