Sperm competition and cryptic female choice in the Trinidadian guppy

The guppy is a freshwater live-bearing fish with internal fertilization, in which are present both cooperative and coercive matings: this leads to a high level of polyandry in this specie, increased by the fact that in this species females can store sperms for several months. The currently ongoing projects regard different aspects of post-copulatory sexual selection in the guppy.

- Influence of male age on sperm competition quality and fertilisation success

- Influence of sperm number and sperm quality on sperm competition success

- MHC variation and success of sperm competition success

- Sperm production strategy in relation to male phenotype and mating opportunities

- Quantitative genetics of pre- and post-copualtory traits

team: Clelia Gasparini (Post Doc) and Alessandro Devigili (PhD student)

 

Sexual conflict and sexual antagonistic coevolution in Poeciliids

- Intraspecific variation of male and female genitalia in the Trinidadian guppy (in collaboration with Jon Evans)

- Interspecific variation of male and female genitalia in Poeciliids (in collaboration with Mariella Rasotto and Carlotta Mazzoldi)

- Sexual conflict and female schooling behaviour in Poeciliids (in collaboration with Angelo Bisazza)

team: Clelia Gasparini (Post-Doc) and Alessandro Devigili (PhD student)

Evolution of plumage colouration in birds

Since Darwin, plumage of birds has been an important focus for many evolutionary biologists interested on sexual selection. Colour displays are produced by different mechanisms that are functionally distinct (carotenoid, melanin and structural coloration). We are interested to study the various selective pressures that have led the evolution of colours in birds: mechanisms of production, controls of expression and evolutionary functions. Current research regards:

- Role of moult in the production of sexual feather signals (carotenoid and UV signals in rock sparrows (Petronia petronia), blue tit (Cyanistes (Parus) caeruleus)

- Role of preening in the maintenance of plumage colouration in the budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) (in collaboration with Lorenzo Serra and Herbert Hoi)

In collaboration with Matteo Griggio