DelBarco-Trillo, J and Ferkin, MH (2005) Two modes of input processing in relation to risk of sperm competition in mammals. Acta Zoologica Sinica, 51 (6). pp. 1122-1129.

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Abstract

Much research has been focused on the ‘output’ or response of males to particular risks of sperm competition (RSC). Lately, there has also been some interest on the types of information that males may use to assess RSC (RSC inputs). In contrast, there is a lack of studies on how males may process RSC inputs to generate such RSC outputs. Here we propose two modes of input processing (direct and indirect) and ways to test them in order to understand how a male may process and store RSC information. The direct mode of input processing predicts that a male may store RSC inputs through a physiological response, e.g., through a change in hormonal levels. As long as this response is active, the male will stay in a ‘RSC state’ and will produce an RSC output (e.g. high sperm investment) instead of a non-RSC output (e.g. relatively lower sperm investment) when he encounters a female. The indirect mode of input processing predicts that a male may store RSC inputs in his memory and retrieve such information later on to modify his output (e.g. sperm investment or copulatory behavior) accordingly. We use a multidisciplinary approach that should appeal to those researchers that seek to understand male’s adaptations to sperm competition at different levels. We believe that the testing of the hypotheses developed in this paper will lead to interesting findings and the development of new hypotheses

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Q Science > QH Natural history > QH301 Biology Q Science > QL Zoology
Divisions:	Natural Sciences & Psychology (closed 31 Aug 19)
Publisher:	Current Zoology
Date Deposited:	17 Apr 2015 14:59
Last Modified:	04 Sep 2021 14:30
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/900

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