HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ludwig, A. N. Articles by Walsh, P. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ludwig, A. N. Articles by Walsh, P. J. Related Collections Miscellaneous Invertebrates Molluscs Neuroscience Reproduction Behavior

Multiple Mating, Sperm Storage, and Mating Preference in Aplysia californica

Division of Marine Biology and Fisheries, NIH NCRR National Resource for Aplysia, Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed, at Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada. E-mail: pwalsh{at}uottawa.ca

Aplysia californica, a simultaneous hermaphrodite, has the ability to store and digest allosperm and frequently mates with multiple partners. Using controlled matings and behavioral observations, we characterized the mating behavior of multiply-mated A. californica. Regardless of their initial mating role, all animals mated a second time. Individuals acting as the initial sperm donor showed no preference for second mating role when paired with a "virgin" partner. However, individuals acting as the initial sperm recipient showed a highly significant preference for acting as the sperm donor in subsequent matings, when paired with a "virgin" partner. This preference disappeared when the initial sperm recipient spawned a fertilized egg mass prior to the second mating bout. On average, singly mated animals laid 2.85 ± 0.39 (mean ± SE, n = 13) egg masses before accepting sperm from a second donor. These results support the notion that depletion of stored allosperm plays a crucial role in the resolution of sexual conflict and the mating decisions of A. californica.