The genetic and social contributions to sex differences in lifespan in Drosophila serrata

<p class="MsoNormal">Sex differences in lifespan remain an intriguing puzzle in evolutionary biology. While explanations range from sex differences in selection to sex differences in the expression of recessive lifespan-altering mutations (via X-linkage), little consensus has been reached. One unresolved issue is the extent to which genetic influences on lifespan dimorphism are modulated by the environment. For example, studies have shown that sex-differences in lifespan can either increase or decrease depending upon the social environment. Here we took an experimental approach, manipulating multiple axes of social environment across inbred long- and short-lived genotypes and their reciprocal F1s in the fly <em>Drosophila serrata</em>. Our results reveal strong genetic effects and subtle yet significant genotype-by-environment interactions for male and female lifespan, specifically due to both population density and mating status.  Further, our data do not support the idea that unconditional expression of deleterious X-linked recessive alleles in heterogametic males accounts for lower male lifespan.</p>