The genetics of mating recognition between Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia

During courtship, visual and chemical signals are often exchanged between the sexes. The proper exchange of such signals ensures intraspecific recognition. We have examined the genetic basis of interspecific differences in male mating behaviour and pheromone concentration between Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia by using Drosophila simulans/D. sechellia introgression lines. Our results show a majority of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) explaining variation in both male mating behaviour and pheromone concentration to be located on the third chromosome. One QTL found on the third chromosome explains variation in time needed to start courtship and copulation as well as time spent courting. The position of such QTL (approximately 84A–88B) with effects on courtship and copulation aspects of mating includes the candidate sex determination gene doublesex (84E5–6) and Voila (86E1–2), a gene that affects male courtship in D. melanogaster. One additional third chromosome QTL explained variation in 7-tricosene pheromone concentrations among males. The interval mapping position of this QTL (approximately 68E–76E) did not overlap with the position detected for differences in mating behaviour and the intervals did not include candidate genes previously identified as having an effect on D. melanogaster cuticular hydrocarbon production. We did not detect any directionality of the effect of Drosophila sechellia allele introgressions in male mating recognition.

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An introgression approach to mapping differences in mating success and sperm competitive ability in Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia

Genetics Research ◽

10.1017/s0016672301005419 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 79 (1) ◽

pp. 65-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

ALBERTO CIVETTA ◽

HEIDI M. WALDRIP-DAIL ◽

ANDREW G. CLARK

Keyword(s):

Sperm Competition ◽

Competitive Ability ◽

Genetic Basis ◽

Interval Mapping ◽

Male Mating ◽

Significant Heterogeneity ◽

Closely Related Species ◽

Interspecific Differences ◽

Complex Interactions ◽

Sexual Traits

The progeny of Drosophila females doubly-mated to males from the same and a closely related species are mostly sired by conspecific males. We examined the genetic basis for conspecific mating preference and sperm precedence by using 186 Drosophila lines in which random chromosomal fragments of D. sechellia were introgressed into D. simulans. Sperm competition was measured for each of these lines by crossing ebony D. simulans female with ebony D. simulans males followed by wild-type males from the introgressed lines. Variation in sperm competition (proportion of progeny sired by the second male), mating discrimination (proportion of introgressed males that failed to remate), and male fecundity (proportion of progeny sired by introgressed males) were scored. The introgressed lines exhibited highly significant heterogeneity in the three phenotypes scored, motivating an analysis to locate quantitative trait loci (QTLs) responsible for the differences. Applying composite interval mapping, we found eight QTLs that explain a significant level of variation among introgressed lines in the phenotypes scored. Cytological position overlapped among some QTLs suggesting possible pleiotropic effects. Analysis of the joint effects of simulans/sechellia genetic composition at different QTLs and markers suggests that complex interactions among alleles are partially responsible for interspecific differences in sexual traits.

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Behavioural profiles: individual consistency in male mating behaviour under varying sex ratios

Animal Behaviour ◽

10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.03.015 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 74 (5) ◽

pp. 1545-1550 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

Kit Magellan ◽

Anne E. Magurran

Keyword(s):

Mating Behaviour ◽

Sex Ratios ◽

Male Mating ◽

Individual Consistency

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Alternative phenotypes of male mating behaviour in the two-spotted spider mite

Experimental and Applied Acarology ◽

10.1007/s10493-013-9673-y ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 31-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Yukie Sato ◽

Maurice W. Sabelis ◽

Martijn Egas ◽

Farid Faraji

Keyword(s):

Spider Mite ◽

Mating Behaviour ◽

Male Mating ◽

Alternative Phenotypes ◽

Two Spotted Spider Mite

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Context-dependent behavioral plasticity compromises disruptive selection on sperm traits in squid

10.1101/2020.08.20.258988 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Noritaka Hirohashi ◽

Noriyosi Sato ◽

Yoko Iwata ◽

Satoshi Tomano ◽

Md Nur E Alam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Plasticity ◽

Mating Behaviour ◽

Social Contexts ◽

Disruptive Selection ◽

Behavioural Plasticity ◽

Male Mating ◽

Reproductive Tactics ◽

Developmentally Regulated ◽

Mating Opportunities ◽

Sperm Traits

Male animals are not given equal mating opportunities under competitive circumstances. Small males often exhibit alternative mating behaviours and produce spermatozoa of higher quality to compensate for their lower chances of winning physical contests against larger competitors [1]. Because the reproductive benefits of these phenotypes depend on social status/agonistic ranks that can change during growth or aging [2], sperm traits should be developed/switched into fitness optima according to their prospects. However, reproductive success largely relies upon social contexts arising instantaneously from intra- and inter-sexual interactions, which deter males from developing extreme traits and instead favour behavioural plasticity. Nevertheless, the extent to which such plasticity influences developmentally regulated alternative sperm traits remains unexplored. Squids of the family Loliginidae are excellent models to investigate this, because they show sophisticated alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) by which small males, known as “sneakers”, produce longer spermatozoa and perform extra-pair copulation to attach their sperm packages near the female seminal receptacle (SR). In contrast, large “consort” males have shorter spermatozoa and copulate via pair-bonding to insert their sperm packages near the internal female oviduct [3]. In addition, plasticity in male mating behaviour is common in some species while it is either rare or absent in others. Thus, squid ARTs display a broad spectrum of adaptive traits with a complex repertoire in behaviour, morphology and physiology [3].

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Plasticity of male mating behaviour in a marine bioluminescent ostracod in both time and space

Animal Behaviour ◽

10.1016/j.anbehav.2009.06.020 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 78 (3) ◽

pp. 723-734 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Trevor J. Rivers ◽

James G. Morin

Keyword(s):

Mating Behaviour ◽

Male Mating ◽

Time And Space

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Relationships within the melanogaster species subgroup of the genus Drosophila ( Sophophora ). I. Inversion polymorphisms in Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.1976.0036 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 193 (1111) ◽

pp. 137-157 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Keyword(s):

Drosophila Melanogaster ◽

Drosophila Simulans ◽

Fourth Chromosome ◽

The Third ◽

Chromosome Inversions

Drosophila melanogaster from 67 collections have been analysed for their polymorphic inversions. Of the 53 inversions now known in this species 7 are widespread and 43 are endemic. The remaining 3 inversions may be widespread, but if so they are usually very rare. No X or fourth chromosome inversions were found. All the third chromosome inversions were paracentric, while six of the second chromosome inversions were pericentric. No inversions were found in D. simulans , of which 27 collections, from Africa, Europe, Australia and S. America, were studied.

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