Absence of clinal variation in virgin retention capacity
in Australian Drosophila melanogaster |
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Authors: | Carla M Sgrò Andréa Magiafoglou Laetitia Faine Ary A Hoffmann |
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Institution: | (1) Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research, Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne, 3010 Victoria, Australia |
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Abstract: | The ability of virgin Drosophila melanogaster adults to retain eggs is thought to be an adaptation to persisting in temperate areas, based on differences in this trait
between European and African populations, and based on seasonal changes in this trait in France. By retaining eggs in the
absence of males and under conditions of poorer nutrition (conditions common in temperate areas during colder months), females
reduce the wastage of resources and increase their probability of surviving spring into summer, enabling them to initiate
summer population expansions. To test for variation in virgin egg retention along a climatic gradient, we characterized clinal
variation in strains collected from eastern Australia extending from temperate Tasmania to tropical northern Queensland. Despite
testing a large number of strains and repeated testing of the cline ends, we did not detect any evidence for clinal variation
in virgin egg retention. Therefore although D. melanogaster in temperate Australia overwinter at the adult stage, there is no evidence for selection on virgin retention capacity producing
clinal patterns. This contrasts with other evidence for clinal variation in egg production patterns over winter. |
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Keywords: | D melanogaster Virgin egg retention Cline Australia |
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