Meeting Abstract

P2.96  Friday, Jan. 4  Mating affects reproductive investment but not timing in the flesh fly Sarcophaga crassipalpis. ROURKE, M.J.*; MILNE, K.R.; HAHN, D.A.; University of Florida; University of Florida; University of Florida mrourke@ufl.edu

Mating has been shown to have strong effects on reproductive physiology in many animals. We examined our model for the physiology of reproductive timing, the flesh fly Sarcophaga crassipalpis, for effects of mating on the reproductive investment and timing of oogenesis by comparing the timing of egg maturation, egg number, egg size, and yolk protein production in mated and unmated females. Mated females copulated with at least one male within the first few days of life, and unmated females were sequestered on the day of eclosion so that they never mated. Deposition of yolk in oocytes was first observed on day three of adulthood and all females had matured eggs by day seven in both treatments. Females in both treatments produced a sizable clutch of mature eggs; however, mated females produced approximately ten percent more eggs than unmated females. This larger investment of yolk protein without a change in reproductive timing by mated females was also observed in the pattern of yolk protein production. There was no difference in the timing of the first appearance, peak titer, or disappearance of yolk proteins in the blood between the two treatments, but the blood of mated females contained a greater peak yolk protein titer.