biostudies-literatureBretman AUniversity of LeedsFaculty of Biological Sciences PhD scholarshipNatural Environment Research CouncilBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council9247-9256https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5696429biostudies-literatureUnknown7(22)Complex sets of cues can be important in recognizing and responding to conspecific mating competitors and avoiding potentially costly heterospecific competitive interactions. Within <i>Drosophila melanogaste</i>r, males can detect sensory inputs from conspecifics to assess the level of competition. They respond to rivals by significantly extending mating duration and gain significant fitness benefits from doing so. Here, we tested the idea that the multiple sensory cues used by <i>D. melanogaster</i> males to detect conspecifics also function to minimize "off-target" responses to heterospecific males that they might encounter (<i>Drosophila simulans, Drosophila yakuba, Drosophila pseudoobscura,</i> or <i>Drosophila virilis</i>). Focal <i>D. melanogaster</i> males exposed to <i>D. simulans<Ecology and evolutionThe role of species-specific sensory cues in male responses to mating rivals in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> fruitflies.PMC5696429BB/H002499/1BB/L003139/1NE/J024244/1Westmancoat JDBretman AChapman TRouse JfalseThe role of species-specific sensory cues in male responses to mating rivals in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> fruitflies.Complex sets of cues can be important in recognizing and responding to conspecific mating competitors and avoiding potentially costly heterospecific competitive interactions. Within <i>Drosophila melanogaste</i>r, males can detect sensory inputs from conspecifics to assess the level of competition. They respond to rivals by significantly extending mating duration and gain significant fitness benefits from doing so. Here, we tested the idea that the multiple sensory cues used by <i>D. melanogaster</i> males to detect conspecifics also function to minimize "off-target" responses to heterospecific males that they might encounter (<i>Drosophila simulans, Drosophila yakuba, Drosophila pseudoobscura,</i> or <i>Drosophila virilis</i>). Focal <i>D. melanogaster</i> males exposed to <i>D. simulans<2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Nov2025-04-04T14:10:20.883Z2019-06-06T18:28:27ZS-EPMC56964292918796510.1002/ece3.3455