Reproductive interference

Reproductive interference is the interaction between individuals of different <a href="/facts/Species/oDg6b96r">species</a> during mate acquisition that leads to a reduction of <a href="/facts/Fitness_(biology)/MYpAGGey">fitness</a> in one or more of the individuals involved. The interactions occur when individuals make mistakes or are unable to recognise their own species, labelled as ‘incomplete <a href="/facts/Intra-species_recognition/GWe3ySXI">species recognition</a>'. Reproductive interference has been found within a variety of taxa, including <a href="/facts/Insect/IgDNvnUL">insects</a>, <a href="/facts/Mammal/phSwTzBo">mammals</a>, <a href="/facts/Bird/RJF6zwLP">birds</a>, <a href="/facts/Amphibian/r2BleD2W">amphibians</a>, <a href="/facts/Marine_life/TF5MGzFb">marine organisms</a>, and <a href="/facts/Plant/X5BMDMvS">plants</a>.
There are seven causes of reproductive interference, namely signal jamming, heterospecific <a href="/facts/Rivalry/4e4m648u">rivalry</a>, misdirected <a href="/facts/Courtship_display/U8Jl6SFq">courtship</a>, heterospecific mating attempts, erroneous <a href="/facts/Mate_choice/rMjIUJaP">female choice</a>, heterospecific mating, and <a href="/facts/Hybridisation_(biology)/pzVJ54xU">hybridisation</a>. All types have fitness costs on the participating individuals, generally from a reduction in reproductive success, a waste of <a href="/facts/Gamete/j8e8fls6">gametes</a>, and the expenditure of energy and <a href="/facts/Nutrient/34bn4skK">nutrients</a>. These costs are variable and dependent on numerous factors, such as the cause of reproductive interference, the sex of the parent, and the species involved.
Reproductive interference occurs between species that occupy the same habitat and can play a role in influencing the coexistence of these species. It differs from <a href="/facts/Competition_(biology)/3xN0IynL">competition</a> as reproductive interference does not occur due to a shared <a href="/facts/Resource/NM1retdD">resource</a>. Reproductive interference can have ecological consequences, such as through the segregation of species both spatially and temporally. It can also have evolutionary consequences, for example; it can impose a <a href="/facts/Evolutionary_pressure/8zrwXR50">selective pressure</a> on the affected species to evolve traits that better distinguish themselves from other species.

Reproductive interference open-in-new

Reproductive interference