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The timing of mating influences reproductive success in Drosophila melanogaster : implications for sexual conflict
Author(s) -
LONG T. A. F.,
PISCHEDDA A.,
NICHOLS R. V.,
RICE W. R.
Publication year - 2010
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.1420-9101.2010.01973.x
Subject(s) - biology , fecundity , sexual conflict , mating , drosophila melanogaster , context (archaeology) , population , sexual selection , reproductive success , evolutionary biology , zoology , ecology , demography , genetics , paleontology , sociology , gene
Despite its potential importance, the role of the timing of mating(s) as a source of variation in female lifetime reproductive success has been largely overlooked. Here, using a laboratory‐adapted population of the model species Drosophila melanogaster , we explore how temporal variation in the patterns of single and multiple matings influences female fecundity. We find that the boost to fecundity known to occur after a virgin female’s initial mating also extends to subsequent matings as nonvirgins, but only for a short duration. This fecundity boost at least partially offsets the direct costs of multiple matings to females in this population of D. melanogaster . The implications of these results for our understanding of the evolution and maintenance of polyandry in this species are discussed in the context of sexual conflict.