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Maintaining a behaviour polymorphism by frequency-dependent selection on a single gene

Author

Listed:
  • Mark J. Fitzpatrick

    (University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada)

  • Elah Feder

    (University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada)

  • Locke Rowe

    (University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G5, Canada)

  • Marla B. Sokolowski

    (University of Toronto at Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada)

Abstract

Rovers' return In Drosophila, natural variation in the foraging (for) gene is behind a well known contrasting pair of behaviours in low nutrient conditions, the 'rover' and 'sitter' phenotypes. Despite decades of research, it has not been possible to account for the maintenance of allelic variation in for, and the maintenance of stable polymorphisms in general. New experiments reveal that competitive interaction between these coexisting variants could be the explanation. When one variant is common the other thrives, and vice versa, ensuring that 'sitter' larvae (inactive eaters that move infrequently and eat a lot) and 'rovers' (that move a lot and eat little) can coexist.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark J. Fitzpatrick & Elah Feder & Locke Rowe & Marla B. Sokolowski, 2007. "Maintaining a behaviour polymorphism by frequency-dependent selection on a single gene," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7141), pages 210-212, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:447:y:2007:i:7141:d:10.1038_nature05764
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05764
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    Cited by:

    1. González Casanova, Adrián & Miró Pina, Verónica & Pardo, Juan Carlos, 2020. "The Wright–Fisher model with efficiency," Theoretical Population Biology, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 33-46.

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