Parasitic infections and immune challenges can affect host reproductive fitness and, ultimately, the evolution of host populations in a myriad of ways. The fitness implications of parasitic infections range from increased host mortality to subtle changes in reproductive investment. From alterations of behaviors, sexual signaling, and competitive ability to changes...
Polyandry is a source of sexual conflict and males often try to limit female promiscuity. Consequently, male manipulation of receptivity via antiaphrodisiacs and copulatory plugs that prevent female remating can be a source of sexual conflict. This sexual conflict may be intensified when females must remate for fertility insurance. Male...
Sexual conflict over mating can result in sex specific morphologies and behaviors that
allow each sex to exert control over the outcome of reproduction. Genital traits, in
particular, are often directly involved in conflict interactions. Via genital manipulation,
we experimentally investigated whether genital traits in red-sided garter snakes influence
copulation...