Can we predict the mating pattern of Drosophila females from the sperm length distribution in males?
Bressac, C.; Joly, D.; Devaux, J.; Lachaise, D.
Experientia 47(1): 111-114
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0014-4754 PMID: 1999238 Document Number: 374149
In order to test the validity of the prediction of the mating pattern of females from the sperm length distribution in males, 3 species of Drosophila were analysed. Males in 3 species were equally polygynous but females differed in the degree of polyandry. A 'low recurrence polyandry' was observed in the sperm dimorphic species D. affinis while a 'high recurrence polyandry' was observed in the sperm monomorphic species D. latifasciaeformis and D. littoralis. The results are consistent with the hypothesis proposed previously that sperm dimorphism in males can only be maintained by a selective alternative in females (i.e. facultative female polygamy), whereas a stricter mating system (e.g. 'obligatory' polyandry) should only result in sperm monomorphism irrespective of the absolute value of sperm length.