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PubMed2025

Latent preference for red ornamentation drives interspecific mating in nascent jumping spider species (Habronattus americanus group, F. Salticidae).

Heterospecific interactions between nascent species offer insights into how sexual selection shapes novel traits, illuminating patterns in species interactions and diversification. We tested female preferences between two recently diverged, allopatric species of jumping spiders: Habronattus americanus PLC, with red-coloured males performing short multimodal displays, and Habronattus sansoni CC, with brown-coloured males performing long multimodal displays. Mate choice experiments showed that females of both species preferred H. americanus PLC males. To examine the role of red coloration, we manipulated male coloration in both species. Results indicated that red-painted H. sansoni CC males experienced an increase in mating success, whereas brown-painted H. americanus PLCmales did not show reduced success. Our study suggests that (i) strong latent female preferences can drive unidirectional introgression across species boundaries, potentially leading to genomic homogenization; (ii) latent preferences may override preferences for existing traits; and (iii) the geographical distribution of colour morphs is consistent with a hypothesis of strong latent preferences across populations. Overall, our study demonstrates the role that mating interactions can play in speciation dynamics.

Animals↗
PubMed2025

Major histocompatibility complex class IIB disassortative mate choice in a genetically monogamous seabird.

Among species reproducing sexually, mating strategies represent a major component of individual fitness. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an extremely diverse set of genes responsible for immunological recognition and defence against pathogens. Although dissimilarity between mates at the major histocompatibility complex has been proposed to drive mate choice through increased offspring pathogen resistance, evidence is mixed. In addition, explorations of the role of the major histocompatibility complex in other mating strategies, such as divorce, are rare. We investigated whether dissimilarity at the major histocompatibility complex class IIB is associated with mate choice and divorce probability in the genetically monogamous black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla). We found that first-time male breeders, as well as divorced males, were paired with females more dissimilar at the major histocompatibility complex class IIB than expected under random mating. We did not find evidence for mate choice based on major histocompatibility complex class IIB dissimilarity when considering females. In addition, in the studied population, divorce probability was very low compared with other populations and did not significantly vary with the dissimilarity of the pair at the major histocompatibility complex class IIB. Our results pave the way to a better understanding of the complex role of major histocompatibility complex dissimilarity in mating decisions of species displaying mutual choice and biparental care.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Cocaine and morphine self-administration: effects of differential rearing.

Two groups of Wistar rats were reared in either enriched or impoverished conditions for 100 days postweaning. These two groups were further divided and tested for cocaine or morphine preference in a two-bottle choice (water alternative) for 16 days. Enriched and impoverished rearing has previously been found to alter emotionality, conditionability, and body weight of adult rats. Validating previous reports of differential rearing effects on body weight, the enriched animals in the present study weighed less than their litter mates reared in impoverished conditions. Animals reared in the enriched environment consumed significantly more cocaine than animals reared in an impoverished one. No significant differences were observed for morphine self-selection as a result of differential rearing.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Differential posteclosion housing experiences and reproduction in Drosophila.

Differential housing following eclosion was found to affect the mating behaviour of both sexes of Drosophila melanogaster. Flies housed in isolation showed higher mating frequencies and shorter latencies than did group-housed flies. Given a choice of an isolated or group-housed male, females tended to mate with males with similar housing experiences as themselves. Given a choice of an isolated or group-housed female, males strongly preferred the former. The possibility is advanced that these effects are mediated by olfactory stimuli.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Assortative mating between chromosome forms of the mole rat, Spalax ehrenbergi.

Females of two parapatric chromosomal forms (2n = 52 and 2n =58) of the fossorial mole rat, Spalax ehrenbergi, in Israel, were tested for mate selection between two alternative, a homo- and a heterochromosomal, males. Estrous females significantly preferred the male of their own chromosomal form, on the basis of several behavioural criteria. The evolutionary significance of the positive assortative mating found, lies presumably in reinforcing reproductive isolation between the chromosome forms, thereby contributing to finalize speciation.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Olfactory recognition of conspecifics by domestic Norway rats.

In order to learn more about their ability to recognize one another via olfaction, domestic male rats were given a series of preference tests in which pairs of odors from male conspecifics were presented. Both immature and mature males prefer (p less than .05) the odor from immature strangers over that from immature cage mates but are indifferent to the ordors from mature strangers versus cage mates. Both immature and mature males prefer (p less than .05) the odor from mature novel cage mates over that from mature cage mates to which they are temporarily habituated but are indifferent to the odors from immature novel versus familial cage mates. Mature males prefer (p less than .08) the odor from a cage mate over the subject's own odor, and they prefer (p less than .01) their own odor over no odor. Under certain conditions, male rats can discriminate between the odors from (a) strangers versus cage mates, (b) two cage mates, and (c) their own body versus a cage mate.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1977

Protein synthesis inhibition alters Drosophila mating behavior.

