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Behavioral Sequence Leading to Sexual Isolation Between Drosophila ananassae and D. pallidosa

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Abstract

Drosophila ananassae and D. pallidosa are closely related, sympatric species that lack postmating isolation. Sexual isolation has been considered important in maintaining them as independent species. To clarify the behavioral processes leading to sexual isolation, we analyzed behavioral sequences and examined the effect of courtship song on mating success and on behaviors of both sexes by surgically removing male wings (song generators), female aristae (song receivers), or female wings (means of fluttering). We found that heterospecific courtship songs evoked female wing fluttering, whereas conspecific courtship song did not. Furthermore, female wing fluttering made courting males discontinue courtship. These findings suggest that strong sexual isolation is achieved through the following behavioral sequence: heterospecific song→female wing fluttering→courtship discontinuation.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr Y. N. Tobari for providing strains and helpful comments and Dr M. G. Ritchie and anonymous reviewers for kindly providing valuable comments on the manuscript. This research was supported by Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Priority Areas from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to YO. MM also thanks National Bio-Resource Project (NBRP) of MEXT for supporting him for Drosophila resources.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8572, Japan

    Hirokazu Yamada & Yuzuru Oguma

  2. Drosophila Genetic Resource Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Saga Ippongi-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, 616-8354, Japan

    Masatoshi Tomaru

  3. Department of Biology, School of Medicine, Kyorin University, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka, Tokyo, 181-8611, Japan

    Muneo Matsuda

  4. Program for Genetic Resource Education and Development, Drosophila Genetic Resource Center, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Saga Ippongi-cho, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, 616-8354, Japan

    Hirokazu Yamada

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  1. Hirokazu Yamada
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  2. Masatoshi Tomaru
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  3. Muneo Matsuda
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  4. Yuzuru Oguma
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Correspondence to Hirokazu Yamada.

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Yamada, H., Tomaru, M., Matsuda, M. et al. Behavioral Sequence Leading to Sexual Isolation Between Drosophila ananassae and D. pallidosa . J Insect Behav 21, 222–239 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-008-9122-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10905-008-9122-7

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