Can artificially selected phenotypes influence a component of field fitness? Thermal selection and fly performance under thermal extremes.

ABSTRACT: Artificially selected lines are widely used to investigate the genetic basis of quantitative traits and make inferences about evolutionary trajectories. Yet, the relevance of selected traits to field fitness is rarely tested. Here, we assess the relevance of thermal stress resistance artificially selected in the laboratory to one component of field fitness by investigating the likelihood of adult Drosophila melanogaster reaching food bait under different temperatures. Lines resistant to heat reached the bait more often than controls under hot and cold conditions, but less often at intermediate temperatures, suggesting a fitness cost of increased heat resistance but not at temperature extremes. Cold-resistant lines were more common at baits than controls under cold as well as hot field cond

SUBMITTER: Kristensen TN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2093976 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature