Altitudinal variation in lifespan of Drosophila melanogaster populations from the Firtina Valley, northeastern Turkey


Ayhan N., GUELER P., ÖNDER B. Ş.

JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY, vol.61, pp.91-97, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 61
  • Publication Date: 2016
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2016.09.002
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF THERMAL BIOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.91-97
  • Keywords: Altitudinal gradient, Clinal variation, Food stress, Lifespan, Local adaptation, Temperature stress, STRESS RESISTANCE TRAITS, BODY-SIZE, EASTERN AUSTRALIA, CLINAL VARIATION, GEOGRAPHIC-VARIATION, DIETARY RESTRICTION, LATITUDINAL CLINES, DEVELOPMENTAL TIME, HISTORY CLINES, NORTH-AMERICA
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Studies of attitudinal changes in phenotype and genotype can complement studies of latitudinal patterns and provide evidence of natural selection in response to climatic factors. In Drosophila melanogaster, latitudinal variation in phenotype and genotype has been well studied, but attitudinal patterns have rarely been investigated. We studied populations from six different altitudes varying between 35 m and 2173 m in the Firtina Valley in northeastern part of Turkey to evaluate clinal trends in lifespan under experimental conditions. Lifespan in the D. melanogaster populations was examined in relation to altitude, sex, temperature (25 degrees C and 29 degrees C), and dietary yeast concentration (5 g/L and 25 g/L). As expected high temperature decrease lifespan in all populations. However, it was shown that lifespan was slightly affected by dietary stress. We found that lifespan decreases significantly under thermal stress conditions with increasing altitude. Moreover, there was a slightly negative relationship between altitude and lifespan, which was closely associated with climatic factors such as temperature and precipitation, may suggest local adaptation to climate. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.