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Published on: August 22, 2013
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Sexual selection on wing interference patterns in Drosophila melanogaster.
Natsu Katayama1, Jessica K Abbott2, Jostein Kjærandsen3
1Department of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Japan Women's University, Tokyo 112-8681, Japan;
Summary
Male fruit flies with more vivid wing colors are preferred by females, demonstrating sexual selection on wing interference patterns (WIPs). This study reveals how color saturation and hue influence mate choice in Drosophila melanogaster.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Animal behavior
- Genetics
Background:
- Color vision plays a role in animal communication and the evolution of traits through natural and sexual selection.
- Transparent insect wings can display structural color patterns (WIPs) in certain light conditions.
- The function of WIPs in sexual selection among small insects has been hypothesized but not experimentally verified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide the first experimental evidence that wing interference patterns (WIPs) in male Drosophila melanogaster are targets of female mate choice.
- To investigate the effects of color saturation and hue of WIPs on male attractiveness to females.
- To explore the role of sexual selection on different color components (saturation and hue) in Drosophila mating.
Main Methods:
- Utilized isogenic lines from the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel.
- Compared the attractiveness of male WIPs against black and white visual backgrounds.
- Quantified female preference based on male wing color traits.
Main Results:
- Males with more vivid wings were found to be more attractive to females than males with duller wings.
- Females showed a preference for wings with a larger magenta area (intermediate hue values) over those with large blue or yellow areas.
- Saturation of WIPs experienced directional sexual selection, while hue experienced stabilizing sexual selection.
Conclusions:
- Wing interference patterns (WIPs) in Drosophila melanogaster serve as visual signals targeted by female mate choice.
- Both color saturation and hue of WIPs are significant components of sexual selection in this species.
- These findings integrate sexual selection with genetics and evolutionary developmental biology, with potential applications to other small insects with hyaline wings.
