rahman-experimentalreduction-2014.pdf (221.9 kB)
Experimental reduction in dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids depresses sperm competitiveness
journal contribution
posted on 2014-09-24, 00:00 authored by M M Rahman, C Gasparini, Giovanni TurchiniGiovanni Turchini, J P EvansThe health benefits of diets containing rich sources of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA) are well documented and include reductions in the risk of several diseases typical of Western societies. The dietary intake of n-3 LC-PUFA has also been linked to fertility, and there is abundant evidence that a range of ejaculate traits linked to fertility in humans, livestock and other animals depend on an adequate intake of n-3 LC-PUFA from dietary sources. However, relatively few studies have explored how n-3 LC-PUFA influence reproductive fitness, particularly in the context of sexual selection. Here, we show that experimental reduction in the level of n-3 LC-PUFA in the diet of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) depresses a male’s share of paternity when sperm compete for fertilization, confirming that the currently observed trend for reduced n-3 LC-PUFA in western diets has important implications for individual reproductive fitness.
History
Journal
Biology lettersVolume
10Issue
9Pagination
20140623 - 20140623Publisher
The Royal Society PublishingLocation
London, EnglandPublisher DOI
Link to full text
ISSN
1744-9561eISSN
1744-957XPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2014, The Royal Society PublishingUsage metrics
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