Influence of the reproductive behavior of Neoneura sylvatica (Odonata: Protoneuridae) on spermatic morphology

Abstract

The present study aimed to verify the behavioral effects on the spermatic morphology of Neoneura sylvatica Hagen in Selys, 1886. For this, males were analyzed behaviorally for intra-sexual competition and for morphology of spermatozoa. With the observation of the five labelled individuals it was possible to observe agonistic relationships between resident males and intruders. When an intruding male attempted to invade the territory of the resident male, there were aggressive contacts. In the reproductive behavior it was possible to observe mating and oviposition with guard after copula in all the couples and attempts of interruption of oviposition by the male intruder. Through the histological analysis individual spermatozoa were observed and not founds in bundles. Spermatozoa dimorphism was found for N. sylvatica being the first record for Odonata. This dimorphism is presented as follows: morphotype 1 has a total length of 99μm, undifferentiated head of the flagellum, spiral body. Morphotype 2 has a total length of 118μm, and it is possible to differentiate the head (31μm) from the flagellum (86μm). The head showed a shape of hook and ripples in the flagellum. We conclude that the behavioral attributes of male intra-sexual competition of N. sylvatica can influence the morphological characteristics of spermatozoa generating dimorphism.