Selfing versus outcrossing in the androdioecious clam shrimp, Eulimnadia texana (Crustacea, Conchostraca)

Abstract

The clam shrimp Eulimnadia texana is an androdioecious crustacean in which hermaphrodites may self fertilize or outcross with males but cannot outcross with other hermaphrodites. Outcrossing is maintained within most populations of this species despite the high genetic cost of sex, suggesting that compensating factors provide an advantage to outcrossing. We hypothesized that one such benefit would be the production of larger clutch sizes resulting from outcrossed matings. To test this prediction, we recorded the body sizes and clutch sizes of hermaphrodites which mated via selfing or via outcrossing. Clutch sizes showed significant, almost exponential, increases as body size increased in both selfing and outcrossing hermaphrodites. The rate of this increase was the same for both groups, and there was no significant difference in clutch size when body size was controlled for between the two fertilization types.