Data om upprepade parningar hos Drosophila melanogaster stödjer Batemans principer
Year: 2026
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Angus John Bateman has been highly influential in the field of sexual selection theory after his experiment with Drosophila melanogaster which provided support for Darwinian sex roles, i.e., that males are eager to mate whereas females are more selective in their choice of mates. However, his experimental approach has received substantial criticism, and his conclusions have therefore also been questioned. Natasha Davies re-designed Bateman’s experimental approach to address some of these limitations, however, they obtained limited data on how multiple female matings affect female reproductive success. This study aimed to extend Davies’ method to obtain more extensive multiple female mating data and test whether the Bateman’s principles still hold. The observation period of this study was extended from one day to three days allowing periods of respite for females between observation periods. A correlation between mating success and reproductive success was found for males but not for females. The sexual selection metrics opportunity for selection (I), opportunity for sexual selection (Is), the maximum standardized selection differential (s’max) and steepness of Bateman gradient (ßss) were all higher in males, indicating a stronger selection in D. melanogaster males. Male reproductive success was more strongly influenced by precopulatory processes than postcopulatory processes. These results support Bateman’s original conclusions and principles that (i) mating success varies more in males, (ii) reproductive success varies more in males, and (iii) males exhibit a stronger Bateman gradient.
Author: Wang, Nathalie
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7221845337
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