Divergence of responses to variable socio‐sexual environments in laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster evolving under altered operational sex ratios

• DOI: 10.1111/evo.14138
• Publication Date: 2020-12-15T17:50:48Z
• Authors: Komal Maggu; Neetika Ahlawat; Manas Geeta Arun; Abhishek Meena; Nagaraj Guru Prasad
• Keywords: Experimental Evolution; Antagonistic Coevolution; Operational sex ratio; Parental investment

Post-copulatory sexual selection (PSS) is an important selective force that determines fitness in polyandrous species. PSS can be intense some cases and drive the evolution of remarkable ejaculate properties. In males, investment plays role outcome PSS. Thus, males are expected to adaptively tailor their according perceived competition vicinity. Plastic responses variation intrasexual disparate widespread males. We investigated plasticity reproductive traits using Drosophila melanogaster populations evolving for more than 150 generations under male- or female-biased sex ratios. When exposed different numbers competitors early life, from these two regimes responded differently terms copulation duration sperm competitive ability. addition, effect this life experience wore off at rates male-biased with increasing time removal cues. Furthermore, our study finds change strategies depending upon identity rival Together, results provide evidence male depends on socio-sexual cues experienced life.