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Evolution of late‐life fecundity in Drosophila melanogaster
Author(s) -
RAUSER C. L.,
TIERNEY J. J.,
GUNION S. M.,
COVARRUBIAS G. M.,
MUELLER L. D.,
ROSE M. R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2005.00966.x
Subject(s) - fecundity , biology , natural selection , drosophila melanogaster , pleiotropy , evolutionary biology , longevity , zoology , population , drosophila (subgenus) , selection (genetic algorithm) , experimental evolution , ecology , demography , genetics , gene , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , phenotype
Late‐life fecundity has been shown to plateau at late ages in Drosophila analogously to late‐life mortality rates. In this study, we test an evolutionary theory of late life based on the declining force of natural selection that can explain the occurrence of these late‐life plateaus in Drosophila . We also examine the viability of eggs laid by late‐age females and test a population genetic mechanism that may be involved in the evolution of late‐life fecundity: antagonistic pleiotropy. Together these experiments demonstrate that (i) fecundity plateaus at late ages, (ii) plateaus evolve according to the age at which the force of natural selection acting on fecundity reaches zero, (iii) eggs laid by females in late life are viable and (iv) antagonistic pleiotropy is involved in the evolution of late‐life fecundity. This study further supports the evolutionary theory of late life based on the age‐specific force of natural selection.