The Developmental Environment Mediates Adult Seminal Proteome Allocation in Male Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT: Early life conditions can have long-lasting effects on fitness. In insects, larval crowding increases intraspecific competition, shaping adult phenotypes and influencing male reproductive success in pre- and post-mating competition. Although some larval crowding effects on seminal fluid protein (Sfp) allocation are known, studies often focus on a small subset of Sfps and overlook male-female interactions. A comprehensive understanding of how male and female larval environments interact to influence seminal proteome composition and transfer is still lacking. Here, we manipulated Drosophila melanogaster larval crowding (low vs. high) to generate large and small adults and mated individuals in a fully factorial design. We then measured Sfp production, composition and transfer. Large males pro

SUBMITTER: von Hellfeld R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12530297 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature