Studies on remating behaviour in the Drosophila bipectinata species complex: Intra- and interspecific variations

Abstract

Intra- and interspecific variations in female and male remating frequency, latency, and duration of copulation in first and second matings were analyzed in four species of the Drosophila bipectinata complex, employing four strains of each species i.e. D. bipectinata, D. parabipectinata, D. malerkotliana and D. pseudoananassae. Chi-square test revealed significant intraspecific variation in the number of remated females and males in D. malerkotliana and D. bipectinata, whereas D. parabipectinata showed insignificant intraspecific variations in number of remated females and males. D. pseudoananassae showed significant intraspecific variation in the number of remated females, but the frequency of remating was least. One way ANOVA depicted significant intraspecific variation in female and male remating time in D. bipectinata and D. parabipectinata. D. bipectinata took the shortest time to remate and the duration of copulation in first mating was longest. However, D. pseudoananassae exhibited the longest remating time and long duration of copulation in first mating. Results of t-test depicted that all four species exhibited shorter duration of copulation in second mating as compared to the first. Our study puts D. bipectinata and D. pseudoananassae at two extremes, and D. parabipectinata and D. malerkotliana at an intermediate position in a hierarchy of remating behaviours.