The condition-dependence of male genital size and shape.

ABSTRACT: The male genitals of internal fertilisers evolve rapidly and divergently, and sexual selection is generally responsible for this. Many sexually selected traits are condition-dependent-with their expression dependent upon the resources available to be allocated to them-as revealed by genetic or environmental manipulations of condition. However, it is not clear whether male genitals are also condition-dependent. Here we manipulate condition in two ways (via inbreeding and diet) to test the condition-dependence of the genital arch of Drosophila simulans. We found that genital size but not genital shape suffered from inbreeding depression, whereas genital size and shape were affected by dietary manipulation of condition. The differential effects of these treatments likely reflect underl

SUBMITTER: Pennell TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10944674 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature