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Drift in Individual Behavioral Phenotype as a Strategy for Unpredictable Worlds.

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    Individual animals exhibit behavioral changes over time, termed drift, which may be adaptive. This study in fruit flies shows drift is a regulated phenomenon potentially aiding species survival in changing environments.

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    Area of Science:

    • Evolutionary biology
    • Behavioral neuroscience
    • Genetics

    Background:

    • Phenotypic variability within populations is crucial for survival in unpredictable environments.
    • Bet-hedging strategies explain population-level diversity but not individual-level changes over time.
    • Individual phenotype drift, or spontaneous shifts in behavior, lacks evolutionary explanation.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the phenomenon of individual phenotype drift in *Drosophila melanogaster*.
    • To characterize the timescales and genetic influences on drift.
    • To develop a theoretical framework for the adaptive value of drift.

    Main Methods:

    • Utilized a continuous circling assay to measure locomotor handedness in fruit flies.
    • Compared drift and bet-hedging across different fly strains.
    • Manipulated serotonin levels to assess their effect on drift.
    • Developed theoretical models to assess the adaptive value of drift.

    Main Results:

    • Fruit fly handedness spontaneously changes over various timescales (seconds to lifespan).
    • Bet-hedging and drift show independent, strain-specific differences.
    • Serotonin manipulation alters the rate of drift.
    • Theoretical models suggest drift can be adaptive in fluctuating environments.

    Conclusions:

    • Individual phenotype drift is a regulated phenomenon influenced by genetic background and neuromodulation.
    • Drift may provide an adaptive advantage for populations facing environmental changes within an individual's lifespan.
    • Understanding individual behavioral plasticity is vital for species survival in a changing world.