2-D sex images elicit mate copying in fruit flies
Abstract Although the environment is three-dimensional (3-D), humans are able to extract subtle information from two-dimensional (2-D) images, particularly in the domain of sex. However, whether animals with simpler nervous systems are capable of such information extraction remains to be demonstrate...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2022-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26252-5 |
| _version_ | 1797977408343638016 |
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| author | Sabine Nöbel Magdalena Monier David Villa Étienne Danchin Guillaume Isabel |
| author_facet | Sabine Nöbel Magdalena Monier David Villa Étienne Danchin Guillaume Isabel |
| author_sort | Sabine Nöbel |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Although the environment is three-dimensional (3-D), humans are able to extract subtle information from two-dimensional (2-D) images, particularly in the domain of sex. However, whether animals with simpler nervous systems are capable of such information extraction remains to be demonstrated, as this ability would suggest a functional generalisation capacity. Here, we performed mate-copying experiments in Drosophila melanogaster using 2-D artificial stimuli. Mate copying occurs when naïve females observe the mating success of potential mates and use that social information to build their own mating preference. By replacing live demonstrations with (i) photos or (ii) simplified images of copulating pairs, we found that even crudely simplified images of sexual intercourse still elicit mate copying, suggesting that Drosophila is able to extract sex-related information even from a degraded image. This new method constitutes a powerful tool to further investigate mate copying in that species and sexual preferences in general. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:07:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6f5069f20ca44a5780ca00165fdca25b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T05:07:30Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-6f5069f20ca44a5780ca00165fdca25b2022-12-25T12:17:10ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222022-12-011211910.1038/s41598-022-26252-52-D sex images elicit mate copying in fruit fliesSabine Nöbel0Magdalena Monier1David Villa2Étienne Danchin3Guillaume Isabel4Université Toulouse 1 Capitole and Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST), Esplanade de l’UniversitéLaboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPSCentre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS UMR 5169, Université de Toulouse Midi-PyrénéesLaboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique (EDB UMR 5174), Université de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées, CNRS, IRD, UPSCentre de Recherches sur la Cognition Animale (CRCA), Centre de Biologie Intégrative (CBI), CNRS UMR 5169, Université de Toulouse Midi-PyrénéesAbstract Although the environment is three-dimensional (3-D), humans are able to extract subtle information from two-dimensional (2-D) images, particularly in the domain of sex. However, whether animals with simpler nervous systems are capable of such information extraction remains to be demonstrated, as this ability would suggest a functional generalisation capacity. Here, we performed mate-copying experiments in Drosophila melanogaster using 2-D artificial stimuli. Mate copying occurs when naïve females observe the mating success of potential mates and use that social information to build their own mating preference. By replacing live demonstrations with (i) photos or (ii) simplified images of copulating pairs, we found that even crudely simplified images of sexual intercourse still elicit mate copying, suggesting that Drosophila is able to extract sex-related information even from a degraded image. This new method constitutes a powerful tool to further investigate mate copying in that species and sexual preferences in general.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26252-5 |
| spellingShingle | Sabine Nöbel Magdalena Monier David Villa Étienne Danchin Guillaume Isabel 2-D sex images elicit mate copying in fruit flies Scientific Reports |
| title | 2-D sex images elicit mate copying in fruit flies |
| title_full | 2-D sex images elicit mate copying in fruit flies |
| title_fullStr | 2-D sex images elicit mate copying in fruit flies |
| title_full_unstemmed | 2-D sex images elicit mate copying in fruit flies |
| title_short | 2-D sex images elicit mate copying in fruit flies |
| title_sort | 2 d sex images elicit mate copying in fruit flies |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-26252-5 |
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