Interactions Between Density-Dependent and Age-Specific Selection in Drosophila melanogaster

Mueller, Laurence D.; Graves, Joseph L.; Rose, Michael R.

doi:10.2307/2390034

Cited by 66 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Both larval behaviors showed a significant response to density-dependent selection from larval crowding (feeding rate, ref. 35; locomotion while foraging, this study). Indeed, K lines evolved increased larval viability at high densities relative to the r lines (19).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Evolution of foraging behavior inDrosophilaby density-dependent selection

Sokolowski

Pereira²,

Hughes³

1997

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

212

166

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One of the rare examples of a single major gene underlying a naturally occurring behavioral polymorphism is the foraging locus of Drosophila melanogaster. Larvae with the rover allele, for R , have significantly longer foraging path lengths on a yeast paste than do those homozygous for the sitter allele, for s . These variants do not differ in general activity in the absence of food. The evolutionary significance of this polymorphism is not as yet understood. Here we examine the effect of high and low animal rearing densities on the larval foraging path-length phenotype and show that density-dependent natural selection produces changes in this trait. In three unrelated base populations the long path (rover) phenotype was selected for under high-density rearing conditions, whereas the short path (sitter) phenotype was selected for under low-density conditions. Genetic crosses suggested that these changes resulted from alterations in the frequency of the for s allele in the low-density-selected lines. Further experiments showed that density-dependent selection during the larval stage rather than the adult stage of development was sufficient to explain these results. Densitydependent mechanisms may be sufficient to maintain variation in rover and sitter behavior in laboratory populations.Studies of population dynamics have for the most part mistakenly considered the behavior of organisms within a population to be homogeneous (1). However, individual differences in behavior are common and have consequences for the ecology and evolution of populations. A special case of individual differences is behavioral polymorphism, where individuals within a population can be categorized into morphs (phenotypes or strategists) according to their behavior(s). When the polymorphism has a heritable component, the relative selective advantages of the morphs under different environmental conditions can be measured (2). One condition, population density, varies over time and space and plays a significant role in the evolution of characteristics within populations (3). Population density affects a number of processes, for example, predator-prey (4) and parasite-host interactions (5), the spread of disease (6), competition (7), population regulation (8), and territoriality (9). There have been many theoretical studies of density-dependent selection, including those that model its effect on competitive ability (10-13). However, empirical studies that address whether behavioral polymorphisms affect fitness in a density-dependent manner are rare. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is one of the few systems in which we are beginning to have a detailed empirical understanding of density-dependent selection (14-22). It is an ideal model system to study how a genetically characterized polymorphism in behavior responds to density-dependent selection.The rover͞sitter polymorphism in D. melanogaster is a model system that has been used to address both the mechanistic and evolutionary significance of behavioral phenotypes. The locomotio...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 63%

Evolution of foraging behavior inDrosophilaby density-dependent selection

Sokolowski

Pereira²,

Hughes³

1997

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

212

166

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“…A concern exists that the strength of selection at the higher density was insufficient to cause changes in feeding rates in this period of time or to overcome the effects of drift (total population sizes were kept at 500 or greater). Support for this view comes from the work of Mueller et al (69). In another experiment (69), no changes in feeding rates were observed for the first 12 generations when larval densities were kept at about 500 per vial.…”

Section: Experimental Studiesmentioning

confidence: 93%

“…Support for this view comes from the work of Mueller et al (69). In another experiment (69), no changes in feeding rates were observed for the first 12 generations when larval densities were kept at about 500 per vial. However, within a short time of increasing the larval densities to greater than 1000 per vial, feeding rates in the high-density populations increased.…”

Section: Experimental Studiesmentioning

confidence: 93%

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Theoretical and Empirical Examination of Density-Dependent Selection

Mueller

1997

Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst.

179

157

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The development of theory on density-dependent natural selection has seen a transition from very general, logistic growth-based models to theories that incorporate details of specific life histories. This transition has been justified by the need to make predictions that can then be tested experimentally with specific model systems like bacteria or Drosophila. The most general models predict that natural selection should increase density-dependent rates of population growth. When trade-offs exist, those genotypes favored in low-density environments will show reduced per capita growth rates under crowded conditions and vice versa for evolution in crowded environments. This central prediction has been verified twice in carefully controlled experiments with Drosophila. Empirical research in this field has also witnessed a major transition from field-based observations and conjecture to carefully controlled laboratory selection experiments. This change in approach has permitted crucial tests of theories of density-dependent natural selection and a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of adaptation to different levels of population crowding. Experimental research with Drosophila has identified several phenotypes important to adaptation, especially at high larval densities. This same research revealed that an important trade-off occurs between competitive ability and energetic efficiency.

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“…However, studies that compared egg production and adult body size in insects have not provided conclusive results, which usually vary depending on the system under investigation. It was observed that experimental populations of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen kept in laboratory by multiple generations became tolerant to high larval densities, and the females showed small changes in fecundity despite facing intense competition (Mueller et al, 1993;Borash & Ho, 2001). Bol ıvar-Silva et al (2018) also found that the body mass of the beetles Sitophilus granaries (L.) and Sitophilus zeamais (Motschulsky) were higher when their larvae were exposed to contest competition as well as cannibalism.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The interaction effect between intraspecific competition and seed quality on the life‐history traits of the seed‐feeding beetleAcanthoscelides macrophthalmus

Cesar

Rossi

2019

Entomologia Exp Applicata

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It has been shown that intraspecific competition and resource quality may affect life‐history traits of insects, such as body size, fecundity, and survival. However, intraspecific competition and resource quality may interact with each other. The study of such interacting effects is crucial for understanding the influence of these ecological variables on the selection of specific life‐history traits. Here, we investigated whether the interaction between intraspecific larval competition and variation in resource quality affects adult emergence and survival, egg size, fecundity, body size, and sexual size dimorphism (SSD) of the seed‐feeding beetle Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Schaeffer) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae) when infesting Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) De Wit (Fabaceae), its host plant. In the laboratory, beetles were reared on seeds that differed in quality (e.g., different hardness, seed size, water content), in the presence or absence of larval competition. Body size and SSD did not differ between treatments (with and without competition), nor were they affected by varying resource quality. Females subjected to competition during the larval stage and females emerging from seeds of higher quality, displayed the highest fecundity. The proportion of emergent adults was higher in the absence of competition. In addition, larger eggs were laid on the low‐quality resource in the absence of competition, showing a trade‐off between egg size and egg number. Adult survival differed among treatments and resource qualities, suggesting a higher investment in adult survival for individuals emerging from seeds of low quality in the presence of competition. Whether changes in specific traits could be selected for in detriment of others will depend on the strength of intraspecific competition, the variation in resource quality, and the plasticity in the life‐history traits investigated. This needs further clarification.

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Interactions Between Density-Dependent and Age-Specific Selection in Drosophila melanogaster

Cited by 66 publications

References 36 publications

Evolution of foraging behavior inDrosophilaby density-dependent selection

Evolution of foraging behavior inDrosophilaby density-dependent selection

Theoretical and Empirical Examination of Density-Dependent Selection

The interaction effect between intraspecific competition and seed quality on the life‐history traits of the seed‐feeding beetleAcanthoscelides macrophthalmus

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