Inbreeding and thermal adaptation in Drosophila subobscura

• Published in: Genome Vol. 57; no. 9; pp. 481 - 488
• Main Authors: Zivanovic, Goran, Arenas, Conxita, Mestres, Francesc
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada NRC Research Press 01.09.2014; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Acclimatization - genetics; Adaptació (Biologia); Adaptation (Biology); Adaptation (Physiology); adaptation thermique; Analysis; Animals; chromosomal inversions; Chromosome Inversion; Chromosomes; Consanguinitat; Consanguinity; consanguinité; Drosophila; Drosophila - genetics; Drosophila - physiology; Drosophila subobscura; Drosòfila; Fertility; fécondité; Genetics; Genomics; Genètica; Homozygosity; Identification and classification; Inbreeding; Insects; inversions chromosomiques; Physiological aspects; Polymorphism, Genetic; Temperature; thermal adaptation; Serbia; adaptation thermique; inversions chromosomiques; chromosomal inversions; consanguinité; fertility; thermal adaptation; inbreeding; Drosophila subobscura; fécondité
• ISSN: 1480-3321; 0831-2796; 1480-3321
• DOI: 10.1139/gen-2014-0149

Using a well-adapted Drosophila subobscura population (Avala, Serbia), a drastic experiment of inbreeding was carried out to assess whether the expected level of homozygosity could be reached or if other evolutionary forces affected the process. In general, no significant changes of inversion (or arrangement) frequencies were detected after 12 brother–sister mating generations. Furthermore, no significant differences were obtained between observed and expected (under the inbreeding model) karyotypic frequencies. Thus, these results seemed to indicate that the main evolutionary factor in the experiment was inbreeding. However, in the G₁₂ generation, complete chromosomal fixation was reached only in two out of the eight final inbred lines. In these lines, the chromosomal compositions were difficult to interpret, but they could be likely a consequence of adaptation to particular laboratory conditions (constant 18 °C, food, light period, etc.). Finally, in a second experiment, the inbred lines presented higher fertility at 18 °C than at 13 °C. Also, there was a significant line effect on fertility: inbred line number 6 (A₁, J₁, U₁₊₂; U₁₊₂₊₆, E₈, and O₃₊₄₊₇) presented the highest values, which maybe the result of an adaptation to laboratory conditions. Thus, the results obtained in our experiments reflect the adaptive potential of D. subobscura inversions.