We have shown that the Sex-lethal (Sxl) gene, which controls morphological aspects of sex determination in Drosophila melanogaster, also regulates sexual behavior. Chromosomal males that are hemizygous for a deletion of the entire Sxl locus perform normal courtship and synthesize the two courtship-inhibiting pheromones that normal males make. However, ectopic expression of female-specific Sex-l...

One aspect of courtship in1 male Drosophila melanogaster has been reported to be experience dependent. Males that have courted fertilized females are virtually unresponsive to virgin females for 2-3 hr. Here, this response was utilized as an assay for the effects of conditioning mutations on experiencedependent courtship. Seven strains expressing conditioning mutations (previously isolated and ...

Many animals engage in spectacular courtship displays, likely recruiting specialized neural, hormonal and muscular systems to facilitate these performances. Male golden-collared manakins (Manacus vitellinus) of Panamanian rainforests perform physically elaborate courtship displays that include novel forms of visual and acoustic signaling. We study the behavioral neuroendocrinology of this male'...

Courtship records of 15 pairs of Drosophila melanogaster were analyzed for temporal stationarity of courtship behaviors, behavioral diversity, behavioral intercorrelations, sequential properties, and information transmission for both sexes. Durations of one male behavior, "orient-back," and two female behaviors, "preen" and "stand still," were found to change from the first to the second half o...

During courtship males attract females with elaborate behaviors. In mice, these displays include ultrasonic vocalizations. Ultrasonic courtship vocalizations were previously attributed to the courting male, despite evidence that both sexes produce virtually indistinguishable vocalizations. Because of this similarity, and the difficulty of assigning vocalizations to individuals, the vocal contri...

Elaborate physical courtship displays of many male vertebrates require extensive neuromuscular coordination dependent on hormonal activation. How neuromuscular systems evolve to perform essential natural behaviors as well as specialized behaviors required for courtship is poorly understood. We have explored neural, endocrine and muscular adaptations underlying the complex courtship displays of ...

Male courtship display is common in many animals; in some cases, males engage in courtship indiscriminately, spending significant time and energy courting heterospecifics with whom they have no chance of mating or producing viable offspring. Due to high costs and few if any benefits, we might expect mechanisms to evolve to reduce such misdirected courtship (or 'reproductive interference'). In H...

In Ustilago violacea conjugation involves a period of courtship followed by the cooperative assembly of a conjugation tube between paired sporidia of opposite mating type. During courtship information is exchanged between the paired sporidia directing transcription and translation of a ' sex message'. This information exchange is completed even though the plasma membranes and walls of the matin...

Sexual selection was proposed by Darwin to explain the evolution of male sexual traits such as ornaments and elaborate courtship displays. Empirical and theoretical studies have traditionally focused on ornaments; the reasons for the evolution of elaborate, acrobatic courtship displays remain unclear. We addressed the hypothesis that females choose males on the basis of subtle differences in di...

The objective of the study was to compare courtship behavior of various wild and mass reared medfly strains, in order to document the degree of diversity in courtship behavior among medfly populations and to assess its implications for strategy of application of the Sterile Insect Technique. Recordings of medfly courtship behavior were collected from several locations world-wide using a standar...