S [42]. The small litter sizes produced in this study may have

S [42]. The small litter sizes produced in this study may have resulted in the decreased incidence of mixed paternity when compared with wild data. However, all but one female that mated with more than one male produced young, while less than half the females that mated with one male produced a litter, suggesting that females that mate with multiple partners increase their reproductive success. Research has shown that female brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii) that mate with multiple males during a single receptive period produce significantly more young than females allowed to mate with only one male [43]. A similar effect has been observed in European adders (Vipera berus), where females that mated with more than one male had fewer stillborn young [44]. In sand lizards, increased number of mates correlated with increased egg-hatching success and survival of young [45], while, female blue tits (Parus caeruleus) and tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) increase the heterozygosity and thus the MK-5172MedChemExpress MK-5172 potential fitness and reproductive success of their offspring through additional extra-pair matings [46,47]. Conversely, females may avoid mating with multiple males to reduce the risk of parasite transmission, illness or injury sustained during mating [20]. Here, females avoided males that were particularly vocal or aggressive at theirPLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0122381 April 29,11 /Mate Choice and Multiple Mating in Antechinusdoors, regardless of the level of genetic dissimilarity between the pair. The relationships between female mate choice, male coercion and reproductive success are complex and warrant further investigation. Males that were genetically dissimilar to females obtained more matings than genetically similar males and sired more young, as has been observed in a variety of taxa [6,1,10]. However, compared with the number of matings obtained by males in each category, genetically dissimilar males sired a disproportionately higher number of young than genetically similar males per mating event. Previous research by Kraaijeveld-Smit et al. [32] suggested that spermatozoa from genetically dissimilar males may be more successful due to sperm competition [40]. Female agile antechinus store sperm in specialised isthmic crypts in their oviducts for up to 15 days [13,34,48] providing time and a suitable environment for sperm competition. Potentially, males that are genetically dissimilar to females are not only chosen pre-copulation, but their spermatozoa also compete more successfully post-copulation by cryptic female selection of sperm within the reproductive tract [40,49,50,51]. It is possible that part of the uterine mortality encountered in this species which progressively reduces viable embryos to 60 by the neurula stage [34] is due to matings between genetically similar individuals. In natural populations, larger males may also secure more matings and sire more young ([14], MLP unpub data), but ex situ research into female mate choice shows that female agile antechinus do not choose males based on size [30]. Regardless, the effect of male size on mate selection in this experiment was excluded as a confounding factor by selection of males of similar sizes. There was no evidence of mate copying, as occurs in species including the guppy [52] and sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; [53]) where females copy the preferences of other females, even changing from their ZM241385 web original choice [52]. Although female antechinus entered the.S [42]. The small litter sizes produced in this study may have resulted in the decreased incidence of mixed paternity when compared with wild data. However, all but one female that mated with more than one male produced young, while less than half the females that mated with one male produced a litter, suggesting that females that mate with multiple partners increase their reproductive success. Research has shown that female brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii) that mate with multiple males during a single receptive period produce significantly more young than females allowed to mate with only one male [43]. A similar effect has been observed in European adders (Vipera berus), where females that mated with more than one male had fewer stillborn young [44]. In sand lizards, increased number of mates correlated with increased egg-hatching success and survival of young [45], while, female blue tits (Parus caeruleus) and tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) increase the heterozygosity and thus the potential fitness and reproductive success of their offspring through additional extra-pair matings [46,47]. Conversely, females may avoid mating with multiple males to reduce the risk of parasite transmission, illness or injury sustained during mating [20]. Here, females avoided males that were particularly vocal or aggressive at theirPLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0122381 April 29,11 /Mate Choice and Multiple Mating in Antechinusdoors, regardless of the level of genetic dissimilarity between the pair. The relationships between female mate choice, male coercion and reproductive success are complex and warrant further investigation. Males that were genetically dissimilar to females obtained more matings than genetically similar males and sired more young, as has been observed in a variety of taxa [6,1,10]. However, compared with the number of matings obtained by males in each category, genetically dissimilar males sired a disproportionately higher number of young than genetically similar males per mating event. Previous research by Kraaijeveld-Smit et al. [32] suggested that spermatozoa from genetically dissimilar males may be more successful due to sperm competition [40]. Female agile antechinus store sperm in specialised isthmic crypts in their oviducts for up to 15 days [13,34,48] providing time and a suitable environment for sperm competition. Potentially, males that are genetically dissimilar to females are not only chosen pre-copulation, but their spermatozoa also compete more successfully post-copulation by cryptic female selection of sperm within the reproductive tract [40,49,50,51]. It is possible that part of the uterine mortality encountered in this species which progressively reduces viable embryos to 60 by the neurula stage [34] is due to matings between genetically similar individuals. In natural populations, larger males may also secure more matings and sire more young ([14], MLP unpub data), but ex situ research into female mate choice shows that female agile antechinus do not choose males based on size [30]. Regardless, the effect of male size on mate selection in this experiment was excluded as a confounding factor by selection of males of similar sizes. There was no evidence of mate copying, as occurs in species including the guppy [52] and sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; [53]) where females copy the preferences of other females, even changing from their original choice [52]. Although female antechinus entered the.