Open AccessColonization of America by Drosophila subobscura : Experiment in natural populations that supports the adaptive role of chromosomal-inversion polymorphism
Author(s) -
A. Prevosti,
Griselda Ribó,
Luı́s Serra,
Montserrat Aguadé,
Joan Balaña,
María Monclús,
Francesc Mestres
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.85.15.5597
Subject(s) - drosophila subobscura , chromosomal polymorphism , colonization , biology , chromosomal inversion , adaptive value , evolutionary biology , adaptive evolution , genetics , zoology , ecology , karyotype , chromosome , gene
North America and South America have recently been colonized by the Palearctic speciesDrosophila subobscura . This double colonization offers a rare opportunity for evolutionary studies. Correlations between chromosomal arrangement frequencies and latitude were calculated for the colonizing populations. Signs of these correlations are highly coincident with those found in the Old World. These results provide experimental support for the adaptive value of the chromosomal-inversion polymorphism; historical and other nonadaptive explanations are thus excluded or relegated to a secondary role.