Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Density, frequency and interspecific competition: Fertility ofDrosophila simulans andDrosophila melanogaster

  • Published:
Oecologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

For one stock ofD. simulans and two stocks ofD. melanogaster the percentage of females that produced viable progeny (i.e. percent fertility) was measured at two female ages (50 and 72 hrs), for all combinations of six densities (20, 40, 80, 160, 320, 640 individuals) and three species frequencies (20, 80, 100%). Significant differences were recorded between species and betweenD. melanogaster stocks. Increasing density significantly reduced fertility forD. simulans but not for either of theD. melanogaster stocks. Although species frequency had no effect, the associated stock ofD. melanogaster influencedD. simulans fertility to a high degree—theOr-R-C stock reducingD. simulans fertility because of physical interference, this interference being particularly evident at low densities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barker, J.S.F.: Adult population density, fecundity and productivity inDrosophila melanogaster andDrosophila simulans. Oecologia (Berl.)11, 83–92 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Bastock, M.: A gene mutation which changes a behaviour pattern. Evolution10, 421–439 (1956)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnet, B., Connolly, K., Beck, J.: Phenogenetic studies on visual acuity inDrosophila melanogaster. J. Insect. Physiol.14, 855–860 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnet, B., Connolly, K., Dennis, L.: The function and processing of auditory information in the courtship behaviour ofDrosophila melanogaster. Anim. Behav.19, 409–415 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Claringbold, P.J., Barker, J.S.F.: The estimation of relative fitness ofDrosophila populations. J. theor. Biol.1, 190–203 (1961)

    Google Scholar 

  • Connolly, K., Burnet, B., Sewell, D.: Selective mating and eye pigmentation. An analysis of the visual component in the courtship behaviour ofDrosophil melanogaster. Evolution23, 548–559 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Crossley, S., Zuill, E.: Courtship behaviour of someDrosophila melanogaster mutants. Nature (Lond.)225, 1064–1065 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilliland, F. R., Jr., Davich, T. B.: Influence of population density on mating behaviour of chemosterilised, untreated, or over-wintered boll weevils,Anthonomus grandis. Ann, entomol. Soc. Amer.61, 834–836 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardeland, R.: Lighting conditions and mating behaviour inDrosophila. Amer. Naturalist105, 198–200 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosgood, S.M.W., Parsons, P.A.: Mating speed differences between Australian populations ofDrosophila melanogaster. Genetica36, 260–266 (1965)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hosgood, S. M. W., Parsons, P. A.: Genetic heterogeneity among the founders of laboratory populations ofDrosophila melanogaster. II. Mating behaviour. Aust. J. biol. Sci.20, 1193–1203 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Koref-Santibanez, S., Iturra, P.: Adult density and mating activity inDrosophila gaucha andDrosophila pavani. Drosoph. Inf. Serv.46, 103–104 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • LeCato, G.L., III, Pienkowski, R. L.: Frequency and duration of mounting and copulation by the Alfalfa weevil in the laboratory. Ann. entomol. Soc. Amer.63, 1548–1552 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons, P. A., Kaul, D.: Variability within and between strains for mating behaviour parameters inDrosophila pseudoobscura. Experientia (Basel)23, 131–132 (1967)

    Google Scholar 

  • Shorey, H. H., Bartell, R. J.: Role of a volatile female sex pheromone in stimulating male courtship behaviour inDrosophila melanogaster. Anim. Behav.18, 159–164 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiess, E. B.: Courtship and mating time inDrosophila pseudoobscura. Anim. Behav.16, 470–479 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiess, E. B., Langer, B.: Mating speed control by gene arrangements inDrosophila pseudoobscura homokaryotypes. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.)51, 1015–1019 (1964)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiess, E. B., Sherwin, R. N., Yacher, T.: Mating propensity of gene arrangement carriers from a Redwoods population ofDrosophila persimilis. Evolution25, 461–470 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiess, E. B., Spiess, L. D.: Mating propensity, chromosomal polymorphism, and dependent conditions inDrosophila persimilis. II. Factors between larvae and between adults. Evolution23, 225–236 (1969)

    Google Scholar 

  • Spieth, H. T., Hsu, T. C.: The influence of light on the mating behaviour of seven species of theDrosophila melanogaster species group. Evolution4, 316–325 (1950)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal Husbandry, University of Sydney, 2006, Sydney, N.S.W., Australia

    J. J. Moth

Authors
  1. J. J. Moth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Moth, J.J. Density, frequency and interspecific competition: Fertility ofDrosophila simulans andDrosophila melanogaster . Oecologia 14, 237–246 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01039795

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01039795

Keywords

Search

Navigation