Research Interests: I am interested in the role of post-mating sexual selection and sexual conflict in speciation. I am currently investigating the effects of homotypic vs. heterotypic ejaculates on male-male and male-female post-mating interactions in populations of Drosophila melanogaster. I have two pairs of D. melanogaster populations that appear to be incipient species (i.e. display partial pre-mating isolation). One pair consists of isofemale lines from Zimbabwe, Africa and isofemale lines from cosmopolitan areas in Riverside, California. The second pair consists of isofemale lines from two environmentally different slopes of a canyon in Israel, Evolution Canyon. The two pairs of populations experience different degrees of geographical separation (allopatric vs. sympatric) and, most likely, genetic differentiation. Four different post-mating interaction components will be studied for both pairs of populations, in each case the heterotypic effects will be compared to the homotypic effects. The degree of genetic differentiation will be determined using microsatellite loci and genes from the accessory gland of male ejaculates. The accessory gland genes are of most interest as they are believed to be evolving rapidly due to strong selection.
Faculty advisors: Len Nunney (main advisor), Willie Swanson, and Marlene Zuk
PUBLICATIONS:/
Panhuis, T.M., R. Butlin, M. Zuk, T. Tregenza (2001) Sexual selection and speciation. TREE 16(7): 364-371
Panhuis, T.M. and G.S. Wilkinson (1999) Exaggerated male eye span influences contest outcome in stalk-eyed flies (Diopsidae). Behav. Ecol. Sociobiol. 46(4): 221-227.