Sexual dimorphism and courtship behavior in Drosophila prolongata
Sexual dimorphism and courtship behavior in Drosophila prolongata
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果蝇的性别二态性和求爱行为
作者：
Shiori Setoguchi;H. Takamori;T. Aotsuka;J. Sese;Y. Ishikawa;Takashi Matsuo
两性二态性通常源于性选择。在两性异形的果蝇物种中，夸张的雄性结构用于雄性之间的竞争或向雌性求爱的特定行为。在长果蝇（Drosophila prolongata）中，雄性有较大的前腿，而雌性没有。然而，由于对长腿龙的行为知之甚少，因此前肢的适应作用尚不清楚。在本研究中，研究了长尾瓢虫的求偶行为，并与近缘种进行了比较。男性的d prolongata使用他们的前腿在一个特定的行为,“腿振动”,男性大力振动女性的腹部通过扩展他的前腿在她的面前。在“尝试交配”之前立即观察到腿部振动，表明它在交配过程中具有适应性作用。相反，在密切相关的物种中没有观察到腿部振动。由于大前腿是实现腿振动的必要条件，因此我们认为，长腹龙虎前腿的两性二态性目前受到求爱行为中的性选择的影响。
Sexual dimorphism is often derived from sexual selection. In sexually dimorphic Drosophila species, exaggerated male structures are used for specific behaviors in male-to-male competition or courtship toward females. In Drosophila prolongata, a member of the melanogaster species group, males have enlarged forelegs whereas females do not. However, the adaptive role of the enlarged forelegs is unclear because little is known about the behavior of D. prolongata. In this study, the courtship behavior of D. prolongata was investigated in comparison with closely related species. Males of D. prolongata use their forelegs in a specific behavior, “leg vibration”, in which the male vigorously vibrates the female’s abdomen by extending his forelegs from in front of her. Leg vibration was observed immediately before “attempting copulation”, indicating that it has an adaptive role in the mating process. In contrast, leg vibration was not observed in closely related species. Because the large forelegs are necessary to accomplish leg vibration, it was suggested that the sexual dimorphism of D. prolongata forelegs is currently under the influence of sexual selection in courtship behavior.