Code from: First insights into female sperm storage duration in tardigrades

Female sperm storage is ubiquitous in the animal kingdom and it has been
shown to be linked to several evolutionary processes, from postcopulatory
sexual selection to dispersal. Here we report, for the first time,
long-term sperm storage in females of the Macrobiotus polonicus
tardigrade. Females, isolated after a short contact with a male, were able
to use the stored sperm for up to 5 weeks (mean of 2 weeks), which
translates to a considerable proportion of female post-mating longevity
under controlled laboratory conditions (60% on average). Our study
provides first insights into the duration of sperm storage, an
underexplored feature of the reproductive biology of tardigrades.
Additionally, we discuss important considerations for reproductive studies
on these non-model animals.