Female remating in Drosophila ananassae: Evidence for sperm displacement and greater productivity after remating

Abstract

In Drosophila ananassae, female remating with respect to productivity and sperm displacement was studied by employing different mutant strains and a wild type strain. In all the experiments, the continuous confinement technique was used. The comparison of productivity between once-mated (control) and remated females reveals that the productivity of remated females is significantly higher than that of once-mated ones in all the crosses. The P2′ values (the proportion of second male progeny produced after remating) were calculated to test sperm displacement in each cross of remated females. In all the crosses, high P2′ values (0.91-0.94) were found which indicate sperm precedence of second male to mate suggesting the existence of sperm displacement in D. ananassae. Furthermore, female productivity is increased after remating in D. ananassae.