Climate change damaging male fertility in insects

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-11/uoea-ccd110918.php

Public Release: 13-Nov-2018
University of East Anglia

Climate change could pose a threat to male fertility - according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

New findings published today in the journal Nature Communications reveal that heatwaves damage sperm in insects - with negative impacts for fertility across generations.

The research team say that male infertility during heatwaves could help to explain why climate change is having such an impact on species populations, including climate-related extinctions in recent years.

•••••

Heatwaves caused damage across generations

"Two concerning results were the impact of successive heatwaves on males, and the impacts of heatwaves on future generations," said Sales.

"When males were exposed to two heatwave events 10 days apart, their offspring production was less than 1 per cent of the control group. Insects in nature are likely to experience multiple heatwave events, which could become a problem for population productivity if male reproduction cannot adapt or recover."

The research also shows that offspring sired by heatwaved dads - or their sperm - live shorter lives - by a couple of months.

And the reproductive performance of sons produced by dads - or sperm - exposed to heatwave conditions was also impacted. Sons were found to be less able to fertilise a series of potential mates, and produced less offspring.

•••••