ABSTRACT The effect of age on fertilization capacity and reproductive potential were examined in males from a laboratory population of Acartia tonsa over their life time providing new empirical data for a foundational estuarine species. The reproductive functions spermatophore production (SPR), number of fertilized females (NFF), percentage of males that effectively fertilized females (M), egg production rate (EPR), and hatching success (EHS) were evaluated during the adult life of male A. tonsa, from maturation until advanced age (38 d) under controlled laboratory conditions. The ageing process of the male was manifested occurred as a general decrease in most of the reproductive functions, but these followed specific patterns: SPR did not decay significantly with advanced male age, as it did happen with NFF, M and EPR; EHS increased at an intermediate age. Those changes were out of phase: while EPR declined already at intermediate age, NFF and M evidenced a decline at more advanced ages. Results suggest that reproductive senescence in copepod males involves the interaction of several mechanisms whose study will require comprehensive approaches.

中文翻译：

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Acartiatonsa 雄性繁殖性能的衰老（Copepoda，Calanoida）：南方种群的初步结果

摘要 年龄对受精能力和生殖潜力的影响在来自 Acartia tonsa 实验室种群的雄性中进行了检查，为基础河口物种提供了新的经验数据。对雄性A成年期间的生殖功能精子细胞产量（SPR）、受精雌性数量（NFF）、有效受精雌性的雄性百分比（M）、产蛋率（EPR）和孵化成功率（EHS）进行评估.tonsa，在受控实验室条件下从成熟到老年（38 天）。男性的衰老过程表现为大部分生殖功能普遍下降，但遵循特定模式：SPR 不会随着男性年龄的增长而显着下降，而 NFF、M 和 EPR 确实发生了这种情况；EHS 在中年时增加。这些变化是不合时宜的：虽然 EPR 在中年已经下降，但 NFF 和 M 在更老的年龄出现下降。结果表明，桡足类雄性的生殖衰老涉及多种机制的相互作用，其研究需要综合方法。