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Interspecific introgression reveals a role of male genital morphology during the evolution of reproductive isolation in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: Rapid divergence in genital structures among nascent species has been posited to be an early-evolving cause of reproductive isolation, although evidence supporting this idea as a widespread phenomenon remains mixed. Using a collection of interspecific introgression lines between two Drosophila species that diverged approximately 240,000 years ago, we tested the hypothesis that even modest divergence in genital morphology can result in substantial fitness losses. We studied the reproductive consequences of variation in the male epandrial posterior lobes between Drosophila mauritiana and Drosophila sechellia and found that divergence in posterior lobe morphology has significant fitness costs on several prefertilization and postcopulatory reproductive measures. Males with divergent posterior lobe morphology also significantly reduced the life span of their mates. Interestingly, one of the consequences of genital divergence was decreased oviposition and fertilization, which suggests that a sensory bias for posterior lobe morphology could exist in females, and thus, posterior lobe morphology may be the target of cryptic female choice in these species. Our results provide evidence that divergence in genitalia can in fact give rise to substantial reproductive isolation early during species divergence, and they also reveal novel reproductive functions of the external male genitalia in Drosophila.

SUBMITTER: Frazee SR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8248101 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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tartan underlies the evolution of Drosophila male genital morphology.

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The Genetic Basis of Rapidly Evolving Male Genital Morphology in Drosophila.

2011-07-21 | GSE26348 | GEO

The Genetic Basis of Rapidly Evolving Male Genital Morphology in Drosophila

2011-07-22 | GSE28663 | GEO

Male genital lobe morphology affects the chance to copulate in Drosophila pachea.

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The Genetic Basis of Rapidly Evolving Male Genital Morphology in Drosophila.

Project description:We performed genome-wide expression assays comparing gene expression in the Drosophila melanogaster third larval instar genital imaginal disc between males and females. We used microarrays to compare the relative expression levels of five independent male versus female comparisons for each of two different D. melanogaster wild-type strains, Canton-S and Berlin. All microarrays were dual channel direct comparisons of late third larval instar male versus female genital imaginal discs from two Drosophila melanogaster wildtype strains, Canton S and Berlin. For each strain five independent biological samples were analyzed using a dye-swap design (i.e. male samples labeled with Cy5 in three replicates were labeled with Cy3 in the other two replicates in that experimental set).

2011-07-20 | E-GEOD-26348 | biostudies-arrayexpress

The Genetic Basis of Rapidly Evolving Male Genital Morphology in Drosophila

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Reproductive isolation caused by azoospermia in sterile male hybrids of Drosophila.

Project description:Recently diverged populations in the early stages of speciation offer an opportunity to understand mechanisms of isolation and their relative contributions. Drosophila willistoni is a tropical species with broad distribution from Argentina to the southern United States, including the Caribbean islands. A postzygotic barrier between northern populations (North America, Central America, and the northern Caribbean islands) and southern populations (South American and the southern Caribbean islands) has been recently documented and used to propose the existence of two different subspecies. Here, we identify premating isolation between populations regardless of their subspecies status. We find no evidence of postmating prezygotic isolation and proceeded to characterize hybrid male sterility between the subspecies. Sterile male hybrids transfer an ejaculate that is devoid of sperm but causes elongation and expansion of the female uterus. In sterile male hybrids, bulging of the seminal vesicle appears to impede the movement of the sperm toward the sperm pump, where sperm normally mixes with accessory gland products. Our results highlight a unique form of hybrid male sterility in Drosophila that is driven by a mechanical impediment to transfer sperm rather than by an abnormality of the sperm itself. Interestingly, this form of sterility is reminiscent of a form of infertility (azoospermia) that is caused by lack of sperm in the semen due to blockages that impede the sperm from reaching the ejaculate.

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