TY - JOUR
T1 - Experimental heatwaves negatively impact sperm quality in the zebra finch
AU - Hurley, Laura L.
AU - McDiarmid, Callum S.
AU - Friesen, Christopher R.
AU - Griffith, Simon C.
AU - Rowe, Melissah
PY - 2018/1/31
Y1 - 2018/1/31
N2 - For sexually reproducing species, functionally competent sperm are critical to reproduction. While high atmospheric temperatures are known to influence the timing of breeding, incubation and reproductive success in birds, the effect of temperature on sperm quality remains largely unexplored. Here, we experimentally investigated the impact of ecologically relevant extreme temperatures on cloacal temperature and sperm morphology and motility in zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata. We periodically sampled males exposed to 30°C or 40°C temperatures daily for 14 consecutive days. Following a 12-day (23°C) recovery period, birds were again exposed to heat, but under the alternate treatment (e.g. birds initially exposed to 40°C were exposed to 30°C). Elevated temperatures led to an increase in cloacal temperature and a reduction in the proportion of sperm with normal morphology; these effects were most notable under 40°C conditions, and were influenced by the duration of heat exposure and prior exposure to high temperature. Our findings highlight the potential role of temperature in determining male fertility in birds, and perhaps also in constraining the timing of avian breeding. Given the increased frequency of heatwaves in a warming world, our results suggest the need for further work on climatic influences on sperm quality and male fertility.
AB - For sexually reproducing species, functionally competent sperm are critical to reproduction. While high atmospheric temperatures are known to influence the timing of breeding, incubation and reproductive success in birds, the effect of temperature on sperm quality remains largely unexplored. Here, we experimentally investigated the impact of ecologically relevant extreme temperatures on cloacal temperature and sperm morphology and motility in zebra finches Taeniopygia guttata. We periodically sampled males exposed to 30°C or 40°C temperatures daily for 14 consecutive days. Following a 12-day (23°C) recovery period, birds were again exposed to heat, but under the alternate treatment (e.g. birds initially exposed to 40°C were exposed to 30°C). Elevated temperatures led to an increase in cloacal temperature and a reduction in the proportion of sperm with normal morphology; these effects were most notable under 40°C conditions, and were influenced by the duration of heat exposure and prior exposure to high temperature. Our findings highlight the potential role of temperature in determining male fertility in birds, and perhaps also in constraining the timing of avian breeding. Given the increased frequency of heatwaves in a warming world, our results suggest the need for further work on climatic influences on sperm quality and male fertility.
KW - Avian reproduction
KW - Climate change
KW - Heatwave
KW - Male fertility
KW - Sperm morphology
KW - Sperm swimming speed
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85040905495&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP130100417
U2 - 10.1098/rspb.2017.2547
DO - 10.1098/rspb.2017.2547
M3 - Article
VL - 285
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society
JF - Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society
SN - 0962-8452
IS - 1871
M1 - 20172547
ER -