The inheritance of female preference functions in a mate recognition system

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:2000
Authors:M. G. Ritchie
Journal:Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B: Biological Sciences
Volume:267
Pagination:327–332
Date Published:February
Keywords:ephippiger, evolution, genetics, mrs, orthoptera, preference, recognition, speciation
Abstract:

10.1098/rspb.2000.1004 Mate recognition systems (MRSs) play a major role in sexual selection and speciation, yet few studies have analysed both male and female components in detail. Here, female preference functions have been characterized for the tettigoniid bushcricket , and the inheritance of male song and female preference functions followed in crosses between subspecies. Songs are disproportionately determined by sex–linked genes. However, there is no evidence for a role of maternally derived sex–linked genes in female preference or of maternal effects. At the genetic level, there is a mismatch between peak preferences and male song, consistent with an evolutionary history of persistent directional preferences. Such a pattern of inheritance could contribute to the process of speciation via the evolution of new MRSs.

URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2000.1004
DOI:10.1098/rspb.2000.1004
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith