Question

Using this article answer the following questions: Kyriacou, C.P. 1981. The relationship between locomotor activity and sexual behavior in ebony strains of Drosophila melanogaster. Animal Behavior 29: 462-471.

1. What effect did lighting conditions have on the relationship between locomotor activity and competitive mating success?

2. In our lab, we will be investigating whether or not microevolution will occur with respect to body color in Droosphila melanogaster. What predictions could you make based on this study (e.g. which assumptions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium might be violated)? Clearly state your hypothesis for the experiment.

Answer 1

1. It has been seen that visual impairment leads to poor mating success. However, when mating is initiated in darkness courtship occurs more frequently as compared to when done in the light.

2. Random mating can lead to equilibrium by reaching equilibrium frequencies, which can occur in a single generation. Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium talks about the absence of genetic drift, whereas microevolution may not be supported through the  Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium.