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Experimental evolution of color preference for oviposition in Drosophila melanogaster

Author

Listed:
  • Mellissa Marcus

    (University of Missouri, St. Louis)

  • Terence C. Burnham

    (Chapman University)

  • David W. Stephens

    (College of Biological Sciences, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities)

  • Aimee S. Dunlap

    (University of Missouri, St. Louis)

Abstract

Preferences are the foundation of economics. Preferences are taken by economists as fixed by some implicitly biological process. In recent decades, behavioral economics has documented the divergence between the nature of human preferences and the assumptions of standard economics. In this study, we use the tool of experimental evolution to study the evolution of color preferences in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). In particular, we select for a preference for laying eggs on the color aqua. We find that the flies evolve to lay more than twice as many eggs on aqua. However, this evolution occurs entirely because the flies lay more eggs overall. The flies in this study, do not evolve to lay a higher percentage of eggs on the selected color, aqua.

Suggested Citation

  • Mellissa Marcus & Terence C. Burnham & David W. Stephens & Aimee S. Dunlap, 2018. "Experimental evolution of color preference for oviposition in Drosophila melanogaster," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 125-140, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbioec:v:20:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s10818-017-9261-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s10818-017-9261-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael Travisano & Michihisa Maeda & Fumie Fuji & Toshiaki Kudo, 2018. "Rapid adaptation to near extinction in microbial experimental evolution," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 141-152, April.

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