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CRITERIA OF FEMALE MATE CHOICE IN DROSOPHILA LITTORALIS, D. MONTANA , AND D. EZOANA
Author(s) -
Hoikkala Anneli,
Aspi Jouni
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.84
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1558-5646
pISSN - 0014-3820
DOI - 10.1111/j.1558-5646.1993.tb01232.x
Subject(s) - biology , courtship , wing , sexual selection , mate choice , courtship display , drosophila (subgenus) , zoology , range (aeronautics) , selection (genetic algorithm) , demography , mating , genetics , gene , engineering , aerospace engineering , materials science , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , composite material
We examined sexual selection by Drosophila littoralis, D. montana , and D. ezoana females on male courtship sounds to determine whether the females use absolute or relative criteria when choosing their mates. Behavior of the females was observed, when they were courted by a single male producing normal sounds, or by a single wing‐manipulated male producing abnormal sounds; and when they were courted by one or both of these males in a choice situation. The females usually accepted short‐winged (but not wingless) males producing abnormal sounds, if they had no alternatives. However, if they heard the sound produced by a normal male, they rejected the deficient male. Drosophila littoralis and D. ezoana females selected between two wing‐manipulated males with different wing areas. Our results suggest that the females choose their mates on the basis of relative criteria if the signals emitted by the courting males are within the range of acceptable cues.