Open AccessFluctuating asymmetry and sexual selection in the Mediterranean fruitfly (Diptera, Tephritidae)
Author(s) -
Hunt Melanie K.,
Crean Caroline S.,
Wood Roger J.,
Gilburn André S.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
biological journal of the linnean society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.906
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1095-8312
pISSN - 0024-4066
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8312.1998.tb00339.x
Subject(s) - biology , sexual selection , seta , trait , mating , fluctuating asymmetry , mate choice , tephritidae , sexual conflict , ceratitis capitata , selection (genetic algorithm) , sexual dimorphism , zoology , reproductive success , evolutionary biology , ecology , demography , population , pest analysis , botany , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , genus , programming language
Sexual selection is known to operate at medfly leks with a few males gaining a high proportion of matings. However, specific male characteristics subject to sexual selection have not been identified. Here we report laboratory studies indicating that directional sexual selection operates on the level of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in the superior frontal orbital setae (sex setae), with symmetrical males gaining more matings. Studies relating mating success with FA in a male trait have generally been taken as evidence of the operation of indirect sexual selection. For a male trait to acts as a reliable indicator of fitness, FA in the male trait should be negatively associated with trait size and females should mate with the males with the most exaggerated form of the trait. However no association was found between seta FA and mean seta length. In addition sexual selection did not appear to operate on mean trait size, although males with an intermediate sex seta to wing length ratio did achieve higher mating success, indicating that stabilizing sexual selection operates on this relative dimension. It is suggested that differences in male competitive ability may provide an alternative explanation of how such associations between mating success and FA in male characteristics can arise.