Geographic divergence and sexual behaviour: Comparison of mating systems in French and afrotropical populations of Drosophila melanogaster

✍ Scribed by Y. Cohet; J. R. David

• Book ID: 104624488
• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 1980
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 315 KB
• Volume: 54
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-6707
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00055986

✦ Synopsis

Strong sexual selection but no reproductive isolation was observed in experimental matings between French and Afrotropical populations of Drosophila melanogaster. African males, although smaller, were sexually more active than French males and showed a clear selective advantage. On the other hand, European females were much more receptive than African females. These differences may be considered as adaptations to environmental conditions. In the tropics, many similar and related species are sympatric so that reinforcement of courtship before copulation is likely to occur, preventing hybridization. In temperate populations, interspecific competition is generally absent and greater female receptivity provides a selective advantage.