SEXUAL DIMORPHISM OF BODY SIZE VARIATIONS AND MATING BEHAVIOUR IN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTERVeer BhanAbstract Eight populations of Drosophila melanogaster were investigated for four behavioral traits (i.e. ovariole number, fecundity, copulation duration and mating latency) and three size related traits (i.e. thorax length, wing length and wing width). Wing loading was calculated by using wing and thorax dimensions. Wing loading and size dimorphism were found to be positively correlated with each other and both were negatively correlated with the latitude of origin. Copulation duration was also found to be positively correlated with the latitude of origin. Mating latency and copulation duration were negatively correlated with each other. It is assumed that the larger females were adapted along the latitude due to fecundity advantage whereas the small size of males was due to reduced male-male competition and higher wing loading leading to larger mating latency and shorter copulation duration.
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