The role of non-gametic components of the ejaculate (seminal fluid) in fertility and sperm
competitiveness is now well established. Surprisingly, however, we know far less about …

In internally fertilizing species, sperm transfer is not always immediately followed by egg
fertilization, and female sperm storage (FSS) may occur. FSS is a phenomenon in which …

Queens of many social hymenoptera keep sperm alive within their specialized storage
organ, the spermatheca, for years, defying the typical trade-off between lifespan and …

Females of many different species often mate with multiple males, creating opportunities for
competition among their sperm. Although originally unappreciated, sperm competition is …

Understanding mating systems is a pillar of behavioural ecology, placing the complex
interactions between females and males into a reproductive context. The field of multiple …

In polyandrous mating systems, females maintain the opportunity to bias male fertilization
success after mating in a process known as cryptic female choice. Mechanisms of cryptic …

Reproductive traits that influence female remating and competitive fertilization rapidly evolve
in response to sexual selection and sexual conflict. One such trait, observed across diverse …

Fertility depends on the progression of complex and coordinated postmating processes
within the extracellular environment of the female reproductive tract (FRT). Molecular …

Female reproductive fluid (the fluid that surrounds the eggs) has attracted increasing
attention for its role in fertilization and postmating sexual selection through its effects on …

In insects, seminal fluid molecules (SFMs) influence female post-mating phenotypes that
affect reproductive success including egg development, sperm use, mating behavior …