scholarly journals An X-linked meiotic drive allele has strong, recessive fitness costs in female Drosophila pseudoobscura

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1916) ◽  
pp. 20192038 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Larner ◽  
Tom Price ◽  
Luke Holman ◽  
Nina Wedell
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Model ◽  
Mating Behaviour ◽  
Meiotic Drive ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Drosophila Pseudoobscura ◽  
Fitness Costs ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
The North ◽  
Offspring Production ◽  
Siring Success

Selfish ‘meiotic drive’ alleles are transmitted to more than 50% of offspring, allowing them to rapidly invade populations even if they reduce the fitness of individuals carrying them. Theory predicts that drivers should either fix or go extinct, yet some drivers defy these predictions by persisting at low, stable frequencies for decades. One possible explanation for this discrepancy is that drivers are especially costly when homozygous, although empirical tests of this idea are rare and equivocal. Here, we measure the fitness of female Drosophila pseudoobscura carrying zero, one or two copies of the X-linked driver s ex ratio ( SR ). SR had strong negative effects on female offspring production and the probability of reproductive failure, and these effects were largely similar across four genetic backgrounds. SR was especially costly when homozygous. We used our fitness measurements to parametrize a population genetic model, and found that the female fitness costs observed here can explain the puzzlingly low allele frequency of SR in nature. We also use the model to show how spatial variation in female mating behaviour, fitness costs of SR and the reduced siring success of SR males can jointly explain the north–south cline in SR frequencies across North America.

Age-dependent fitness costs of alarm signaling in aphids

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (5) ◽  
pp. 757-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward B Mondor ◽  
Bernard D Roitberg
Keyword(s):  
Alarm Pheromone ◽  
Fourth Instar ◽  
Fitness Cost ◽  
Fitness Costs ◽  
Alarm Signal ◽  
Offspring Production ◽  
Direct Fitness ◽  
Alarm Signaling ◽  
Pea Aphids ◽  
Age Dependent

For an alarm signal to evolve, the benefits to the signaler must outweigh the costs of sending the signal. Research has largely focused on the benefits of alarm signaling, and the costs to an organism of sending an alarm signal are not well known. When attacked by a predator, aphids secrete cornicle droplets, containing an alarm pheromone, for individual protection and to warn clonemates. As aphid alarm pheromone is synthesized de novo in a feedback loop with juvenile hormone, we hypothesized that the secretion of cornicle droplets may result in a direct fitness cost to the emitter. We show that the secretion of a single cornicle droplet by pre-reproductive (third- and fourth-instar) pea aphids, Acyrthosiphon pisum, directly altered the timing and number of offspring produced. Third-instar pea aphids delayed offspring production but produced more offspring overall than non-secreting aphids, demonstrating a life-history shift but no significant fitness cost of droplet secretion. Fourth-instar pea aphids also delayed offspring production but produced the same number of offspring as non-secretors, resulting in a direct fitness cost of droplet secretion. Offspring production by adult, reproductive pea aphids that secreted a cornicle droplet did not differ from that of non-secretors. Thus, the fitness costs of secreting cornicle droplets containing an alarm signal are age-dependent.

SIMULATION BASED COMPLEX ENERGY ASSESSMENT OF OFFICE BUILDING FENESTRATION

2010 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Violeta Motuzienė ◽  
Egidijus Saulius Juodis
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Energy Efficient ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Office Building ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Energy Assessment ◽  
The North ◽  
Complex Evaluation ◽  
Lighting Energy ◽  
Glazed Facade

The number of office buildings with highly fenestrated facades is currently increasing in Lithuania and neighboring countries. Highly fenestrated facades reduce energy consumption for lighting and simultaneously increase energy consumption for heating, cooling, air conveying and may cause thermal and visual discomfort. Pursuing to reduce negative effects of the highly glazed facade, special glasses are frequently used. However, such windows usually increase demand for lighting energy. Therefore, when making early decisions about glazing the building, it is important to have a complex evaluation of energy demand related to the specific case. The paper presents the results of analysis made using energy simulation tools. The obtained results have shown that when shading is not applied, the north is the most energy efficient orientation to glazing for an air conditioned office building in cool climate zones like Lithuania. The most energy efficient window‐to‐wall ratios (WWR) for the south, east and west oriented façade are 20%, whereas for the north it makes 20–40%. However, such WWR values do not satisfy standard requirements for day lighting. Santrauka Pastaraisiais metais Lietuvoje ir kaimyninese šalyse daugeja administracines paskirties pastatu, kuriu dauguma išoriniu atitvaru yra skaidrios. Didesnis istiklinimo plotas lemia mažesnius energijos poreikius apšvietimui, tačiau didina šildymo ir vesinimo sistemu energijos poreikius, sukelia šilumini bei vizualini diskomforta. Neigiamai dideliu skaidriu atitvaru itakai sumažinti naudojami tamsinti ir kitu specialiu charakteristiku stiklai, tačiau tai savo ruožtu didina energijos poreiki apšvietimui. Todel, priimant sprendimus del pastato istiklinimo, svarbu prieš tai kompleksiškai išnagrineti konkretaus sprendimo itaka pastato energijos poreikiams. Straipsnyje pateikiama modeliuojant gautu rezultatu analize. Rezultatai parode, kad vesaus klimato šalyse, kurioms priklauso ir Lietuva, kondicionuojamu administraciniu pastatu fasadu, kai nenaudojamos apsaugos nuo saules priemones, energiškai efektyviausias istiklinimas yra i šiaures puse. Energiškai efektyviausias santykinis fasado istiklinimo plotas pietines, rytines ir vakarines orientacijos fasadams yra 20 %, o šiaurines ‐ 20–40 %. Tačiau tokie istiklinimo plotai neatitinka norminiu natūralaus apšvietimo reikalavimu.

