1
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Yan JL, Rosenbaum JR, Esteves S, Dobbin ML, Dukas R. Sexual conflict and social networks in bed bugs: effects of social experience. Behav Ecol 2024; 35:arae030. [PMID: 38690087 PMCID: PMC11059254 DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arae030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Living in groups can provide essential experience that improves sexual performance and reproductive success. While the effects of social experience have drawn considerable scientific interest, commonly used behavioral assays often do not capture the dynamic nature of interactions within a social group. Here, we conducted 3 experiments using a social network framework to test whether social experience during early adulthood improves the sexual competence of bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) when placed in a complex and competitive group environment. In each experiment, we observed replicate groups of bed bugs comprising previously socialized and previously isolated individuals of the same sex, along with an equal number of standardized individuals of the opposite sex. Regardless of whether we controlled for their insemination history, previously isolated males mounted and inseminated females at significantly higher rates than previously socialized males. However, we found no evidence of social experience influencing our other measures of sexual competence: proportion of mounts directed at females, ability to overcome female resistance, and strength of opposite-sex social associations. We similarly did not detect effects of social experience on our female sexual competence metrics: propensity to avoid mounts, rate of successfully avoiding mounts, opposite-sex social association strength, and rate of receiving inseminations. Our findings indicate that early social experience does not improve sexual competence in male and female bed bugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janice L Yan
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Jack R Rosenbaum
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Selena Esteves
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Maggie L Dobbin
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
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2
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Baxter CM, Shams I, Dworkin I, Dukas R. Genetic correlation between aggressive signals and fighting. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20220616. [PMID: 37073527 PMCID: PMC10114015 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2022.0616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Theoretical analyses indicate that aggressive signals should positively correlate with the signallers' willingness and abilities to fight. Few experimental studies, however, have tested this prediction. In two experiments employing distinct, ecologically realistic protocols, we quantified the association between aggressive signals and fighting in fruit fly genotypes and found high positive genetic correlations between threat and fighting (rG = 0.80 and 0.74). Our results add to the growing body of experimental work indicating that aggressive signals have relatively high informational value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carling M. Baxter
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Ieta Shams
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Ian Dworkin
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4K1
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3
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Scott AM, Yan JL, Baxter CM, Dworkin I, Dukas R. The genetic basis of variation in sexual aggression: evolution versus social plasticity. Mol Ecol 2022; 31:2865-2881. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.16437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M. Scott
- Animal Behaviour Group Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Janice L. Yan
- Animal Behaviour Group Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Carling M. Baxter
- Animal Behaviour Group Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Ian Dworkin
- Department of Biology McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University 1280 Main Street West Hamilton Ontario L8S 4K1 Canada
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4
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Scott AM, Dworkin I, Dukas R. Evolution of sociability by artificial selection. Evolution 2021; 76:541-553. [PMID: 34605553 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
There has been extensive research on the ecology and evolution of social life in animals that live in groups. Less attention, however, has been devoted to apparently solitary species, even though recent research indicates that they also possess complex social behaviors. To address this knowledge gap, we artificially selected on sociability, defined as the tendency to engage in nonaggressive activities with others, in fruit flies. Our goal was to quantify the factors that determine the level of sociability and the traits correlated with this feature. After 25 generations of selection, the high-sociability lineages showed sociability scores about 50% higher than did the low-sociability lineages. Experiments using the evolved lineages indicated that there were no differences in mating success between flies from the low and high lineages. Both males and females from the low lineages, however, were more aggressive than males and females from the high lineages. Finally, the evolved lineages maintained their sociability scores after 10 generations of relaxed selection, suggesting no costs to maintaining low and high sociability, at least under our settings. Sociability is a complex trait, which we currently assess through genomic work on the evolved lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Scott
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Ian Dworkin
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
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5
