Intra- and intergenotypic competition inDrosophila melanogaster: effects of density on larval survival and rate of development

✍ Scribed by A. Moya; F. González-Candelas; F. J. Ayala

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 543 KB
• Volume: 70
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-6707
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00123215

✦ Synopsis

We have examined the effects of density and frequency in the larval competition of Drosophila melanogaster by measuring three fitness components: viability (V), mean development time (MDT) and a combination of these two (E). We have detected (contrary to most published results) non-linear effects of density in single-genotype cultures; in addition, different functions are required to describe the density effects below and above the optimal density. Frequency has also non-linear effects in the two-genotype cultures. Only one polymorphic equilibrium frequency, which is stable, occurs with respect to V; but two polymorphic equilibria, one stable and one unstable, exist with respect to E. The responses in single-genotype cultures do not allow one to predict the outcome of the competition in two-genotype cultures.