Fruit fly Drosophila pseudoobscura virgin AR females mate preferentially with AR males given a choice between AR and or males. However, AR females which mated with or males when young show a significant change in sexual selection in favor of or over AR males in subsequent simultaneous choice tests. Ingestion of food moistened with 4 ml cycloheximide (400 microng/ml) produces 75% protein synthesis inhibition in the female flies. Females exposed to cycloheximide (CXM) immediately after their initial copulation with or males resemble virgin flies in their choice of mates, and mate preferentially with AR males. Females exposed to CXM before their initial copulatory experience with or males resemble or-experienced but untreated (no CXM) flies in their choice of mates, and mate preferentially with or males. The change in sexual preference shown by females with prior copulatory experience resembles learning in that it is subject to disruption by CXM in ways analogous to those reported in the literature.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Control of mating preferences in mice by genes in the major histocompatibility complex.

When a male mouse is presented with two H-2 congenic two female in estrus, his choice of a mate is influenced by their H-2 types. The term "strain preference" is used to describe the general tendency of the male population of one inbred strain to prefer two female of one H-2 type rather than another. The term "consistency of choice" is used to describe the added tendency of particular two males of one inbred strain, in sequential mating trials, to prefer two females of the H-2 type they chose in previous trials. Statistical analysis showed trends in the data that support the following conclusions: (a) The choice is made by the male, not the female. (b) The strain preference of two males may favor two females of dissimilar H-2 type (four of six comparisons), or of similar H-2 type (one of six comparisons). (c) Consistency of choice does not always correspond with strain preference. In one of six comparisons of H-2 genotypes there was no strain preference but pronounced consistency of choice by individual two male. This suggests memory, but fortuitous bias is not excluded. (d) Strain preference of the same male population may favor two male of the same or a different H-2 type, depending on which different H-2 type is offered as the choice alternative to self. These findings conform to a provisional model in which olfactory mating preference is governed by two linked genes in the region of H-2, one for the female signal and one for the male receptor. These mating preferences could in natural populations serve the purpose of increasing the representation of particular H-2 haplotypes or of maintaining heterozygosity of genes in the region of H-2.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Frequency-dependent sexual selection among wild-type strains of Drosophila melanogaster.

Frequency-dependent sexual selection was studied using three geographically isolated strains of Drosophila melanogaster. The Oregon-R and Canton-Special wild-type strains were essentially homogeneous, having been maintained in laboratories since 1925; the wild Macomb strain was relatively genetically heterogeneous, having been collected in September 1972, immediately prior to this investigation. allowing 2 hr observation possible double combinations of the three strains were placed in separate chambers of a modified Elens-Wattiaux observation apparatus at ratios of 5:20, 12:12, and 20:5. All time for each chamber, data were collected to detect mating preference between these strains. There was no sexual isolation between the strains. However, frequency dependence, where rare males have a definite mating advantage in a population, was exhibited by the strains studied. Sexual vigor appeared to be a factor when the heterogeneous Macomb strain was mated to either of the two homogeneous strains in equal numbers.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Divergent selection on locomotor activity in Drosophila melanogaster. II. Test for reproductive isolation between selected lines.

Tests for reproductive isolation between lines selected for locomotor activity were performed. Three sets of selection lines were used, each consisting of lines selected for low and high locomotor activity from the same base population. Females preferred high-activity males in almost every case. However, in one of the sets temporary sexual isolation was found between flies of the high and low lines. This was accompanied in the low-activity females with a higher fertility when they were mated with their own males. After further selection the partial isolation disappeared.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Ethological isolation and mating experience in Drosophila paulistorum.

With few exceptions, previously published experiments documenting ethological isolation between Drosophila populations have used young virgin females. We have observed directly females of Drosophila paulistorum semispecies in choice experiments with both homogamic and heterogamic males. Aged females' sexual selection did not differ from that of young females. Previous heterogamic copulatory experience did not change the degree of sexual isolation; however, females with homogamic copulatory experience showed a significantly higher preference for homogamic males.

Aging↗
PubMed1977

Comparison of the critical periods for monocular and directional deprivation in cats.

1. Earlier experiments rearing kittens with one eye closed and reversing the closure after a certain age, or rearing kittens in a rotating drum and reversing the direction after a certain age, suggest that the critical periods for ocular dominance and directional sensitivity may differ. Since these results were obtained by different investigators in different laboratories, we have made a direct comparison of the two types of visual deprivation. 2. Four pairs of litter-mate kittens (matched in weight) were reared. One animal in each pair was monocularly deprived with subsequent eye reversal; the other animal was directionally deprived with reversal of drum direction. All reversals took place at age 5 weeks. Both kittens in a given pair were either 'left first' (left eye open first or left direction first) or both were right first. One died prematurely. 3. Recordings were made from the visual cortex at some age after 4 months. Some recordings were made in the left cortex and some in the right. In all cases of monocular deprivation, the majority of cells were driven by the eye that was open last (i.e. open after 5 weeks of age). In all cases of directional deprivation, the majority of the cells preferred movement in the first direction of exposure (i.e. the direction before 5 weeks of age). 4. We conclude that the critical period for directional deprivation terminates earlier than the critical period for monocular deprivation.

