title: The behavioral phenotype and mating behavior of two inbred strains of Drosophila melanogaster.
abstract: Time to copulation was measured in matings within and between two inbred Drosophila melanogaster strains, Edinburgh (E) and 6C/L, using groups of one or five flies of each sex. The E males, which mated faster, usually mate with E females, which are less likely to be fertilized and have fewer progeny whose adult viability is lower. Although generally E males mated far faster with E females than did 6C/L males, there was no difference between the males when with 6C/L females. This need not imply any mating discrimination by E females, but only differences between the strains in the use of preening as a general repulsion movement toward other flies. It is suggested that a greater variety of behavioral and other characteristics (the "behavioral phenotype") should be considered in studies of mating speed and assortative mating, especially where mating speed is being considered as a major component of fitness.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D003307:Copulation; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005306:Fertilization; D005824:Genetics, Behavioral; D005838:Genotype; D006120:Grooming; D007178:Inbreeding; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012726:Sexual Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012919:Social Behavior; D013045:Species Specificity; D013997:Time Factors