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Liu PC, Hao DJ, Hu W, Wei JR, Wang JJ. Life history of aggression in Anastatus disparis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) with extreme male-male combat. BULLETIN OF ENTOMOLOGICAL RESEARCH 2021; 111:146-152. [PMID: 32677606 DOI: 10.1017/s0007485320000413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Aggressive behaviour is common in animals and typically has lifetime consequences. As younger males have higher residual reproductive value than older males and lose more from injuries than older males do, the propensity for fighting tends to increase with age in many empirical reports and species. However, fighting patterns in those empirical reports cannot confirm the hypothesis that individuals cannot readily inflict injuries on their opponents. To address this shortcoming, a parasitoid wasp species, Anastatus disparis (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae), was used as an experimental model to explore the characteristics of aggression from a life-history perspective; this wasp exhibits extreme fighting, resulting in contestants experiencing injury and death. Results showed that the energetic costs of fighting to injury significantly shortened life and caused the loss of most mating ability. Inconsistent with general predictions, the frequency and intensity of fighting in A. disparis significantly decreased with male age. Further study results showed significantly more young males were received by and successfully mated with virgin females, and most genes related to energy metabolism were downregulated in aged males. Our study provided supporting evidence that young A. disparis males show more aggression likely because of their resource holding potential and sexual attractiveness decline with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng-Cheng Liu
- The College of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Anhui Province, China
| | - De-Jun Hao
- The College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wei Hu
- The College of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Anhui Province, China
| | - Jian-Rong Wei
- The College of Life Science, Hebei University, Hebei Province, China
| | - Jian-Jun Wang
- Liaoning Academy of Forestry Science, Shenyang Province, China
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6
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Bath E, Edmunds D, Norman J, Atkins C, Harper L, Rostant WG, Chapman T, Wigby S, Perry JC. Sex ratio and the evolution of aggression in fruit flies. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20203053. [PMID: 33726599 PMCID: PMC8059548 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.3053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggressive behaviours are among the most striking displayed by animals, and aggression strongly impacts fitness in many species. Aggression varies plastically in response to the social environment, but we lack direct tests of how aggression evolves in response to intra-sexual competition. We investigated how aggression in both sexes evolves in response to the competitive environment, using populations of Drosophila melanogaster that we experimentally evolved under female-biased, equal, and male-biased sex ratios. We found that after evolution in a female-biased environment—with less male competition for mates—males fought less often on food patches, although the total frequency and duration of aggressive behaviour did not change. In females, evolution in a female-biased environment—where female competition for resources is higher—resulted in more frequent aggressive interactions among mated females, along with a greater increase in post-mating aggression. These changes in female aggression could not be attributed solely to evolution either in females or in male stimulation of female aggression, suggesting that coevolved interactions between the sexes determine female post-mating aggression. We found evidence consistent with a positive genetic correlation for aggression between males and females, suggesting a shared genetic basis. This study demonstrates the experimental evolution of a behaviour strongly linked to fitness, and the potential for the social environment to shape the evolution of contest behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor Bath
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Danielle Edmunds
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Jessica Norman
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Charlotte Atkins
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Lucy Harper
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK
| | - Wayne G Rostant
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Tracey Chapman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Stuart Wigby
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK.,Department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behaviour, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jennifer C Perry
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, 11a Mansfield Road, Oxford OX1 3SZ, UK.,School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
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7
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Yost RT, Robinson JW, Baxter CM, Scott AM, Brown LP, Aletta MS, Hakimjavadi R, Lone A, Cumming RC, Dukas R, Mozer B, Simon AF. Abnormal Social Interactions in a Drosophila Mutant of an Autism Candidate Gene: Neuroligin 3. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4601. [PMID: 32610435 PMCID: PMC7370170 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21134601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Social interactions are typically impaired in neuropsychiatric disorders such as autism, for which the genetic underpinnings are very complex. Social interactions can be modeled by analysis of behaviors, including social spacing, sociability, and aggression, in simpler organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster. Here, we examined the effects of mutants of the autism-related gene neuroligin 3 (nlg3) on fly social and non-social behaviors. Startled-induced negative geotaxis is affected by a loss of function nlg3 mutation. Social space and aggression are also altered in a sex- and social-experience-specific manner in nlg3 mutant flies. In light of the conserved roles that neuroligins play in social behavior, our results offer insight into the regulation of social behavior in other organisms, including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryley T. Yost
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - J. Wesley Robinson
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - Carling M. Baxter
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (PNB) McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (C.M.B.); (A.M.S.); (R.D.)
