Extreme variation exists in sperm morphology (sperm length and components) across the animal kingdom. In birds, most studies of sperm diversity originated from Northern Temperate regions, leaving us with doubt about the extent of sperm variation in Afrotropical avian species. Knowledge of avian sperm morphology and sperm competition is limited in tropical birds, thus needing paramount attention. This project focused on investigating the evolution of sperm morphology and sperm competition in birds from the African Continent using comparative analysis. The specific objectives are to determine variation within and between male variation in sperm morphology at the intra- and inter-specific level across birds; and determine levels of variation in sperm competition across the avian species and associated effects socio-ecological traits. This also extends to analysis of evolutionary rates in sperm morphology using evolutionary models.

[Principal Investigator: Dr. Taiwo Crossby, EU & APLORI]
[Collaborators: Prof. Jan T. Lifjeld, Norway; Prof. Ulf Ottosson, APLORI; Prof. Tomas Abrecht, Czechia]
[Funder: RCN, IFS, CSF]