The mating 'gifts' of D. melanogaster males: functions and fitness effects of male seminal fluid accessory gland proteins
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Biological Sciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Technical Summary
Male D. melanogaster fruitflies transfer accessory gland proteins (Acps) together with sperm at mating. These Acps have striking effects on male and female fitness and are subject to unusually strong natural selection. This system therefore provides a unique model of adaptive evolution at the genetic level. We aim to investigate the evolutionary and functional significance of Acps by using existing, and by creating new Acp mutant strains and testing them in rigorously defined, large-scale fitness assays. We will test which sex benefits from the transfer of Acps, test directly for the involvement of Acps in sperm competition, test the extent of functional redundancy between Acps and test the effect of the presence of sperm on the magnitude of responses to Acps.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Tracey Chapman (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Bretman A
(2013)
Costs and benefits of lifetime exposure to mating rivals in male Drosophila melanogaster.
in Evolution; international journal of organic evolution
Bretman A
(2010)
A mating plug protein reduces early female remating in Drosophila melanogaster
in Journal of Insect Physiology
Bretman A
(2009)
Plastic responses of male Drosophila melanogaster to the level of sperm competition increase male reproductive fitness.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
Bretman A
(2013)
Male control of mating duration following exposure to rivals in fruitflies
in Journal of Insect Physiology
Bretman A
(2016)
Effect of competitive cues on reproductive morphology and behavioral plasticity in male fruitflies.
in Behavioral ecology : official journal of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology
Westneat, David; Fox, Charles
(2010)
Evolutionary Behavioral Ecology
Wigby S
(2009)
Seminal fluid protein allocation and male reproductive success.
in Current biology : CB
| Description | The grant contributed significantly to our understanding of how males respond to their rivals. We discovered that males detect the presence of rivals and adaptively extend their mating duration when they mate with a female. In these extended matings males achieve higher fertility. We determined the length of time it takes a male to detect rivals and the sensory inputs they use to do so. We also discovered that males are highly flexible in these behavioural adjustments. The results are important as they contribute to our understanding of how males adjust to their social and sexual environment and they suggest general rules about how this can occur. |
| Exploitation Route | We were successful in gaining further funding to investigate the mechanistic underpinnings of this work. The findings suggests general rules about how individuals separate behavioural noise from signals to which they must respond in order to be successful. |
| Sectors | Environment |
| Description | media interviews - mating plug paper |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | talk sparked interest Further interviews |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2009 |