In animals with internal fertilization, seminal fluid strongly influences the physiological requirements for reproduction. Active components and signalling molecules transferred together with sperm and impact sperm storage and viability, ovulation, female immunity, susceptibility to infection, the female nervous system and her behaviour. 
We found that specific components of seminal fluid incite acoustic signalling of female Drosophila during copulation (Kerwin et al. 2020). Our data indicates that female copulation song influences in turn male ejaculate allocation and biases the outcome of paternity shares under reproductive competition. These findings suggest that 1) females can rapidly sense and behaviourally react to seminal fluid and 2) males have evolved mechanisms to adjust seminal fluid quality and transfer in response to acoustic signals from the female. 
Currently, we aim at identifying which seminal fluid protein or metabolite triggers female copulation song. We are also investigating the neuronal control mechanisms of male plastic ejaculate allocation in response to female song. 
By this research, we aim at a general understanding of the female and male neuronal circuits mediating communication between the nervous system and the reproductive organs. We are interested how this signalling axis is modulated by sensory input and physiological conditions known to impact reproductive decisions (aging, nutritional state, infection, mating history and social exposure).