Condition-dependent signalling of genetic variation in stalk-eyed flies (original) (raw)

Nature volume 406, pages 186–188 (2000)Cite this article

Abstract

Handicap models of sexual selection predict that male sexual ornaments have strong condition-dependent expression and this allows females to evaluate male genetic quality1,2,3,4,5. A number of previous experiments have demonstrated heightened condition-dependence of sexual ornaments in response to environmental stress6,7,8,9. Here we show that genetic variation underlies the response to environmental stress (variable food quality) of a sexual ornament (male eye span) in the stalk-eyed fly Cyrtodiopsis dalmanni. Some male genotypes develop large eye span under all conditions, whereas other genotypes progressively reduce eye span as conditions deteriorate. Several non-sexual traits (female eye span, male and female wing length) also show genetic variation in condition-dependent expression, but their genetic response is entirely explained by scaling with body size. In contrast, the male sexual ornament still reveals genetic variation in the response to environmental stress after accounting for differences in body size. These results strongly support the hypothesis that female mate choice yields genetic benefits for offspring.

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Figure 1: Genotypic responses for absolute male and female eye span in corn, spinach and cotton-wool environments.

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Figure 2: Genotypic responses for relative male and female eye span across the three environments.

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Acknowledgements

We thank T. Chapman and G. Hurst for comments, and A. Hingle for help in rearing fly stocks. This work was supported by Royal Society university research fellowships (K.F. and A.P.) and the NERC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, The Galton Laboratory, University College London, 4 Stephenson Way, London, NW1 2HE, UK
    Patrice David, Tracey Bjorksten, Kevin Fowler & Andrew Pomiankowski
  2. CEFE-CNRS, 1919 route de Mende, Montpellier, 34293 Cedex 05, France
    Patrice David
  3. Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, 80523, Colorado, USA
    Tracey Bjorksten

Authors

  1. Patrice David
  2. Tracey Bjorksten
  3. Kevin Fowler
  4. Andrew Pomiankowski

Corresponding author

Correspondence toAndrew Pomiankowski.

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David, P., Bjorksten, T., Fowler, K. et al. Condition-dependent signalling of genetic variation in stalk-eyed flies .Nature 406, 186–188 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35018079

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