Manipulation of feeding regime alters sexual dimorphism for lifespan and reduces sexual conflict in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>.

ABSTRACT: Sexual dimorphism for lifespan (SDL) is widespread, but poorly understood. A leading hypothesis, which we test here, is that strong SDL can reduce sexual conflict by allowing each sex to maximize its sex-specific fitness. We used replicated experimental evolution lines of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, which had been maintained for over 360 generations on either unpredictable 'Random' or predictable 'Regular' feeding regimes. This evolutionary manipulation of feeding regime led to robust, enhanced SDL in Random over control, Regular lines. Enhanced SDL was associated with a significant increase in the fitness of focal males, tested with wild-type (WT) females. This was due to sex-specific changes to male life history, manifested as increased early reproductive output and re

SUBMITTER: Duxbury EML 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5443951 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature