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Sex peptide receptor-regulated polyandry modulates the balance of pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection in Drosophila

Author

Listed:
  • Juliano Morimoto

    (University of Oxford
    Macquarie University
    Universidade Federal do Paraná)

  • Grant C. McDonald

    (University of Oxford)

  • Emelia Smith

    (University of Oxford)

  • Damian T. Smith

    (University of East Anglia)

  • Jennifer C. Perry

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

  • Tracey Chapman

    (University of East Anglia)

  • Tommaso Pizzari

    (University of Oxford)

  • Stuart Wigby

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

Polyandry prolongs sexual selection on males by forcing ejaculates to compete for fertilisation. Recent theory predicts that increasing polyandry may weaken pre-copulatory sexual selection on males and increase the relative importance of post-copulatory sexual selection, but experimental tests of this prediction are lacking. Here, we manipulate the polyandry levels in groups of Drosophila melanogaster by deletion of the female sex peptide receptor. We show that groups in which the sex-peptide-receptor is absent in females (SPR-) have higher polyandry, and – as a result – weaker pre-copulatory sexual selection on male mating success, compared to controls. Post-copulatory selection on male paternity share is relatively more important in SPR- groups, where males gain additional paternity by mating repeatedly with the same females. These results provide experimental evidence that elevated polyandry weakens pre-copulatory sexual selection on males, shifts selection to post-copulatory events, and that the sex peptide pathway can play a key role in modulating this process in Drosophila.

Suggested Citation

  • Juliano Morimoto & Grant C. McDonald & Emelia Smith & Damian T. Smith & Jennifer C. Perry & Tracey Chapman & Tommaso Pizzari & Stuart Wigby, 2019. "Sex peptide receptor-regulated polyandry modulates the balance of pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection in Drosophila," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-08113-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08113-w
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    Cited by:

    1. E V(Ginny) Greenway & Jennifer A Hamel & Christine W Miller, 2021. "Exploring the effects of extreme polyandry on estimates of sexual selection and reproductive success," Behavioral Ecology, International Society for Behavioral Ecology, vol. 32(6), pages 1055-1063.
    2. Rômulo Carleial & Tommaso Pizzari & David S. Richardson & Grant C. McDonald, 2023. "Disentangling the causes of temporal variation in the opportunity for sexual selection," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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