Selection on age at reproduction in Drosophila melanogaster: female mating frequency as a correlated response.

We examined the effect of selection for age at reproduction on female mating frequency and fertility in female Drosophila melanogaster. Selection for increased age at reproduction (and hence increased lifespan) resulted in higher late life female mating frequencies, while females selected for younger ages at reproduction showed increased early life mating frequencies. These results indicate that the response to selection on age at reproduction has involved changes in the scheduling of female reproductive behavior.