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Individual, Temporal, and Seasonal Variation in Sperm Concentration in Tree Swallows
Peer Reviewed Publications
  • Michael P Lombardo, Grand Valley State University
  • Armetris N Forman, Grand Valley State University
  • Matthew R Czarnowski, Rutgers University - New Brunswick/Piscataway
  • Patrick A Thorpe, Grand Valley State University
Publication Date
11-1-2002
Abstract

We determined sperm concentrations in Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) by manually expressing semen samples from males during prelaying, egg-laying, incubation, and nestling periods. Sperm concentrations varied by orders of magnitude (0-109 sperm mL-1) among males. Sperm concentrations were highest during the incubation period and lowest during the prelaying period. None of the samples collected during the prelaying, egg-laying, and incubation periods were devoid of sperm. In contrast, 45% of samples collected during the nestling period lacked sperm. Sperm concentrations (1) did not vary over the course of the morning during prelaying, egg-laying, and incubation periods but significantly increased during the nestling period; (2) did not vary with the date that samples were collected during prelaying, egg-laying, and incubation but significantly decreased with date during the nestling period; and (3) did not vary with the number of fertile females at the study site during any part of the breeding season. We hypothesize that the variations in sperm concentration arose from a combination of factors including intrinsic differences among males, daily patterns of sperm depletion associated with copulation, and an end-of-season decline in sperm production. If males vary in sperm availability then female Tree Swallows may benefit from pursuing extra-pair copulations as fertility insurance.

Keywords
  • Tree Swallows,
  • Tachycineta bicolor,
  • sperm concentration,
  • sperm competition,
  • birds,
  • aves,
  • semen
Original Citation
Lombardo, M. P., Forman, A. N., Czarnowski, M. R., & Thorpe, P. A. (2002). Individual, Temporal, and Seasonal Variation in Sperm Concentration in Tree Swallows. The Condor, 104(4), 803–810. https://doi.org/10.1093/condor/104.4.803
Citation Information
Michael P Lombardo, Armetris N Forman, Matthew R Czarnowski and Patrick A Thorpe. "Individual, Temporal, and Seasonal Variation in Sperm Concentration in Tree Swallows" (2002)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/michael_lombardo/6/