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Detecting Wolbachia Strain wAlbB in Aedes albopictus Cell Lines

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Do Wolbachia-associated incompatibilities promote polyandry?

Fleur E Champion de Crespigny¹, Laurence D Hurst, Nina Wedell

¹Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Cornwall Campus, Penryn, UK. f.decrespigny@exeter.ac.uk

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution

|December 11, 2007

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Polyandrous mating in Drosophila simulans reduces the negative effects of Wolbachia infections. However, this mating strategy does not appear to be driven by the need to avoid genetic incompatibilities caused by Wolbachia.

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Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Behavioral Ecology
Genetics

Background:

Polyandry, or females mating with multiple males, is a common strategy.
The genetic incompatibility avoidance hypothesis suggests polyandry increases reproductive success.
Wolbachia bacteria can cause reproductive incompatibilities in insects.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate if polyandrous female Drosophila simulans improve fitness against Wolbachia-induced incompatibilities.
To model how Wolbachia might promote polyandry and how polyandry might constrain Wolbachia spread.
To evaluate the coevolution of reproductive incompatibilities and polyandry.

Main Methods:

Empirical investigation of Drosophila simulans reproductive success.
Mathematical modeling of polyandry evolution and Wolbachia dynamics.
Analysis of sperm competition in Wolbachia-infected males.

Main Results:

Polyandrous females significantly reduced reproductive costs associated with Wolbachia.
Wolbachia-infected males showed reduced sperm competition success.
Models indicated Wolbachia invasion can be inhibited by this disadvantage.
Polyandry evolution was constrained by associated costs and low incompatibility frequency.

Conclusions:

Polyandry mitigates Wolbachia's reproductive costs in Drosophila simulans.
Genetic incompatibilities caused by Wolbachia do not appear to drive the evolution of polyandry.
The study highlights complex interactions between mating strategies and endosymbionts.