Strategic differences in thermal adaptation between two Drosophila species, D. virilis and D. immigrans (original) (raw)

Summary

Preadult viability and developmental time at four different temperatures, heat and cold resistances of adult flies, effects of acclimatization on heat resistance, and preferred temperature of adult flies were compared between two species of Drosophila, D. virilis and D. immigrans. Four Japanese local populations were surveyed for each species. As compared with immigrans, virilis was higher in its ability to tolerate both heat and cold stresses and was viable over a broader temperature range. On the other hand, immigrans revealed a superior ability to acclimatize and a rigid preference for gradually changing thermal environment. Differences between geographical populations are remarkable for heat tolerance in virilis and cold tolerance in immigrans. In conclusion, thermal adaptation of virilis seems to be based on the high tolerance to extreme temperatures and that of immigrans mainly on the behavioural preference for viable temperatures.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Biology, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Setagaya-ku, 158, Tokyo, Japan
   Akihiko Yamamoto & Shigeru Ohba

Authors

1. Akihiko Yamamoto
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2. Shigeru Ohba
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Yamamoto, A., Ohba, S. Strategic differences in thermal adaptation between two Drosophila species, D. virilis and D. immigrans.Oecologia 52, 333–339 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00367956

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• Received: 12 October 1981
• Issue Date: January 1982
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00367956

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