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15:01
Dissection of Oenocytes from Adult Drosophila melanogaster
Published on: July 18, 2010
Genotype-by-environment interactions for cuticular hydrocarbon expression in Drosophila simulans
F C Ingleby1, D J Hosken, K Flowers
1Centre for Ecology and Conservation, School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Tremough, Penryn, UK.
Journal of Evolutionary Biology
|November 21, 2012
Summary
Genotype-by-environment interactions (G × Es) influence how organisms adapt to changing conditions. This study reveals that G × Es in fruit fly sexual traits can maintain genetic diversity but also make signals of mate quality unreliable.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Behavioral ecology
- Genetics
Background:
- Genotype-by-environment interactions (G × Es) explain genetic differences in phenotypic plasticity.
- G × Es are increasingly recognized in sexual selection across various species and traits.
- Theoretical models suggest G × Es can maintain genetic variation but may compromise sexual signal reliability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To empirically investigate genotype-by-environment interactions (G × Es) in a multivariate sexual trait.
- To test theoretical predictions regarding the role of G × Es in maintaining genetic variation and signal reliability.
- To examine G × Es in cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles of Drosophila simulans under varying environmental conditions.
Main Methods:
- Rearing of iso-female lines of Drosophila simulans in a fully factorial design across diet and temperature variations.
- Analysis of sex-specific environmental, genetic, and G × E effects on cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) expression.
- Quantification of variance components, genetic correlations, and heritabilities to assess G × E impacts.
Main Results:
- Significant sex-specific environmental, genetic, and G × E effects were observed on CHC profiles.
- Diet-specific G × Es were detected in both male and female CHC profiles.
- Temperature-specific G × Es were found in female CHC profiles, with some evidence of ecological crossover.
Conclusions:
- The study demonstrates that G × Es in Drosophila simulans CHC profiles have the potential to maintain genetic variation.
- These interactions can also lead to unreliability in sexual signals, impacting mate quality assessment.
- Findings provide empirical support for theoretical predictions on the dual role of G × Es in sexual selection.
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