Effects of male ejaculate on female reproductive output and longevity in Photinus fireflies

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (5) ◽  
pp. 677-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. South ◽  
S.M. Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Mating ◽  
Female Fitness ◽  
Nuptial Gifts ◽  
Mating History ◽  
Offspring Production ◽  
Spermatophore Size ◽  
Reproductive Rates ◽  
Insight Into

In many insects, nuptial gifts in the form of spermatophores have been shown to increase female fecundity and to contribute to female somatic maintenance. Examining how variation in male spermatophore size affects female fitness components can provide insight into the evolution of nuptial gifts, as well as insight into potential conflicts between the sexes. Here we present an experimental study on the firefly Photinus obscurellus LeConte, 1851 in which we altered spermatophore size by manipulating male mating history and examined effects on female offspring production and longevity. Females were randomly allocated to one of two mating treatments in which they mated once with a male producing either a large or a small spermatophore. We found that male spermatophore size had no significant effect on lifetime fecundity or daily reproductive rates of female P. obscurellus, but females that received a larger spermatophore showed a tendency toward longer postmating life spans. These results suggest a direct benefit to females from nuptial gifts and also reveal the potential for synergistic effects on multiple facets of female fitness.

scholarly journals Males harm females less when competing with familiar relatives

2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1867) ◽  
pp. 20171984 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel J. Lymbery ◽  
Leigh W. Simmons
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Callosobruchus Maculatus ◽  
Genetic Relatedness ◽  
Inclusive Fitness ◽  
Fitness Costs ◽  
Offspring Production ◽  
Social Familiarity ◽  
Indirect Fitness ◽  
Opposite Sex ◽  
Female Lifespan

Sexual conflict occurs when reproductive partners have different fitness optima, and can lead to the evolution of traits in one sex that inflict fitness costs on the opposite sex. Recently, it has been proposed that antagonism by males towards females should be reduced when they compete with relatives, because reducing the future productivity of a female would result in an indirect fitness cost for a harmful male. We tested this prediction in the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus , the males of which harm females with genital spines and pre-copulatory harassment. We compared lifespan, lifetime egg production and lifetime offspring production among females housed with groups of males that varied in their familiarity and relatedness. Females produced significantly more eggs and offspring when grouped with males who were both related and familiar to each other. There was no effect of male relatedness or familiarity on female lifespan. Our results suggest that males plastically adjust their harmfulness towards females in response to changes in inclusive fitness payoffs, and that in this species both genetic relatedness and social familiarity mediate this effect.

Vorontsovka Carlin-style gold deposit in the North Urals: Mineralogy, fluid inclusion and isotope data for genetic model

2019 ◽  
Vol 508 ◽  
pp. 144-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.V. Vikentyev ◽  
E.E. Tyukova ◽  
O.V. Vikent'eva ◽  
A.V. Chugaev ◽  
E.O. Dubinina ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fluid Inclusion ◽  
Gold Deposit ◽  
Genetic Model ◽  
Isotope Data ◽  
The North

scholarly journals Is there a North–South divide between schools in England?

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-40
Author(s):  
Michael Jopling
Keyword(s):  
School Performance ◽  
Performance Data ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Popular Discourse ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
National School ◽  
Opinion Piece ◽  
The Media

The article is an opinion piece which examines the extent to which rhetoric about a North–South divide in performance between schools in England is justified. Starting with the catalyst, Sir Michael Wilshaw’s final annual Ofsted reports in 2015 and 2016, it traces how the divide rhetoric has been assimilated into popular discourse by the media and subsequent policy reports, notably in connection with the Northern Powerhouse agenda. The article uses regional school performance data to examine whether claims about the divide are convincing, focusing on the North East, which has been recognized as an outlier in both primary and secondary performance. It concludes that the case for a North–South divide is not proven, and with an appeal for more contextually sensitive and flexible approaches to assessing local, regional and national school performance to counter the negative effects of this divisive rhetoric.

Sex-ratio meiotic drive in Drosophila simulans: cellular mechanism, candidate genes and evolution

2006 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Montchamp-Moreau
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
X Chromosome ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Meiotic Drive ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Drosophila Simulans ◽  
X Chromosomes ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
Primary Sex Ratio ◽  
Intragenomic Conflict

The sex-ratio trait, reported in a dozen Drosophila species, is a type of naturally occurring meiotic drive in which the driving elements are located on the X chromosome. Typically, as the result of a shortage of Y-bearing spermatozoa, males carrying a sex-ratio X chromosome produce a large excess of female offspring. The presence of sex-ratio chromosomes in a species can have considerable evolutionary consequences, because they can affect individual fitness and trigger extended intragenomic conflict. Here, I present the main results of the study performed in Drosophila simulans. In this species, the loss of Y-bearing spermatozoa is related to the inability of the Y chromosome sister-chromatids to separate properly during meiosis II. Fine genetic mapping has shown that the primary sex-ratio locus on the X chromosome contains two distorter elements acting synergistically, both of which are required for drive expression. One element has been genetically mapped to a tandem duplication. To infer the natural history of the trait, the pattern of DNA sequence polymorphism in the surrounding chromosomal region is being analysed in natural populations of D. simulans harbouring sex-ratio X chromosomes. Initial results have revealed the recent spread of a distorter allele.

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