| | - Andrew M. Scott
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (PNB) McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (C.M.B.); (A.M.S.); (R.D.)
| | - Liam P. Brown
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - M. Sol Aletta
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - Ramtin Hakimjavadi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - Asad Lone
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - Robert C. Cumming
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (PNB) McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (C.M.B.); (A.M.S.); (R.D.)
| | - Brian Mozer
- Office of Research Integrity, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Rockville, MD 20889, USA;
| | - Anne F. Simon
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B7, Canada; (R.T.Y.); (J.W.R.); (L.P.B.); (M.S.A.); (R.H.); (A.L.); (R.C.C.)
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8
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Dukas R, Yan JL, Scott AM, Sivaratnam S, Baxter CM. Artificial selection on sexual aggression: Correlated traits and possible trade-offs. Evolution 2020; 74:1112-1123. [PMID: 32372455 DOI: 10.1111/evo.13993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Forced copulation is an extreme form of sexual aggression that can affect the evolution of sex-specific anatomy, morphology, and behavior. To characterize mechanistic and evolutionary aspects of forced copulation, we artificially selected male fruit flies based on their ability to succeed in the naturally prevalent behavior of forced matings with newly eclosed (teneral) females. The low and high forced copulation lineages showed rapid divergence, with the high lineages ultimately showing twice the rates of forced copulation as the low lineages. While males from the high lineages spent more time aggressively pursuing and mounting teneral females, their behavior toward non-teneral and heterospecific females was similar to that of males from the low lineages. Males from the low and high lineages also showed similar levels of male-male aggression. This suggests little or no genetic correlations between sexual aggression and non-aggressive pursuit of females, and between male aggression toward females and males. Surprisingly however, males from the high lineages had twice as high mating success than males from the low lineages when allowed to compete for consensual mating with mature females. In further experiments, we found no evidence for trade-offs associated with high forced mating rates: males from the high lineages did not have lower longevity than males from the low lineages when housed with females, and four generations of relaxed selection did not lead to convergence in forced mating rates. Our data indicate complex interactions among forced copulation success and consensual mating behavior, which we hope to clarify in future genomic work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Janice L Yan
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Andrew M Scott
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Surabhi Sivaratnam
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Carling M Baxter
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4K1, Canada
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9
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Filice DCS, Dukas R. Winners have higher pre-copulatory mating success but losers have better post-copulatory outcomes. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 286:20182838. [PMID: 30940060 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.2838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In many animals, the outcomes of competitive interactions can have lasting effects that influence an individual's reproductive success and have important consequences for the strength and direction of evolution via sexual selection. In the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, males that have won previous contests are more likely to win in subsequent conflicts and losers are more likely to lose (winner-loser effects), but the direct fitness consequences and genetic underpinnings of this plasticity are poorly understood. Here, we tested how male genotype and the outcomes of previous male-male conflicts influence male pre- and post-copulatory success. We quantified pre-copulatory success in a choice and no-choice context, and post-copulatory success by quantifying ejaculate offensive and defensive ability. We found that winners have higher reproductive success compared to losers in both pre-copulatory scenarios. However, losers consistently mated for a longer duration, boosted female fecundity and had an increased paternity share when they were the first males to mate, suggesting increased investment into post-copulatory mechanisms. Finally, by using clonal hybrids from the Drosophila Genetic Reference Panel, we documented that genetic variation explained a sizeable proportion of the observed differences between lines, and of the interaction between line and winner and loser effects. Our results place the behavioural data on winner-loser effects in an evolutionary context by documenting the potential fitness gain to males from altering their reproductive strategy based on fighting experience. Our data may also explain the presence and maintenance of trade-offs between different male reproductive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C S Filice
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University , 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON , Canada L8S 4K1
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University , 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON , Canada L8S 4K1
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10
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Filice DCS, Bhargava R, Dukas R. Plasticity in male mating behavior modulates female life history in fruit flies. Evolution 2020; 74:365-376. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David C. S. Filice
