A genetic correlation between the sexes for mating speed in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test for a genetic correlation for mating speed between male and female Drosophila melanogaster. Males and females were selected separately for high and low mating speed, and each selection regime was replicated three times. Analysis of the direct response to selection in each generation showed a significant effect in females only. A full assay of the mating speed of males and females of all selected lines and of two samples of the base stock was made in generation 9. This showed a significant direct response to selection in both sexes, largely attributable to evolution in the 'slow' lines. There was also a significant correlated response, with males of the 'fast' female lines and females of the 'fast' male lines showing faster mating speeds than their counterparts from the 'slow' lines. It is not known if selection favours different mating speeds in the two sexes, but the genetic correlation between them would constrain independent evolution of male and female behaviour. © 1992 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.