Ecology letters (2011) 14 : 891–895 Abstract Sperm are particularly prone to oxidative damage because they generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), have a high polyunsaturated fat content and a reduced capacity to repair DNA damage. The dietary compounds vitamin E and beta‐carotene are argued to have antioxidant properties that help to counter the damaging effects of excess ROS. Here in, we tested the post‐copulatory consequenc...