Plastic Response of Drosophila Mating Behaviours with or without predators.

Each Box is related to both treatment and age of flies, with Box A and B being used to measure courtship between predator and non-predator treatments. Here, courtship occurrence and the amount of time courting was recorded in 15 minutes for a 2 day old male Drosophila and a immature virgin female (>20 hours old, unreceptive to all mating). Having a non-receptive female allows for all changes in mating behaviour to be primarily male driven.

Box C and D were used to recored copulation latency, duration and occurrence. Here males and females are both 2 days old, and adjustments should be made by both in response to predation.

The last set of videos hold trimmed videos showing examples of courtship and copulation, as well as a suite of what are believed to be antipredator behaviours, indicating that the mating pair is aware of a perceived threat and can modify behaviours in response if necessary.

All trials were completed between April 11th and 16th, 2016.