Abstract
Many female Danaus chrysippus produce all-female broods. Of the two common colour forms at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, form dorippus usually givs normal broods while more than 50 per cent of form chrysippus tested produced all-female broods. It is suggested that all-female broods are the result of meiotic drive governed by a Y-linked gene and that a dominant autosomal suppressor, closely linked with the forewing colour locus, must be present in the population. As selection for the colour morphs changes with season, the sex ratio also alternates between an excess of females at the start of the rains when population density increases rapidly, and an excess of males, probably through superiour survival, in the driest months. Changes in sex ratio allow the population to alter its numbers very quickly in response to prevailing conditions.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.