Mating behavior in seaweed flies (Coelopa frigida)

The willingness to mate of pairs of seaweed flies (Coelopa frigida) was measured using a stock known not to exhibit female mate choice with respect to a chromosomal inversion. Mating success was strongly correlated with the size of the female, but not at all with male size. Mating success was not associated with the size difference between the male and female in a pair, except when the male was considerably larger than the female, when mating success was reduced. The components of mating behaviour were quantified during slow-playback of video recordings. Both the mount rate and the proportion of mounts ending in female rejection were positively correlated with female size, and a strong negative correlation was found between female size and the rate of male dismounting. This lower rate of dismounting from large females may be the consequence of a male preference for large females and could account for their greater mating success. The higher rejection rate exhibited by large females, particularly of males much smaller than themselves, may be the manifestation of female choice for large males. Both sexes appear to prefer large mates. In trials involving many animals male mate choice is either weaker or is masked by other effects. The evolutionary significance of male mate choice and its interactions with other components of mating behaviour are discussed.

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“…The video recording of mating behaviour was as described by Day et al (1989) except that trials were of 45 minutes duration.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult size and mate choice in seaweed flies (Coelopa frigida)

et al. 1990

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“…The female rejection response involving kicking, wing lifting, abdominal curling and eventually lateral rolling of the complete body has been described elsewhere (Day et a!., 1988). We now enquired whether any relationship exists between the Adh locus and female rejection, and if so, whether it could contribute to the pattern of mating success observed in pair trials.…”

Section: Female Rejection Of Malesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic differences in mating success and female choice in seaweed flies (Coelopa frigida)

1989

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“…(Coelopidae) so far studied exhibit pre-mating struggles (Day et al 1990; Crean & 56 Gilburn 1998;Crean et al 2000). Coelopids can be found inhabiting accumulations of 57 detached seaweed deposited on the seashore after high tides or stormy weather, 58 known as wrack beds.…”

Section: Correspondence: Dominic Edward School Of Biological and Envmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Male harassment invariably results in a pre-mating struggle during which the female 64 will attempt to reject the male with a combination of shaking and kicking movements, 65 whilst at the same time curling her abdomen downwards to prevent genital contact 66 (Day et al 1990 Laminaria. Dobson (1974) reported that C. frigida could be bred more successfully on 80…”

Section: Lay Summarymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Seaweed also induces oviposition in females, but otherwise does not 61 influence female reproductive behaviour, with a consistent rejection response being 62 maintained irrespective of the presence or absence of seaweed (Dunn et al 2002). 63Male harassment invariably results in a pre-mating struggle during which the female 64 4 will attempt to reject the male with a combination of shaking and kicking movements, 65 whilst at the same time curling her abdomen downwards to prevent genital contact 66 (Day et al 1990). Thus, the presence of seaweed increases the frequency of pre-67 mating struggles within a population of coelopids.…”

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confidence: 99%

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The effect of habitat composition on sexual conflict in the seaweed flies Coelopa frigida and C. pilipes

Edward

Gilburn

2007

Animal Behaviour

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Considering the recent explosion of interest in sexual conflict, the effect of environmental conditions on the intensity of sexual conflict within populations has been largely ignored. Reproductive encounters within coelopids are characterised by sexual conflict in the form of intense male harassment, usually resulting in a vigorous pre-mating struggle. Here we investigated the effect of habitat composition and duration of exposure to oviposition sites on the level of sexual harassment by males and mating success in two species of European seaweed flies, Coelopa frigida and C. pilipes. The wrack beds inhabited by these two species are dominated by two genera of brown algae, Fucus and Laminaria, the relative proportions of which can vary considerably between wrack beds. Previous studies have shown that Fucus stimulates male harassment, increases copulation duration and induces females to oviposit in both species.Here we show that Laminaria stimulates a higher level of harassment in male C. frigida than Fucus.However, a similar effect was not observed in C. pilipes, with the main additional factor affecting male harassment in this species being the age of the male. Our study highlights the potential importance of environmental conditions on the intensity of sexual conflict within a population. We discuss the evolutionary significance of these observed effects in seaweed flies. [ ] 2. All coauthors know that this manuscript has been submitted for publication. Dominic Edward[ N/A ] 3. An explanation of overlap with other articles (published or in press in journals, books or conference proceedings, or in preparation) has been included in the cover letter accompanying this manuscript.[ [ ] (Outside North America) the appropriate institutional and/or governmental authority regulating research with animals (please specify and quote any certificate or licence numbers): __________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________. This research was not reviewed by an institutional or governmental regulatory body because:[ ] It is a theoretical paper or a review of the current literature.[ ] It involved the study of species for which no such review was required.[ ] Other: Please specify. ___________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________.Please note: ASAB's and ABS's ethical guidelines may raise issues beyond those of institutional or government ethical guidelines. At the suggestion of reviewers or the Editor, a manuscript may be reviewed by the ASAB Ethical Committee/ABS Animal Care Committee and the decision to publish may be affected by their evaluation. ASAB/ABS Confirmation FormThe effect of habitat composition on sexual conflict in the seaweed flies, Coelopa frigida and C. pilipes On line 268-269, "to generate sexual selection" has been deleted.In the final paragraph reference is now made to mating rate as opposed to optimal ...

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Mating behavior in seaweed flies (Coelopa frigida)

Cited by 34 publications

References 27 publications

Adult size and mate choice in seaweed flies (Coelopa frigida)

Adult size and mate choice in seaweed flies (Coelopa frigida)

Genetic differences in mating success and female choice in seaweed flies (Coelopa frigida)

The effect of habitat composition on sexual conflict in the seaweed flies Coelopa frigida and C. pilipes

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