Reduction in thermal plasticity of life history traits in response to cold selection: an experimental evolution study using Drosophila melanogaster
IntroductionHow selection influences phenotypic plasticity is an important question in evolutionary biology. We report an experimental evolution study that examined how prolonged selection at cold vs. warm temperature impacts the thermal plasticity of traits like reproductive output, body size, and...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| author | Rishav Roy Rishav Roy Aradhya Chattopadhyay Sreebes Deb Sharma Aharna Mondal Payel Biswas Payel Biswas Shampa M. Ghosh |
| author_facet | Rishav Roy Rishav Roy Aradhya Chattopadhyay Sreebes Deb Sharma Aharna Mondal Payel Biswas Payel Biswas Shampa M. Ghosh |
| author_sort | Rishav Roy |
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| description | IntroductionHow selection influences phenotypic plasticity is an important question in evolutionary biology. We report an experimental evolution study that examined how prolonged selection at cold vs. warm temperature impacts the thermal plasticity of traits like reproductive output, body size, and body water content in Drosophila melanogaster.MethodsWe conducted the study on two sets of large, outbred fly populations: one maintained at the standard fly rearing temperature, i.e., 25°C, and another selected at cold temperature, i.e., 17°C, for 3.5 years. Both selection lines were derived from the same ancestral population.Results and discussionWe found that while 25°C selected females lay significantly fewer eggs in cold compared to warm or optimal rearing temperature of 25°C, the 17°C selected females have consistent or canalized fecundity levels across warm and cold conditions. Sustained fecundity levels across cold and warm conditions are potential marks of adaptation to a broader thermal range. While phenotypic plasticity may aid in adaptation to new environments, for traits such as fecundity, consistent levels across environments, that is, low plasticity, may be more adaptive. We also found that male flies from cold vs. warm selection regimes differ in their thermal plasticity. Plasticity of dry weight and body water content was reduced in the cold-selected males, indicating the evolution of canalized levels for these traits too. While canalized fecundity levels across temperatures can potentially help in thermal adaptation, the significance of reduced plasticity of male body size and water content needs to be investigated in the future. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-d954727c131a4b46a8f298d8f9ce22352025-02-04T10:12:06ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2025-01-011210.3389/fevo.2024.14529481452948Reduction in thermal plasticity of life history traits in response to cold selection: an experimental evolution study using Drosophila melanogasterRishav Roy0Rishav Roy1Aradhya Chattopadhyay2Sreebes Deb Sharma3Aharna Mondal4Payel Biswas5Payel Biswas6Shampa M. Ghosh7School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, IndiaHuck Institute of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United StatesSchool of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, IndiaSchool of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, IndiaSchool of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, IndiaSchool of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, IndiaSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United KingdomSchool of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Bhubaneswar, IndiaIntroductionHow selection influences phenotypic plasticity is an important question in evolutionary biology. We report an experimental evolution study that examined how prolonged selection at cold vs. warm temperature impacts the thermal plasticity of traits like reproductive output, body size, and body water content in Drosophila melanogaster.MethodsWe conducted the study on two sets of large, outbred fly populations: one maintained at the standard fly rearing temperature, i.e., 25°C, and another selected at cold temperature, i.e., 17°C, for 3.5 years. Both selection lines were derived from the same ancestral population.Results and discussionWe found that while 25°C selected females lay significantly fewer eggs in cold compared to warm or optimal rearing temperature of 25°C, the 17°C selected females have consistent or canalized fecundity levels across warm and cold conditions. Sustained fecundity levels across cold and warm conditions are potential marks of adaptation to a broader thermal range. While phenotypic plasticity may aid in adaptation to new environments, for traits such as fecundity, consistent levels across environments, that is, low plasticity, may be more adaptive. We also found that male flies from cold vs. warm selection regimes differ in their thermal plasticity. Plasticity of dry weight and body water content was reduced in the cold-selected males, indicating the evolution of canalized levels for these traits too. While canalized fecundity levels across temperatures can potentially help in thermal adaptation, the significance of reduced plasticity of male body size and water content needs to be investigated in the future.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1452948/fullthermal plasticitythermal adaptationDrosophilaexperimental evolutionfecunditybody size |
| spellingShingle | Rishav Roy Rishav Roy Aradhya Chattopadhyay Sreebes Deb Sharma Aharna Mondal Payel Biswas Payel Biswas Shampa M. Ghosh Reduction in thermal plasticity of life history traits in response to cold selection: an experimental evolution study using Drosophila melanogaster Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution thermal plasticity thermal adaptation Drosophila experimental evolution fecundity body size |
| title | Reduction in thermal plasticity of life history traits in response to cold selection: an experimental evolution study using Drosophila melanogaster |
| title_full | Reduction in thermal plasticity of life history traits in response to cold selection: an experimental evolution study using Drosophila melanogaster |
| title_fullStr | Reduction in thermal plasticity of life history traits in response to cold selection: an experimental evolution study using Drosophila melanogaster |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reduction in thermal plasticity of life history traits in response to cold selection: an experimental evolution study using Drosophila melanogaster |
| title_short | Reduction in thermal plasticity of life history traits in response to cold selection: an experimental evolution study using Drosophila melanogaster |
| title_sort | reduction in thermal plasticity of life history traits in response to cold selection an experimental evolution study using drosophila melanogaster |
| topic | thermal plasticity thermal adaptation Drosophila experimental evolution fecundity body size |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2024.1452948/full |
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