title: Testing the interactive effects of carotenoids and polyunsaturated fatty acids on ejaculate traits in the guppy Poecilia reticulata (Pisces: Poeciliidae).
abstract: Using the polyandrous livebearing guppy Poecilia reticulata, this study revealed no main effects of carotenoids in the diet on ejaculate traits, but significant main effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on sperm viability and weak but significant interacting effects of both nutrients on sperm length. Collectively, these findings not only add evidence that PUFAs are critical determinants of sperm quality, but also provide tentative evidence that for some traits these effects may be moderated by carotenoid intake.
authors: Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Animal Biology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Rahman
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Gasparini
authors: G M
authors: GM
authors: Turchini
authors: J P
authors: JP
authors: Evans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011036:Poecilia / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D002338:Carotenoids
keywords: condition dependence; life history; nutrients; oxidative stress; sperm competition