When should male squid prudently invest sperm?

Ejaculate production can be costly and males are expected to prudently allocate this potentially limiting resource to higher quality females. However, relatively little is known about facultative sperm allocation in response to the quality distribution of sequentially encountered females, despite this being a more realistic scenario for males in many species. Here, we examined patterns of male investment in a squid, Sepiadarium austrinum, when presented sequentially with small versus large females. Owing to a positive size - fecundity relationship in this species, large and small females are expected to differ in terms of their perceived quality to males as potential mating partners. Yet, despite large sperm investment and significant variation in female quality, sperm investment was determined only by mating order, with males consistently decreasing sperm investment in second matings. These results highlight that, when mates are encountered sequentially rather than simultaneously, prudent sperm allocation may not occur when it is otherwise predicted.