Size-related sexual selection and yeast diet in Drosophila buzzatii (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

• Published in: Journal of insect behavior Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 329 - 338
• Main Authors: NORRY, F. M, VILARDI, J. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Springer 1996
• Subjects: Animal ethology; Biological and medical sciences; body measurements; cabeza; comportamiento sexual; comportement sexuel; diet; dieta; dimension; dimensions; drosophila; Drosophila buzzatii; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; head; levadura; levure; medicion del cuerpo; mensuration corporelle; Protozoa. Invertebrata; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; regime alimentaire; sex; sexe; sexo; sexual behaviour; tete; yeasts; Biometrics; Head; Yeast; Sexual selection; Insecta; Sexual behavior; Multivariate analysis; Drosophilidae; Diet; Arthropoda; Body size; Drosophila buzzatii; Invertebrata; Diptera
• ISSN: 0892-7553; 1572-8889
• DOI: 10.1007/BF02213875

Size-related sexual selection (SRSS) was examined on four traits (thorax and wing length and head and face width) in Drosophila buzzatii, by scoring male copulatory status in two mass-mating experiments. Using axenic females, experiment 1 was carried out with axenic males, and experiment 2 with yeast-supplemented males. While there was no indication of SRSS in experiment 1, such selection was substantial in yeast-supplemented males, which transmitted yeasts to mating females. Multivariate analyses of selection indicated that face width is the measured trait on which directional SRSS essentially acted in yeast-supplemented males, resulting in indirect selection on body size. Because this selection was affected by yeast diet in males, its possible interaction with the yeast transmission from males to females during the courtship is discussed.