Aedes aegypti is an important disease vector and a major target of reproductive control efforts. We manipulated the opportunity for sexual selection in populations of Ae. aegypti by controlling the number of males competing for a single female. Populations exposed to higher levels of male competition rapidly evolved higher male competitive mating success relative to populations evolved in the absence of competition, with an evolutionary response visible after only five generations. We also detected correlated evolution in other important mating and life history traits, such as acoustic signalling, fecundity and body size. Our results indicate that there is ample segregating variation for determinants of male mating competitiveness in wild populations and that increased male mating success trades-off with other important life history traits. The mating conditions imposed on laboratory-reared mosquitoes are likely a significant determinant of male mating success in populations destined for release.
Male Mating Competitiveness
Results of mating competition experiments. For each individual mating trial the block and replicate are identified. The competitor treatment (HMC and NMC) is used to identify which selective treatment was in competition with the UA line. A “1” score in the Competitor Mate Column indicates that either the NMC or HMC males was successful at forming a copula. A “0” score here indicates that a UA male was successful. We additionally, have included which colour dust was used to mark each treatment and the winglength of each male. We used a generalized linear mixed effect model (GLMM) with a binomial distribution to test for the fixed effects of treatment (HMC/NMC), male dust colour (pink/yellow) and male wing length on the whether a population male formed a copula with the U female in competition with U males. We incorporated replicate pair, population, and block into our models as random effects. We used a similar approach to test for the effect of treatment on whether sperm was transferred. A GLMM with a binomial distribution was used to test for the fixed effect of treatment (HMC/NMC) on whether a mating resulted in successful sperm transfer. Replicate pair, population and block were again incorporated as random effects.
Mating_in_Competition.csv
Mating and Acoustic Signalling in Isolated Pairs
This dataset contains the acoustic and behavioural outcomes between one on one interactions between HMC and NMC males presented with a tethered UA female. We used a GLMM with a binomial distribution to test for the fixed effect of treatment (HMC/NMC) on the whether harmonic convergence was detected during an isolated mating attempt (Yes/No) with a U female. In a separate model, we tested for the effect of convergence, treatment, and their interaction on whether a pair formed a copula (Yes/No). We incorporated replicate pair, population and block into our models as random effects.
One_on_OneMating.csv
Female Mating Behaviour
For each focal female we present the data for the timing and outcome of each mating attempt, the timing and duration copula formation, sperm transfer, and winglength.
The effect of mating regime and replicate on female mating behaviours (attempt and copula latencies, total attempt durations, total attempt number, copula duration) were assessed using linear mixed models (LMM). Female treatment was incorporated as a fixed effect and replicate as a random effect. We used a GLMM with a binomial response variable and logit link function to assess the effect of female mating regime as a fixed effect and replicate pair and population as random effects on the probability of copula formation and sperm transfer to females in these assay.
Female_Behavior.csv
Fecundity Data
Data on number of eggs laid by each female, winglength, Female ID, Replicate, and Mating Regime.
A GLMM was used to assess the effect of female treatment and wing length as fixed effects, and replicate pair and population as random effects, on fecundity. We made comparisons between mating regimes using a Sequential Bonferroni post-hoc test.
Female_Eggs.csv
Immature Survival Proportion and Sex Ratio
Data on the proportion of first instar larvae which survived to adulthood, the proportion of first instars that survived to pupation, and the proportion of pupae that survived to emergence, the total number of males and females emerging for each replicate tray for the Test Rearing (selection)
We determined the effect of treatment on the proportion of first instar larvae that eventually emerged as adults using a GLMM with treatment as a fixed effect and replicate pair, population and experimental block as random effects. We used a GLMM to test for the effect of treatment on the total proportion of emerging adults which were female and incorporated replicate pair, population and block as random effects.
Test_ImmatureSurvival_SexRatio.csv
Daily Emergence Data
Data on individual emergence times for Test rearing .
The pattern of emergence over time was compared between mating regimes using a Mixed Effects Cox Regression to test for the effect using the ‘Survival’ package.
TestLarval_Development.csv
Winglengths
Individual female and male winglengths. The winglengths of females and males were compared using a LMM with treatment as a fixed effect and replicate pair, population and block as random effects.
Test_Wings.csv