Larger male mating advantage depends on the sex ratio in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

In a laboratory study of sexual selection in Drosophila melanogaster, the mating advantage of larger males was seen to change with the sex ratio. Larger males were more successful in achieving copulations when the sex ratio was equal or when males were more abundant and thus under competitive conditions. Male size also influenced order of mating, as larger males mated earlier than smaller ones. Assortative mating for wing length was not consistent.

Keywords:

• sexual selection
• male body size
• mating success
• sex ratio
• order of mating
• size-assortative mating
• Drosophila melanogaster