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.许多在性冲突（sexual conflict）演化下形成的生殖性状，可能同时受到两性的调控。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重要洞见，但这需要以互作表型（interacting phenotype）的视角，分别估算雄性与雌性群体中变异的遗传组分。本研究以黑腹果蝇（Drosophila melanogaster）为研究对象，对其产卵量与交配时长展开探究，以此填补该领域的研究空白。尽管产卵速率同时受两性调控，这一现象可能引发性冲突，但目前尚未有从互作表型视角对该性状开展的评估研究。目前学界仍不清楚交配时长究竟由雄性、雌性还是二者共同决定。本研究发现，产卵速率仅在雌性群体中存在显著的遗传方差，而雄性群体中并无此现象，这或许表明当前性拮抗协同演化（sexually antagonistic coevolution）的潜在强度有所降低。与之形成对比的是，交配时长在两性群体中均存在显著的遗传方差。此外，本研究还在处女雌性群体中发现了产卵滞留（egg retention）的遗传变异。尽管该现象此前已在野生种群中被报道，但目前仍无法解释为何实验室种群中也存在这一性状。本研究为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。