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Mating success depends on rearing substrate in cactophilic Drosophila

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Abstract

Drosophila buzzatii and D. koepferae coexist in the arid lands of southern South America and exploit different types of cactus as breeding hosts. The former prefers to lay eggs on the rotting pads of prickly pears (genus Opuntia) whereas D. koepferae exhibits greater acceptance for columnar cacti (e.g., Echinopsis terschekii). Here, we demonstrate that the rearing cacti affect male mating success, flies reared in each species’ preferred host exhibited enhanced mating success than those raised in secondary hosts. Opuntia sulphurea medium endows D. buzzatii males with greater mating ability while D. koepferae males perform better when flies develop in Echinopsis terschekii. These effects are not mediated through body size, even in D. buzzatii whose body size happens to be affected by the rearing cacti. This scenario, which is consistent with the evolution of host specialization and speciation through sensory drive, emphasizes the importance of habitat isolation in the coexistence of these cactophilic Drosophila.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank R. Sampayo and members of the lab for comments that helped in different stages of the work reported herein. The comments, suggestions and constructive criticisms of J. Endler, J. Hunt and two anonymous reviewers helped to improve previous versions of this paper. This work was supported with ANPCyT, CONICET and UBA grants. Juan Hurtado and Eduardo Soto are recipients of scholarships awarded by CONICET and Esteban Hasson is fellow of CONICET (Argentina).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Juan Hurtado, Eduardo M. Soto & Esteban Hasson

  2. Instituto de Cálculo, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Universitaria, Pabellón II, C1428EGA, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Liliana Orellana

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  1. Juan Hurtado
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  2. Eduardo M. Soto
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  3. Liliana Orellana
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  4. Esteban Hasson
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Correspondence to Juan Hurtado.

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Hurtado, J., Soto, E.M., Orellana, L. et al. Mating success depends on rearing substrate in cactophilic Drosophila . Evol Ecol 26, 733–743 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-011-9529-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10682-011-9529-z

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