Animals↗
PubMed1976

Estimation of assortative mating preferences in the Arctic skua.

Methods are described for the maximum likelihood estimation of mating preferences in models of assortative mating for monogamous and polygamous organisms. These methods are applied to data of matings of the three phenotypes, pale, intermediated and dark of the Arctic Skua. The data were obtained by exhaustive surveys of the Arctic Skua populations on the islands of Fair Isle and Foula. The data give evidence of significant assortative mating of pale birds on Foula and intermediate birds on Fair Isle. The combined data show that there is very highly significant assortative mating, but only of intermediates. In previous surveys, data, in which intermediates and darks were not distinguished, were obtained from a number of islands in the Shetlands. These data, combined with the present data, show that the overall assortative mating of pale is very highly significant with no evidience of heterogeneity. The assortative mating of intermediate birds on Fair Isle agrees with other evidence showing that inermediate males have an advantage as a result of sexual selection.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

[Possible methods of control of virus disease in swine today and in the future. II. Specific applications (author's transl)].

The four alternatives discussed in the previous paper (5), are applied to a number of virus infections which are common in pigs. The enzootic state of SMEDI enteroviruses, vomiting and wasting virus and parvovirus should be promoted by bringing the young gilts into close contact with the older sow population at a sufficiently early stage. There should preferably not be a change of herd for primiparous sows during pregnancy. In parvovirus infection, maternal immunity may be so prolonged that gilts will only be infected after the time of breeding. Therefore, mating should preferably be postponed until they are nine months of age, unless previous serological tests have shown that they are in a state of active immunity. Considering the present disease situation of swine fever in several continental West European countries and consequently they high number of existing virus sources, compulsory vaccination of sows and fattening piglets is recommended against this virus on an international scale for at least three years. This vaccination can be omitted only after the number of outbreaks has been reduced to a very low level. Vaccination is the only possible alternative left in the combat against Aujezky's disease. Caution is undoubtedly indicated in using live vaccines in these cases. So far, methods have not become available for the effective control of transmissible gastroenteritis and prospects are not encouraging. The possibility of eradication of transmissible gastroenteritis is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Dose-response curves for radiation-induced gene mutations in mouse oocytes and their interpretation.

Previous work, in which female mice had been given fractionated doses of 20 X 10 rad X-rays, had confirmed and extended Russell's observations that the dose-response relationship for specific-locus mutations in mature-mouse oocytes is curved at low doses. The present work was intended to study the relationship at relatively high doses. Adult female mice were given doses of 200, 400 or 600 rad x-rays at 52 or 72 rad/min, and mated immediately. Offspring conceived in the first 7 days (i.e. using oocytes which were mature at time of treatment) were scored for specific-locus mutations. The data indicate that the departure from linearity of the dose-response curve is marginally significant at the 5% level. A quadratic dose-response curve (y = c + aD + bD2) and a square-law relationship (y = c + bD2) both give a good fit to the data. Both curves fit data of other authors obtained at low doses or dose-rates. These results could be interpreted either in terms of dose-dependent repair phenomena, or by considering specific-locus mutations as two-track events. In view of knowledge of other phenomena concerning mutation and cell killing in mouse oocytes, such as the variation in sensitivity of different cell stages, the interpretation in terms of repair phenomena is preferred.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Recognition among mice. Evidence from the use of a Y-maze differentially scented by congenic mice of different major histocompatibility types.

Previous studies of mating preference signified that mice can sense one another's major histocompatibility complex (MHC) types, probably by olfaction. This conclusion has now been substantiated by the use of a Y-maze whose two arms were differentially scented with currents of air conducted through boxes occupied by B6 (H-2b) males and by B6-H-2k congenic males. Four B6 mice, two males and two females, were successfully trained, by water deprivation and reward, to enter the arm scented by B6 or B6-H-2k males. One of the males and one of the females were trained to select the B6-scented arm; the other male and female were trained to select the B6-H-2k-scented arm. Untrained mice showed no MHC discrimination in the maze. The performance of the trained mice in distinguishing between MHC congenic homozygous F2 segregants derived from a cross of B6-H-2k with B6 was as good as their performance in distinguishing the respective inbred strains, thus essentially eliminating alternative and significant additional explanations of MHC-associated sensory discrimination. The data further indicate that chemosensory discrimination of MHC types can be entirely dissociated from sex differences and from the circumstances of mating.

Animal Communication↗