Filippov, Alexander, Kovalev, Alexander, Matsumura, Yoko and Gorb, Stanislav (2015) Male penile propulsion into spiraled spermathecal ducts of female chrysomelid beetles: A numerical simulation approach. Journal of Theoretical Biology, 384 . pp. 140-146. DOI 10.1016/j.jtbi.2015.08.002.

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Abstract

Genital diversification in animals is an interesting evolutionary phenomenon. Sexual selection is the main driving force behind the diversification. However, evolutionary mechanisms that have established and maintained variations in genitalia shape parameters observed in related species are not well understood. Here, for the first time, we used numerical simulations to test the hypothesis that variations in female spermathecal duct shapes among related beetle species mechanically interfere with penile propulsion in varying ways. Our numerical simulations showed that high curvature of the spiraled spermathecal ducts of the female have effects with a threshold-based interaction on male penile insertion. The relative size of spirals observed in the beetle, Cassida rubiginosa, studied here is not small enough to interfere with penile propulsion. But the model revealed that propulsion is impeded by the presence of reverse turns in spermathecal ducts. This type of morphology leads to an increase in the velocity of the propulsion but also to an increase in the propulsion energy cost for males. Our results showed that quantitative differences in spermathecal duct shape can mediate qualitative differences in penile motion. This explains, in part, the mechanism behind origin and maintenance of genital divergence among closely related species in general. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Document Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Times Cited: 0
Keywords:	Insect, Genitalia, Biomechanics, Female interference, Mating
Research affiliation:	Kiel University > Kiel Marine Science OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence OceanRep > The Future Ocean - Cluster of Excellence > FO-R03 Kiel University
Refereed:	Yes
Open Access Journal?:	No
Publisher:	Elsevier
Projects:	Future Ocean
Date Deposited:	20 Oct 2016 10:52
Last Modified:	23 Sep 2019 18:32
URI:	https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/32472

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