Open AccessGenetic influence on foraging behaviour in Drosophila melanogaster larvaez
Author(s) -
ANDERSSO AGNETA
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
hereditas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1601-5223
pISSN - 0018-0661
DOI - 10.1111/j.1601-5223.1986.tb00666.x
Subject(s) - biology , heritability , foraging , drosophila melanogaster , offspring , preference , selection (genetic algorithm) , drosophila (subgenus) , zoology , natural selection , optimal foraging theory , evolutionary biology , genetics , ecology , statistics , gene , pregnancy , mathematics , artificial intelligence , computer science
One of the basic tenets of optimization theories is that natural selection acts on animal behaviour so as tomaximize fitness, i. e., there must be a genetic influence on the behaviour. In this investigation two hypotheses which are parts of “The optimal foraging theory” were tested, viz. that animals are able to choose between different types of food, and that diet choice is heritable. Drosophila melanogaster larvae were allowed to choose between two different kinds of food. In some of the strains tested a food preference was seen. Two such strains with differing habits were crossed, and the regression of offspring on mid‐parent was estimated. The offspring diet choice was positively correlated with the parents' diet choice, r=0.246. The value of the estimated heritability was h 2 =b op =0.14±0.03 (SE).