Relative testis size is associated with vagina length but not sperm storage traits in Galliformes

Post-copulatory sexual selection, comprised of sperm competition and cryptic female choice, is a powerful evolutionary force that can drive the rapid diversification of reproductive traits across taxa. In birds, the female reproductive tract provides the arena for post-copulatory sexual selection, yet we lack a comprehensive understanding of the female specific processes that shape the evolution of sexually selected traits. Here, we use a comparative approach to explore the relationships between female reproductive tract morphology, sperm competition intensity, and sperm traits across Galliformes. Accounting for phylogenetic and allometric relationships, we find that species with relatively larger testes for their body size-a proxy for intense sperm competition-have relatively longer vaginas, suggesting that important co-evolutionary dynamics exist between male and female reproductive physiology. Surprisingly, we find no link between sperm length and sperm storage tubule morphology, challenging existing predictions. Our findings suggest that the vagina has a significant but currently overlooked influence on post-copulatory processes and emphasizes the need to better integrate female morphology into models of sexual selection.