Starvation resistance and adult body composition in a latitudinal cline of Drosophila melanogaster.
Latitudinal geographic variation in Drosophila melanogaster is pervasive. Parallel clines in traits such as body size, egg size, ovariole number, and development time have been found on several continents throughout the world. However, a cline in starvation resistance and fat content in D. melanogaster has so far been found only in India. Here we investigate starvation resistance and fat content in 10 populations from South America, in which clines in body size, egg size, and development time have previously been found. We find no evidence for a cline in starvation resistance or fat content in South America. We therefore suggest that the cline in starvation resistance in India may have evolved in response to specific climatic variation found only in India.
Robinson
S J
SJ
Department of Biology, University College London, United Kingdom. s.robinson@ucl.ac.uk
Zwaan
B
B
Partridge
L
L
D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005843:Geography; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013020:South America; D013217:Starvation
D008055:Lipids