Natural variation in cold tolerance in the nematode Pristionchus pacificus: the role of genotype and environment.

ABSTRACT: Low temperature is a primary determinant of growth and survival among organisms and almost all animals need to withstand temperature fluctuations in their surroundings. We used the hermaphroditic nematode Pristionchus pacificus to examine variation in cold tolerance in samples collected from 18 widespread locations. Samples were challenged by exposure to both direct and gradual low temperature after culture in the laboratory at 20°C. A short-term acclimation treatment was also applied to assess cold tolerance following a pre-exposure cold treatment. Finally, genotype-by-environment (G × E) analysis was performed on a subset of samples cultured at two additional temperatures (15°C and 25°C). P. pacificus displayed a high degree of natural variation in cold tolerance, corresponding to the pr

SUBMITTER: McGaughran A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4163660 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature