In many aquatic invertebrates including monogonont rotifers, sex provides genetic variation and dormant stages that allow for dispersal in time and space. While the reproductive biology of some solitary monogonont rotifer species is known, little is known concerning mating behaviors in colonial rotifers. Coloniality poses unique challenges to the typical mating behavior of solitary rotifers. For instance, most species engage in circling behavior, where the male swims in close proximity to the female. In colonial forms, access to a particular female may be hindered by nearby colony mates. Here, we provide descriptions of (1) male morphology, (2) mating behavior, and (3) types of eggs of the widespread colonial rotifer Sinantherina socialis, and discuss modifications in mating strategies as a consequence of coloniality. Two important differences from mating patterns documented in solitary rotifers were found in S. socialis. First, duration of circling phase of mating is protracted for males encountering small colonies of females as compared to solitary females. Males encountering single females removed from their colonies behave similarly to those of solitary species. Second, duration of copulation in S. socialis is the shortest reported for any rotifer species. Endogamy might occur in this species as sons copulate with their sisters and mothers, at least under laboratory conditions. Examples of behaviors are available in linked video clips.

中文翻译：

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群落轮虫的有性生殖生物学Sinantherina socialis（轮虫：Monogononta）：群落轮虫和独居轮虫物种的交配策略是否有所不同？

在包括单角轮虫在内的许多水生无脊椎动物中，性别提供了遗传变异和休眠阶段，允许在时间和空间上进行传播。虽然一些孤立的单角轮虫物种的生殖生物学是已知的，但对群落轮虫的交配行为知之甚少。殖民性对孤立轮虫的典型交配行为提出了独特的挑战。例如，大多数物种从事盘旋行为，其中雄性靠近雌性游泳。在殖民地形式中，接近特定雌性可能会受到附近殖民地配偶的阻碍。在这里，我们描述了（1）雄性形态、（2）交配行为和（3）广泛的殖民地轮虫 Sinantherina socialis 的卵类型，并讨论了由于殖民化而对交配策略的修改。在 S. socialis 中发现了与孤立轮虫中记录的交配模式的两个重要差异。首先，与单独的雌性相比，遇到小群雌性的雄性交配的盘旋阶段的持续时间更长。雄性遇到从它们的殖民地移走的单身雌性的行为与那些孤立的物种相似。其次，S. socialis 的交配持续时间是所有轮虫物种中报告的最短的。至少在实验室条件下，当儿子与他们的姐妹和母亲交配时，这个物种可能会发生内婚。链接的视频剪辑中提供了行为示例。雄性遇到从它们的殖民地移走的单身雌性的行为与那些孤立的物种相似。其次，S. socialis 的交配持续时间是所有轮虫物种中报告的最短的。至少在实验室条件下，当儿子与他们的姐妹和母亲交配时，这个物种可能会发生内婚。链接的视频剪辑中提供了行为示例。雄性遇到从它们的殖民地移走的单身雌性的行为与那些独居物种的行为相似。其次，S. socialis 的交配持续时间是所有轮虫物种中报告的最短的。至少在实验室条件下，当儿子与他们的姐妹和母亲交配时，这个物种可能会发生内婚。链接的视频剪辑中提供了行为示例。