| dc.description.abstract | Competition for mating between males is present in the majority of animal species. One
outcome of this is the attempted monopolisation of females by guarding. Males may either keep
close to their mates during the mating season or produce a plug whilst mating, blocking the
female copulatory orifice. Plugs can be found e.g. in rodents, spiders and insects, and may be
surrounded by a large external shield, e.g. in Apollo butterflies (Parnassius, Papilionidae). In
insects, larger females often incur better reproductive success. If this is true for species
producing mating plugs, the extent of male investment in the plug could be influenced by the
expected female reproductive value, which might be estimated based on female size. | en_US |
