Effects of the hypoactive and inactive mutations on mating success in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

The effects on mating success of four X-linked mutations controlling locomotor activity are examined. The mutation hypoE has no effect on female mating success. The mutations hypoC, iav and iav2 reduce female mating propensity and extend courtship durations. Unlike wild type females these mutant females fail to reach their maximum propensity for mating on the second day after eclosion. The iav females have normal wild type compositions of cuticular hydrocarbons and are highly attractive to courting males. Attenuated perception or aberrant processing of male courtship stimuli, and delayed sexual maturation are likely contributors to the poor mating propensity of inactive females. The iav mutation also causes decreased mating success and extended courtship duration in male mutants. This is largely a consequence of their inactivity. The duration of courtship latency, which is related to the number of phenotypically inactive flies present in the pairing, is positively correlated with age. Copulation duration, though primarily a male determined trait, is also affected by age. Some inferences regarding possible modes of action of the mutations are discussed.