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and BehaviourMcMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Rajat Bhargava
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and BehaviourMcMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4K1 Canada
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and BehaviourMcMaster University Hamilton ON L8S 4K1 Canada
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11
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Baxter CM, Yan JL, Dukas R. Genetic variation in sexual aggression and the factors that determine forced copulation success. Anim Behav 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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12
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Lloyd KJ, Oosthuizen WC, Bester MN, de Bruyn PJN. Trade-offs between age-related breeding improvement and survival senescence in highly polygynous elephant seals: Dominant males always do better. J Anim Ecol 2019; 89:897-909. [PMID: 31746466 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.13145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Life history trade-off theory predicts that current reproduction can negatively affect survival and future reproduction. Few studies have assessed breeding costs for males of polygynous species compared to females, despite substantial variation in breeding success among individual males (e.g. subordinate cf. dominant breeders). Specifically, differentiating between the cost of attending breeding seasons, and the additional cost of successfully securing and mating females is lacking. We investigated whether trade-offs are present in the highly polygynous male southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) using 34-years of individual-level data. We compare age-specific survival, recruitment and future breeding success probabilities of pre-breeders (males yet to recruit) and breeders (subordinate and dominant social ranks) using multievent models. Pre-breeders and breeders of overlapping ages had similar survival probabilities, suggesting that there was no attendance cost for early recruits. In addition, the probability of recruiting as a dominant breeder never exceeded recruitment probability as a subordinate breeder of the same age. Therefore, older pre-breeders that delayed attendance costs generally did not improve their breeding success (probability of being dominant) at recruitment more than younger recruits. Rather, recruitment age may be a function of individual quality, with lower quality individuals requiring more time to socially mature. When comparing subordinate and dominant breeders, we found clear evidence for survival senescence, with subordinate breeders having a higher baseline mortality. In contrast, age-specific future breeding success (probability of being dominant at t + 1) increased with age, with dominant breeders maintaining higher subsequent breeding success than subordinate breeders. The opposite trends in survival and future breeding success for both subordinate and dominant breeders may indicate a lifetime, population-level trade-off. However, we found no evidence to suggest that being a dominant breeder consecutively (and having a higher accumulated breeding cost) accelerated the rate of senescence when compared to individuals that were previously subordinate. Thus, males experienced actuarial senescence regardless of social rank, with dominant (and possibly high quality) breeders showing a reduced trade-off between survival and future breeding success. We make several novel contributions to understanding polygynous male life histories and southern elephant seal demography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle J Lloyd
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - W Chris Oosthuizen
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - Marthán N Bester
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
| | - P J Nico de Bruyn
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, Pretoria, 0028, South Africa
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13
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomeng Guo
- Animal Behaviour Group Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University Hamilton ON Canada
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour McMaster University Hamilton ON Canada
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14
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Brenman-Suttner DB, Yost RT, Frame AK, Robinson JW, Moehring AJ, Simon AF. Social behavior and aging: A fly model. GENES BRAIN AND BEHAVIOR 2019; 19:e12598. [PMID: 31286644 DOI: 10.1111/gbb.12598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The field of behavioral genetics has recently begun to explore the effect of age on social behaviors. Such studies are particularly important, as certain neuropsychiatric disorders with abnormal social interactions, like autism and schizophrenia, have been linked to older parents. Appropriate social interaction can also have a positive impact on longevity, and is associated with successful aging in humans. Currently, there are few genetic models for understanding the effect of aging on social behavior and its potential transgenerational inheritance. The fly is emerging as a powerful model for identifying the basic molecular mechanisms underlying neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this review, we discuss these recent advancements, with a focus on how studies in Drosophila melanogaster have provided insight into the effect of aging on aspects of social behavior, including across generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dova B Brenman-Suttner
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Biology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryley T Yost
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ariel K Frame
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - J Wesley Robinson
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Amanda J Moehring
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anne F Simon
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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15
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16
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Scott AM, Dworkin I, Dukas R. Sociability in Fruit Flies: Genetic Variation, Heritability and Plasticity. Behav Genet 2018; 48:247-258. [PMID: 29682673 DOI: 10.1007/s10519-018-9901-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Sociability, defined as individuals' propensity to participate in non-aggressive activities with conspecifics, is a fundamental feature of behavior in many animals including humans. However, we still have a limited knowledge of the mechanisms and evolutionary biology of sociability. To enhance our understanding, we developed a new protocol to quantify sociability in fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster). In a series of experiments with 59 F1 hybrids derived from inbred lines, we documented, first, significant genetic variation in sociability in both males and females, with broad-sense heritabilities of 0.24 and 0.21 respectively. Second, we observed little genetic correlation in sociability between the sexes. Third, we found genetic variation in social plasticity among the hybrids, with a broad-sense heritability of ~0.24. That is, genotypes differed in the degree of sociability after experiencing the same relevant social experience. Our data pave the way for further research on the mechanisms that underlie sociability as well as its ecological and evolutionary consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew M Scott
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Ian Dworkin
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Reuven Dukas
- Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
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Baxter C, Mentlik J, Shams I, Dukas R. Mating success in fruit flies: courtship interference versus female choice. Anim Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2018.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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18
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Brenman-Suttner DB, Long SQ, Kamesan V, de Belle JN, Yost RT, Kanippayoor RL, Simon AF. Progeny of old parents have increased social space in Drosophila melanogaster. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3673. [PMID: 29487349 PMCID: PMC5829228 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21731-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We report the effects of aging and parental age in Drosophila melanogaster on two types of responses to social cues: the choice of preferred social spacing in an undisturbed group and the response to the Drosophila stress odorant (dSO) emitted by stressed flies. The patterns of changes during aging were notably different for these two social responses. Flies were initially closer in space and then became further apart. However, the pattern of change in response to dSO followed a more typical decline in performance, similarly to changes in locomotion. Interestingly, the increased social space of old parents, as well as their reduced performance in avoiding dSO, was passed on to their progeny, such that young adults adopted the behavioural characteristic of their old parents. While the response to social cues was inherited, the changes in locomotion were not. We were able to scale the changes in the social space of parents and their progeny by accelerating or decelerating the physiological process of aging by increasing temperatures and exposure to oxidative stress, or via caloric restriction, respectively. Finally, when we aged only one parent, only the male progeny of old fathers and the progeny of very old mothers were more distant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shirley Q Long
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Vashine Kamesan
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Jade N de Belle
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Ryley T Yost
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | | | - Anne F Simon
- Department of Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
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Kubiak M, Tinsley MC. Sex-Specific Routes To Immune Senescence In Drosophila melanogaster. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10417. [PMID: 28874758 PMCID: PMC5585412 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-11021-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal immune systems change dramatically during the ageing process, often accompanied by major increases in pathogen susceptibility. However, the extent to which senescent elevations in infection mortality are causally driven by deteriorations in canonical systemic immune processes is unclear. We studied Drosophila melanogaster and compared the relative contributions of impaired systemic immune defences and deteriorating barrier defences to increased pathogen susceptibility in aged flies. To assess senescent changes in systemic immune response efficacy we injected one and four-week old flies with the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana and studied subsequent mortality; whereas to include the role of barrier defences we infected flies by dusting the cuticle with fungal spores. We show that the processes underlying pathogen defence senescence differ between males and females. Both sexes became more susceptible to infection as they aged. However, we conclude that for males, this was principally due to deterioration in barrier defences, whereas for females systemic immune defence senescence was mainly responsible. We discuss the potential roles of sex-specific selection on the immune system and behavioural variation between males and females in driving these different senescent trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Kubiak
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom.
| | - Matthew C Tinsley
- Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, United Kingdom
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