Female remating in Drosophila ananassae: bidirectional selection for remating speed

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Behavioral genetics

Background:

• Remating speed is a crucial factor influencing reproductive success and population dynamics.
• Understanding the genetic basis of mating behaviors is key to evolutionary studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic architecture of female remating speed in Drosophila ananassae through artificial selection.
• To examine correlated responses in mating propensity and female productivity.

Main Methods:

• Artificial selection for fast and slow remating speeds over 10 generations in two replicates.
• Quantitative genetic analysis including heritability estimation.
• Assessing mating propensity using an Elens-Wattiaux mating chamber.
• Measuring progeny production per female.

Main Results:

• Significant divergence in remating time was observed between fast, slow, and control lines.
• Realized heritability for remating time ranged from 0.23 to 0.33.
• Fast-remating lines exhibited higher mating success and produced significantly more progeny than slow and control lines.
• Remating frequency showed a correlated response to selection.

Conclusions:

• Female remating time in Drosophila ananassae is under polygenic control.
• Selection for remating speed has pleiotropic effects on mating propensity and female reproductive output.