In some species, reproductive success may depend not only on competition, but also on sperm working together. How Sperm Cooperation WorksSperm conjugation can be compared to a rowing team moving in a coordinated way. The new study, published in Nature Communications, indicates that sperm cooperation occurs widely among arthropods and has evolved many separate times. The researchers suggest that SAM may have helped sperm conjugation emerge, possibly beginning as a mechanism for packaging or protecting sperm. By moving or functioning in groups, sperm may gain advantages in mobility, organization or overall performance.