Observations on the extent and temporal stability of latitudinal clines for alcohol dehydrogenase allozymes and four chromosome inversions in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Previously we have presented evidence of large-scale latitudinal clines in the frequencies of four chromosome inversions and alleles at six enzyme loci in populations of D. melanogaster in Australasia, Asia and North America. Subsequent sampling by others in Japan and western U.S.A. has failed to repeat this observation for the steepest of the clines (alcohol dehydrogenase and the four chromosome inversions). We argue that this failure reflects the few populations and small latitudinal range sampled in these later studies. From extensive sampling over a long latitudinal transect in Australasia we here document Adh and inversion clines which are virtually identical to those originally obtained in different Australian populations four years earlier. We also repeat our observation that the Adh cline is largely independent of the cline in the linked inversion In(2L)t. We therefore retain our original conclusion that these polymorphisms are subject to natural selection. However the new Australasian data do not indicate an association between Adh and maximum rainfall which had been evident in the earlier data for Australasia, Asia and North America. We therefore retract our claim that the selective agent on Adh is related to rainfall.

Polymorphism at the Adh and αGpdh loci in Drosophila melanogaster: effects of rearing temperature on developmental rate, body weight, and some biochemical parameters

“…An important question is whether these dines are under the control of natural selection. Correlation analysis of climatic data revealed no consistent significant correlations (Anderson et a!., 1987). In the laboratory, stress from alcohol or temperature can cause differential selection of Adh and aGpdh alleles (e.g.…”

Allozyme polymorphism at the αGpdh and Adh loci and fitness in Drosophila melanogaster

“…That could also explain the close association between In(2L)t and aGpdh-F and Adh-S alleles at low latitudes (Knibb, 1983;Inoue et a!., 1984). However the In(2L)t dines is insufficient to explain the aGpdh and Adh dines over relatively high latitudes (Voelker et al, 1978;Oakeshott et a!., 1984b;Anderson et al, 1987) where In(2L)t is rare.…”

Parallel selection of ethanol and acetic-acid tolerance in Drosophila melanogaster populations from India

“…Colonising species such as Drosophila melanogaster populations offer excellent material for micro-evolutionary studies (Parsons, 1983 (David and Capy, 1988 (David, 1982;Oakeshott et al, 1982;Anderson et al, 1987). Gel (Parson, 1983 (David et al, 1986) and Australia (McKenzie and Parsons, 1972;Parsons, 1979Parsons, , 1980a (Chakir et al, 1993(Chakir et al, , 1994 (Harris and Hopkinson, 1976 (Ferguson, 1980 (Parsons, 1983 fig 3a).…”

“…Gel (Parson, 1983 (David et al, 1986) and Australia (McKenzie and Parsons, 1972;Parsons, 1979Parsons, , 1980a (Chakir et al, 1993(Chakir et al, , 1994 (Harris and Hopkinson, 1976 (Ferguson, 1980 (Parsons, 1983 fig 3a). The (David, 1982;Oakeshott et al 1982;Anderson et al, 1987).…”