The effects of male harm vary with female quality and environmental complexity in Drosophila melanogaster

Biology Letters
Alison MacPhersonHoward D Rundle

Abstract

Mate competition provides the opportunity for sexual selection which often acts strongly on males, but also the opportunity for sexual conflict that can alter natural selection on females. Recent attention has focused on the potential of sexual conflict to weaken selection on females if male sexual attention, and hence harm, is disproportionately directed towards high- over low-quality females, thereby reducing the fitness difference between these females. However, sexual conflict could instead strengthen selection on females if low-quality females are more sensitive to male harm than high-quality females, thereby magnifying fitness differences between them. We quantify the effects of male exposure on low- versus high-quality females in Drosophila melanogaster in each of two environments ('simple' and 'complex') that are known to alter behavioural interactions. We show that the effects of male harm are greater for low- compared to high-quality females in the complex but not the simple environment, consistent with mate competition strengthening selection on females in the former but not in the latter environment.

References

Dec 10, 2009·PLoS Biology·Tristan A F LongWilliam R Rice
Nov 4, 2010·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Dominic A EdwardTracey Chapman
Jul 5, 2012·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Devin Arbuthnott, Howard D Rundle
Sep 13, 2014·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Li Yun, Aneil F Agrawal
Jun 30, 2015·Current Biology : CB·Stephen F ChenowethHoward D Rundle
Feb 1, 1998·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Brett Holland, William R Rice
Jul 7, 2017·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Li YunHoward D Rundle
Aug 26, 2017·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Amardeep SinghHoward D Rundle
Oct 13, 2017·Biology Letters·Julie ColpittsHoward D Rundle
Jun 13, 2018·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Li YunAneil F Agrawal

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jun 18, 2019·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Li YunAneil F Agrawal
Jun 27, 2019·Ecology and Evolution·Zahida Sultanova, Pau Carazo
May 8, 2021·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Agata Plesnar-Bielak, Aleksandra Łukasiewicz
May 9, 2021·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Audrey E WilsonIan Dworkin
Aug 17, 2021·Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution·Xiang-Yi Li Richter, Brian Hollis

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Li YunAneil F Agrawal
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved