Semelparous marsupials reduce sleep for sex

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Semelparous marsupials reduce sleep for sex
Authors: Zaid, Erika, Rainsford, Frederick W, Johnsson, Robin D, Valcu, Mihai, Vyssotski, Alexei L, Meerlo, Peter, Lesku, John A
Source: Zaid, E, Rainsford, F W, Johnsson, R D, Valcu, M, Vyssotski, A L, Meerlo, P & Lesku, J A 2024, 'Semelparous marsupials reduce sleep for sex', Current Biology, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 606-614.e3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.064
Publication Year: 2024
Collection: University of Groningen research database
Subject Terms: Animals, Female, Male, Marsupialia/physiology, Reproduction/physiology, Australia, Biological Evolution
Description: Sleep is a prominent, seemingly universal animal behavior. Although sleep maintains optimal waking performance, the biological drive to sleep may be incompatible with the life history of some species. In a multi-year study on semelparous marsupials in Australia, we provide the first direct evidence of ecological sleep restriction in a terrestrial mammal. Dusky (Antechinus swainsonii) and agile (A. agilis) antechinus have an unusual reproductive strategy characterized by the synchronous death of all males at the end of their only breeding season. Using accelerometry, electrophysiology, and metabolomics, we show that males, but not females, increase their activity during the breeding season by reducing sleep. In a trade-off between the neurophysiological requirements for sleep and evolutionary necessity for reproduction, strong sexual selection might drive males to sacrifice sleep to increase access to fertile females and ultimately maximize their fitness.
Document Type: article in journal/newspaper
File Description: application/pdf
Language: English
Relation: info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pmid/38278151; info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/hdl/https://hdl.handle.net/11370/49cb8bfc-b9d0-4a77-9869-cf8aca4c927c; info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/0960-9822; info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/eissn/1879-0445
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.064
Availability: https://hdl.handle.net/11370/49cb8bfc-b9d0-4a77-9869-cf8aca4c927c
https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/49cb8bfc-b9d0-4a77-9869-cf8aca4c927c
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.064
https://pure.rug.nl/ws/files/910504517/1-s2.0-S0960982223017645-main.pdf
Rights: info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; https://www.rug.nl/library/open-access/article-25fa-pilot-end-user-agreement
Accession Number: edsbas.1D4FF42B
Database: BASE
Description
Abstract:Sleep is a prominent, seemingly universal animal behavior. Although sleep maintains optimal waking performance, the biological drive to sleep may be incompatible with the life history of some species. In a multi-year study on semelparous marsupials in Australia, we provide the first direct evidence of ecological sleep restriction in a terrestrial mammal. Dusky (Antechinus swainsonii) and agile (A. agilis) antechinus have an unusual reproductive strategy characterized by the synchronous death of all males at the end of their only breeding season. Using accelerometry, electrophysiology, and metabolomics, we show that males, but not females, increase their activity during the breeding season by reducing sleep. In a trade-off between the neurophysiological requirements for sleep and evolutionary necessity for reproduction, strong sexual selection might drive males to sacrifice sleep to increase access to fertile females and ultimately maximize their fitness.
DOI:10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.064