Age-based mate choice in the monandrous fruit fly Drosophila subobscura

摘要: Choosing the right mate can be critical to fitness, particularly for females of species that only once. One key trait by which choose mates is male age. However, while some theories predict should prefer older males, others exactly opposite. The evidence also mixed, with preferring males in species, and younger others. Here we examined female preference age a monandrous fruit fly Drosophila subobscura. We found consistent four populations, from U.K., Greece, Spain Tunisia. Preference was weaker trials two were presented than single-male trials. This probably driven direct benefits: mated produced more offspring. As this monandrous, it very likely increase offspring production genuine male-derived benefit, rather laying eggs after mating preferred male. Previous work suggests male–male interactions prior have major impact on behaviour success other Drosophila. varying effects exposure rival but general suffered when exposed males. study age-based across populations different environments, even those differ mating-related traits such as copulation duration.