Sexual Conflict in Drosophila Serrata across Populations and Environments

Abstract

Earlier studies implicate interlocus sexual conflict as having important evolutionary consequences in Drosophila serrata but it has never been directly studied. I quantify sexual conflict and its divergence between two laboratory stocks using a full factorial manipulation of male population, female population, and level of male exposure to track longevity and fecundity of individual females. Evidence of strong sexual conflict, as well as divergence of male harm and female resistance between populations, was found. The relationship between environmental complexity and sexual conflict was then explored using a combination of behavioural observations and a factorial experiment to again track longevity and fecundity of individual females. Increased complexity was associated with decreased sexual activity and increased lifespan in females, although effects on fecundity were less clear. Overall, my studies combine to provide initial data for characterizing sexual conflict in Drosophila serrata and shed light on important considerations for its study.