Data from: Sexual conflict and interacting phenotypes: a quantitative genetic analysis of fecundity and copula duration in Drosophila melanogaster

Many reproductive traits that have evolved under sexual conflict may be influenced by both sexes. Investigation of the genetic architecture of such traits can yield important insight into their evolution, but this entails that the heritable component of variation is estimated for males and females – as an interacting phenotype. We address the lack of research in this area through an investigation of egg production and copula duration in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster. Despite egg production rate being determined by both sexes, which may cause sexual conflict, an assessment of this trait as an interacting phenotype is lacking. It is currently unclear whether copula duration is determined by males and/or females. We found significant female, but not male, genetic variance for egg production rate which may indicate reduced potential for ongoing sexually antagonistic coevolution. In contrast, copula duration was determined by significant genetic variance in both sexes. We also identified genetic variation in egg retention among virgin females. Although previously identified in wild populations, it is unclear why this should be present in a laboratory stock. This study provides a novel insight into the shared genetic architecture of reproductive traits that are the subject of sexual conflict.

在性冲突（sexual conflict）下演化形成的诸多生殖性状，通常同时受雌雄两性的共同调控。对这类性状的遗传结构（genetic architecture）开展研究，能够为其演化机制提供关键洞见，但该研究路径要求针对雌雄两性分别估算变异的遗传组分（heritable component）——需将其作为互作表型（interacting phenotype）进行分析。本研究以黑腹果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）为实验对象，通过探究其产卵量与交配时长，填补了该领域的研究空白。尽管产卵速率同时受雌雄两性调控，这一现象可能引发性冲突，但目前尚未有将该性状作为互作表型的评估研究。当前学界仍未明确交配时长究竟由雄性、雌性还是二者共同决定。本研究发现，产卵速率存在显著的雌性遗传方差，但无雄性遗传方差，这一结果或提示当前性拮抗协同进化（sexually antagonistic coevolution）的潜在进程已被削弱。与之相反，交配时长同时存在显著的雌雄两性遗传方差。此外，我们还在处女雌蝇（virgin females）中检测到了产卵滞留（egg retention）相关的遗传变异。尽管该性状此前已在野生种群中被报道，但目前仍不清楚为何实验室品系（laboratory stock）中也存在该变异。本研究为探究受性冲突影响的生殖性状的共有遗传结构提供了全新的研究视角。