Males control the duration of copulation in the tropical millipede Alloporus uncinatus (Diplopoda: Julida)

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Prolonged copulation in Alloporus uncinatus is a form of mate guarding against sperm competition. Here we show, using a simple experiment, that males control the duration of copulation, an often overlooked assumption regarding the adaptive significance of prolonged copulation. The sex-specific evolutionary benefits of prolonged copulation are discussed in relation to the role played by sperm competition in the evolution of the mating system of A. uncinatus. *********** AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Lang paringstye by Alloporus uncinatus beskerm paargenote teen spermkompetisie. Ons dui hier met behulp van ' n eenvoudige eksperiment aan dat mannetjies die duur van paring beheer. Dit het betrekking op 'n aanname wat dikwels oorgesien word ten opsigte van die aanpassingsbelang van lang paringstye. Die geslagspesifieke evolutionêre voordele van lang paringstye word bespreek met betrekking tot die rol wat spermkompetisie in die ontwikkeling van die paringstelsel van A . uncinatus speel.