Multiple sexual selection pressures drive the rapid evolution of complex morphology in a male secondary genital structure.

ABSTRACT: The genitalia of internally fertilizing taxa represent a striking example of rapid morphological evolution. Although sexual selection can shape variation in genital morphology, it has been difficult to test whether multiple sexual selection pressures combine to drive the rapid evolution of individual genital structures. Here, we test the hypothesis that both pre- and postcopulatory sexual selection can act in concert to shape complex structural variation in secondary genital morphology. We genetically modified the size and shape of the posterior lobes of Drosophila melanogaster males and tested the consequences of morphological variation on several reproductive measures. We found that the posterior lobes are necessary for genital coupling and that they are also the targets of multiple post

SUBMITTER: Frazee SR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4667835 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature