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Females' choice of "good genotypes" as mates is promoted by an insect mating system.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Watt, WB; Carter, PA; Donohue, K
Published in: Science (New York, N.Y.)
September 1986

Can animal mating systems result in the choice of mates carrying genotypes that are otherwise favored by natural selection? This question is addressed by studying, in natural populations of Colias butterflies, how the phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) enzyme genotype of males mating Colias females varies with degree of female mate discrimination. Certain PGI genotypes (as predicted from their biochemical properties) have been found previously to have an advantage in diverse fitness-related properties: flight capacity, survivorship, and overall mating success. It is shown here that males of these same genotypes have even greater advantage in remating older, more discriminating females than they do in mating previously unmated, less discriminating females. Assortative mating is not found and thus cannot explain this effect. The mating system of these insects does, at least in this case, result in active female choice of generally favorable male genotypes as mates.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Science (New York, N.Y.)

DOI

EISSN

1095-9203

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

September 1986

Volume

233

Issue

4769

Start / End Page

1187 / 1190

Related Subject Headings

  • Sexual Behavior, Animal
  • Male
  • Lepidoptera
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase
  • Genotype
  • General Science & Technology
  • Female
  • Courtship
  • Butterflies
  • Animals
 

Citation

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Watt, W. B., Carter, P. A., & Donohue, K. (1986). Females' choice of "good genotypes" as mates is promoted by an insect mating system. Science (New York, N.Y.), 233(4769), 1187–1190. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3738528
Watt, W. B., P. A. Carter, and K. Donohue. “Females' choice of "good genotypes" as mates is promoted by an insect mating system.Science (New York, N.Y.) 233, no. 4769 (September 1986): 1187–90. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3738528.
Watt WB, Carter PA, Donohue K. Females' choice of "good genotypes" as mates is promoted by an insect mating system. Science (New York, NY). 1986 Sep;233(4769):1187–90.
Watt, W. B., et al. “Females' choice of "good genotypes" as mates is promoted by an insect mating system.Science (New York, N.Y.), vol. 233, no. 4769, Sept. 1986, pp. 1187–90. Epmc, doi:10.1126/science.3738528.
Watt WB, Carter PA, Donohue K. Females' choice of "good genotypes" as mates is promoted by an insect mating system. Science (New York, NY). 1986 Sep;233(4769):1187–1190.
Journal cover image

Published In

Science (New York, N.Y.)

DOI

EISSN

1095-9203

ISSN

0036-8075

Publication Date

September 1986

Volume

233

Issue

4769

Start / End Page

1187 / 1190

Related Subject Headings

  • Sexual Behavior, Animal
  • Male
  • Lepidoptera
  • Glucose-6-Phosphate Isomerase
  • Genotype
  • General Science & Technology
  • Female
  • Courtship
  • Butterflies
  • Animals