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MATING PROPENSITY AND COURTSHIP BEHAVIOR IN SERIALLY BOTTLENECKED LINES OF THE HOUSEFLY
Lisa M Meffert1, Edwin H Bryant1
1Department of Biology, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-5513, USA.
Summary
Population bottlenecks in houseflies caused significant divergence in courtship behavior and mating propensity. This differentiation can lead to premating isolation without debilitating fitness, challenging existing evolutionary models.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Biology
- Behavioral Ecology
- Population Genetics
Background:
- Population bottlenecks are critical in evolutionary processes, potentially driving genetic divergence and speciation.
- Courtship behavior plays a vital role in reproductive isolation, a key factor in speciation.
- Previous research suggests bottlenecks can impact mating behavior, but the precise mechanisms and extent of divergence require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of population bottlenecks in inducing divergence in courtship behavior and premating isolation in houseflies.
- To test the Kaneshiro model's predictions regarding female discrimination against males with altered courtship repertoires.
- To explore the role of intrinsic variation partitioning in driving divergence patterns.
Main Methods:
- Serial founder-flush population bottleneck experiments with three distinct sizes (1, 4, or 16 pairs) were conducted on a laboratory housefly population.
- Following five bottleneck episodes, intraline and interline crosses were performed to assess mating propensities and assortative mating.
- Courtship repertoires were analyzed using videotaped interactions to detect behavioral changes.
Main Results:
- All bottleneck lines exhibited significant divergence from the control population in male and/or female mating propensity and courtship behavior.
- Divergence was bidirectional for mating propensities and courtship element utilization.
- The Kaneshiro model was not generally supported, as some bottleneck lines showed increased courtship complexity, and decreased complexity correlated with higher male mating success.
Conclusions:
- Population bottlenecks can induce significant, non-debilitating differentiation in courtship behavior, leading to divergent mating propensities and premating isolation.
- Bottlenecks appear to partition intrinsic variation in courtship patterns, influencing divergence direction.
- The observed divergence patterns suggest that evolutionary trajectories may not always be constrained by the intercorrelation structure of ancestral behaviors.
