Oviposition Site Differences in Strains of Drosophila melanogaster Selected for Divergent Geotactic Maze Behavior

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Abstract
Selection for divergent geotactic maze behavior altered the oviposition site utilized by females of 2 selected strains of D. melanogaster. Geonegative females laid more eggs on the upper surface than the control females, and geopositive females laid fewer eggs on the upper surface than the controls. Mixing males and females from the 2 strains did not alter oviposition behavior. Geotactically maze-divergent strains of D. pseudoobscura showed no difference in oviposition site preference as determined by this method suggesting a basic difference in the genetics of geotactic behavior in the 2 spp. Genetic components related to the variation in oviposition site use in D. melanogaster seem to be alterable by selection, even though the selection was related to geotactic maze behavior.