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Antagonistic selection between adult thorax and wing size in field released Drosophila melanogaster independent of thermal conditions
Author(s) -
HOFFMANN A. A.,
RATNA E.,
SGRÒ C. M.,
BARTON M.,
BLACKET M.,
HALLAS R.,
DE GARIS S.,
WEEKS A. R.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2007.01422.x
Subject(s) - biology , wing , biological dispersal , drosophila melanogaster , selection (genetic algorithm) , thorax (insect anatomy) , drosophila (subgenus) , evolutionary biology , drosophilidae , ecology , zoology , genetics , population , demography , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , engineering , gene , aerospace engineering
Attempts to explain size variation in Drosophila and other small insects often focus on the larval stage and association between development time and size, but patterns are also influenced by direct selection on size‐related traits in the adults. Here we use multiple field releases of Drosophila melanogaster to test the association between size and one component of field fitness, the ability of Drosophila to locate resources for feeding and breeding. We find antagonistic selection between wing length and thorax length in both males and females, such that capture at baits is higher for flies with relatively larger thorax lengths and smaller wings. However flies with large wings relative to thoraces disperse further as reflected in the longer distances moved to baits. These patterns did not depend strongly on weather conditions, suggesting that selection on adult size is at least partly independent of temperature. Antagonistic selection between size traits can generate changes in size along gradients if the distribution of resources in the environment varies and selects for different dispersal patterns, particularly as dispersal is relatively higher under warmer conditions.