Sex-specific selection on time to remate in Drosophila melanogaster

Carla M. Sgrò, Tracey Chapman, Linda Partridge

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30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Female Drosophila melanogaster were artificially selected for fast and slow time to ternate (denoted 'high' and 'low' selection regimes, respectively). Both selection regimes and a control were replicated three times. Correlated responses to selection in females and in males were measured. A significant direct response to selection for time to remating was found in females from both selection regimes. Remating frequency of females showed a correlated response only in the females from the lines selected for faster time to remating. Time to first mating of virgin females showed no correlated response in either selection regime. No correlated response was found in males for time to remate, remating frequency or time to first mating of virgins, indicating that genetic correlations between the sexes do not influence the evolution of these traits in this population of D. melanogaster. There was no direct response to artificial selection for the ability of first males to deter females from remating. However, we found that the genotype of the first male to mate with a female could influence her time to remate; base stock males were better at deterring females from remating than were males from any of the selection lines.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1267-1278
Number of pages12
JournalAnimal Behaviour
Volume56
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1998
Externally publishedYes

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