Data from: An innovative ovipositor for niche exploitation impacts genital coevolution between sexes in a fruit-damaging drosophila

Limited attention has been given to ecological factors influencing the coevolution of male and female genitalia. The innovative ovipositor of Drosophila suzukii, an invading fruit pest, represents an appealing case to document this phenomenon. The serrated saw-like ovipositor is used to pierce the hard skin of ripening fruits that are not used by other fruit flies that prefer soft decaying fruits. Here, we highlight another function of the ovipositor related to its involvement in genital coupling during copulation. We compared the morphology and coupling of male and female genitalia in this species to its sibling species, D. subpulchrella, and to an outgroup species, D. biarmipes. These comparisons and a surgical manipulation indicated that the shape of male genitalia in D. suzukii has had to be adjusted to ensure tight coupling, despite having to abandon the use of a hook-like structure, paramere, because of the more linearly elongated ovipositor. This phenomenon demonstrates that ecological niche exploitation can directly affect the mechanics of genital coupling, and potentially cause incompatibility among divergent forms. This model case provides new insights towards elucidating the importance of the dual functions of ovipositors in other insect species that potentially induce genital coevolution and ecological speciation.学界针对调控雌雄生殖器协同演化的生态因素的研究仍较为有限。作为一种入侵性果实害虫，斑翅果蝇（Drosophila suzukii）特化的产卵器（ovipositor）为探究这一现象提供了极具吸引力的研究案例。其锯齿状锯形产卵器可刺破成熟果实的坚硬果皮，而偏好软烂腐烂果实的其他果蝇类群则无法利用这类寄主果实。本研究着重揭示了该产卵器的另一项功能：其在交配过程中参与生殖器耦合环节。我们将斑翅果蝇的雌雄生殖器形态及耦合模式，与其姊妹种亚丽果蝇（D. subpulchrella）以及外群物种双斑果蝇（D. biarmipes）进行了对比分析。通过上述对比与外科操纵实验，研究发现：由于产卵器呈更显著的线性伸长形态，斑翅果蝇不得不放弃使用钩状结构——阳基侧突（paramere），转而调整雄性生殖器的形态以保障交配时的紧密耦合。该现象表明，生态位开拓可直接影响生殖器耦合的力学机制，并可能导致不同演化类群间的生殖隔离。本研究模型为阐释其他昆虫类群产卵器双重功能的重要性提供了全新视角，而这类双重功能或可推动生殖器协同演化与生态物种形成。