Effect of larval crowding on adult mating behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster

• Published in: Heredity Vol. 63; no. 2; pp. 195 - 202
• Main Authors: Ribo, G, Ocana, J, Prevosti, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01-10-1989
• Subjects: Alleles; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; competition; Crowding; density; Drosophila melanogaster; Drosophila melanogaster - genetics; Eye Color; Female; frequency dependent selection; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Frequency; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Invertebrata; Larva - genetics; larvae; Male; mating behavior; mutants; Mutation; Population genetics, reproduction patterns; Selection, Genetic; Sexual Behavior, Animal; strains; Sexual selection; Insecta; Male; Population genetics; Drosophilidae; Frequency dependent selection; Gene frequency; Larva; Arthropoda; Selective advantage; Breeding success; Mutation; Invertebrata; Drosophila melanogaster; Diptera; Population density; Fitness; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 0018-067X; 1365-2540
• DOI: 10.1038/hdy.1989.92

The effect of larval density on male mating success has been investigated with two strains of Drosophila melanogaster, a wild strain and a mutant strain, under low and high larval competition, and four different genotypic frequencies. The results show a strong sexual selection against mutant males when flies have been raised under low larval competition. Under high larval competition, there is a reduction in mating disadvantage of mutant males. In both instances, a frequency-dependent sexual selection exists. These results explain adequately the evolution of experimental populations where egg to adult viability and male mating success are the most important components of fitness.