Data from: Sexual conflict over remating interval is modulated by the sex peptide pathway

Sexual conflict, in which the evolutionary interests of males and females diverge, shapes the evolution of reproductive systems across diverse taxa. Here, we used the fruit fly to study sexual conflict in natural, three-way interactions comprising a female, her current and previous mates. We manipulated the potential for sexual conflict by using sex peptide receptor (SPR) null females and by varying remating from 3 to 48 h, a period during which natural rematings frequently occur. SPR-lacking females do not respond to sex peptide (SP) transferred during mating and maintain virgin levels of high receptivity and low fecundity. In the absence of SPR, there was a convergence of fitness interests, with all individuals gaining highest productivity at 5 h remating. This suggests that the expression of sexual conflict was reduced. We observed an unexpected second male-specific advantage to early remating, resulting from an increase in the efficiency of second male sperm use. This early window of opportunity for exploitation by second males depended on the presence of SPR. The results suggest that the SP pathway can modulate the expression of sexual conflict in this system, and show how variation in the selective forces that shape conflict and cooperation can be maintained.性冲突（Sexual conflict）指雌雄两性进化利益产生分歧的现象，它塑造了多样类群的生殖系统演化历程。本研究以果蝇为实验材料，探究包含雌性、当前配偶与前任配偶的自然三方互作体系中的性冲突。我们通过使用性肽受体（sex peptide receptor, SPR）缺失雌性个体，并将重交配时长设置为3至48小时（自然状态下该时段内常发生重交配事件），以此操控性冲突的发生潜力。缺失SPR的雌性无法对交配过程中传递的性肽（sex peptide, SP）作出响应，维持了处女个体的高交配接受性与低繁殖力水平。在缺失SPR的情况下，各参与个体的适合度利益趋于一致，所有个体均在5小时重交配时长下获得最高的繁殖产出，这表明性冲突的表达被削弱。我们还观察到一个意外结果：早期重交配会使第二任雄性获得特异性的交配优势，这一优势源于第二任雄性精子利用效率的提升。第二任雄性可利用的这一早期机会窗口，其开启依赖于SPR的存在。本研究结果表明，SP信号通路可调控本实验体系中性冲突的表达，并揭示了塑造冲突与合作的选择压力的变异是如何得以维持的。