Sexually antagonistic coevolution of the male nuptial gift and female feeding behaviour in decorated crickets

The evolution of nuptial gifts has traditionally been considered a harmonious affair, providing benefits to both mating partners. There is growing evidence, however, that receiving a nuptial gift can be actively detrimental to the female. In decorated crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus), males produce a gelatinous spermatophylax that enhances sperm transfer but provides little nutritional benefit and hinders female post-copulatory mate choice. Here, we examine the sexually antagonistic coevolution of the spermatophylax and the female feeding response to this gift in G. sigillatus maintained in experimental populations with either a male-biased or female-biased adult sex ratio. After 25 generations, males evolving in male-biased populations produced heavier spermatophylaxes with a more manipulative combination of free amino acids than those evolving in female-biased populations. Moreover, when the spermatophylax originated from the same selection regime, females evolving in male-biased popul..., We manipulated the intensity of interlocus sexual conflict in replicate experimental population by manipulating the adult sex ratio to be either male -biased (increased conflict) or female-biased (reduced conflict). This was done for 25 generations of evolution. We then measured the manipulative properties of the male nuptial gift (the spermatophylax) in these populations (spermatophylax dry mass and amino acid composition), as well as female feeding duration on these gifts (as a measure of resistance to manipulation). We present the raw data and population mean data for these traits. Spermatophylax dry mass was measured using an electronic balance. Spermatophylax amino acid composition was measured using GC-MS. Female feeding behaviour was measured in behavioural assays., Data is presented in Microsoft Excel., # Sexually antagonistic coevolution of the male nuptial gift and female feeding behaviour in decorated crickets We subjected replicated populations of decorated crickets to different regimes of interlocus sexual conflict by altering the adult sex ratio to be male-biased (increased conflict) or female-biased (reduced conflict). After 25 generations of experimental evolution we measured how manipulative the nuptial gifts produced by males (the spermatophylax) were. Manipulativeness of the gift is measured by dry mass (measured using an electronic balance) and amino acid composition (measured by GC-MS). We also measured female resistance in these populations as the time the female spent feeding on this gift (through behavioural observations). ## Description of the data and file structure Microsoft Excel is required to open the data files. We have uploaded 3 files: named \"Dryad_Spermatophylax data_raw\", \"Dryad_Feeding data_raw\" and \"Dryad_mean spermatophylax and feeding data\". \"Dryad_Sp...长期以来，学界普遍认为交配礼物（nuptial gift）的演化是一种和谐的过程，可为交配双方均带来益处。然而，越来越多的研究证据表明，雌性接收交配礼物实则可能对自身产生显著的不利影响。 在装饰蟋蟀（Gryllodes sigillatus）中，雄性会分泌一种凝胶状的精护垫（spermatophylax），该结构可促进精子转移，但几乎无法提供营养，且会阻碍雌性交配后的配偶选择行为。本研究针对装饰蟋蟀，探究其精护垫与雌性对该礼物的取食响应之间的性拮抗协同演化（sexually antagonistic coevolution）关系，实验种群的成虫性比设置为雄性偏倚或雌性偏倚两种类型。 经过25代演化后，在雄性偏倚种群中演化而来的雄性，其分泌的精护垫重量更大，且游离氨基酸组合更具操控性，相较于雌性偏倚种群中演化的雄性个体。此外，当精护垫来自同一种群的选择体系时，在雄性偏倚种群中演化的雌性……（原文截断） 本研究通过调整实验重复种群的成虫性比，调控基因座间性冲突（interlocus sexual conflict）的强度：设置雄性偏倚性比以增强冲突，雌性偏倚性比以减弱冲突。该实验持续演化25代。 随后，我们对这些种群中雄性交配礼物（即精护垫）的操控特性进行了测定，包括精护垫干重与氨基酸组成；同时测定了雌性在该礼物上的取食时长，以此作为雌性对操控行为抗性的衡量指标。本研究公开了上述性状的原始数据与种群均值数据。精护垫干重通过电子天平测定，其氨基酸组成采用GC-MS（气相色谱-质谱联用）进行分析，雌性取食行为则通过行为学实验进行记录。 数据以Microsoft Excel格式存储。 # 装饰蟋蟀雄性交配礼物与雌性取食行为的性拮抗协同演化 我们通过调整装饰蟋蟀重复实验种群的成虫性比，设置雄性偏倚（增强性冲突）与雌性偏倚（减弱性冲突）两种不同的基因座间性冲突体系。经过25代实验演化后，我们测定了雄性所产交配礼物（精护垫）的操控性强弱：通过精护垫干重（电子天平测定）与氨基酸组成（GC-MS分析）来衡量。同时，我们通过行为观测记录雌性在该礼物上的取食时长，以此作为雌性抗性的测定指标。 ## 数据与文件结构说明 数据文件需使用Microsoft Excel打开。本次上传共3个数据文件，分别命名为："Dryad_Spermatophylax data_raw"、"Dryad_Feeding data_raw"与"Dryad_mean spermatophylax and feeding data"。 "Dryad_Sp...（原文截断）