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A Method to Test the Effect of Environmental Cues on Mating Behavior in Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: July 17, 2017
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ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON REMATING IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER
Lawrence G Harshman1, Ary A Hoffmann2, Timothy Prout1
1Department of Genetics and Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616.
Summary
Environmental factors like food availability and population density significantly influence fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) remating frequency. Food absence reduces remating until stored sperm are depleted, impacting population dynamics.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Reproductive Biology
- Entomology
Background:
- Remating behavior in insects is crucial for reproductive success and population dynamics.
- Environmental factors are known to influence various aspects of insect reproduction, but their specific impact on remating requires detailed investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct effects of environmental factors, specifically density and food availability, on the remating frequency of Drosophila melanogaster.
- To determine how these factors interact with sperm storage and depletion in female fruit flies.
Main Methods:
- Experimental manipulation of population density and food availability for Drosophila melanogaster.
- Observation and quantification of female remating frequency across different environmental conditions and fly strains.
- Assessment of the role of stored sperm in influencing remating likelihood.
Main Results:
- Remating frequency was strain-dependent regarding density effects, with some combinations unaffected and others showing reduced remating at low densities.
- Absence of food or prevention of food contact significantly reduced remating likelihood until females depleted their stored sperm.
- Food availability had minimal impact on remating once sperm stores were depleted and did not affect initial virgin mating frequency.
Conclusions:
- Environmental factors, particularly food availability, exert a substantial direct influence on the frequency of remating in Drosophila melanogaster populations.
- The interplay between food resources, sperm storage, and remating behavior highlights the ecological modulation of reproductive strategies.
