Collecting along an elevational transect for Drosophila species
Etges WJ. 2016. Collecting along an elevational transect for Drosophila species
PIs collected fruit flies (Drosophila spp.) along US 441 from Pigeon Forge to just below Newfound gap in late July through early August 2003, repeating a study conducted in 1947, 1958-59, 1981, 1982, and 1983. Earlier temporal trends (1947-1981) showed increases in frequency of chromosome arrangements typical of high elevation populations, suggesting microevolutionary responses in all populations towards cooler conditions. This evolution could be due in part to forest canopy regrowth since most logging ceased in 1934. D. robusta is a small woods fly that carries out its life cycle in sap fluxes of deciduous trees, thus it would need to respond to changes in the trees. The 2003 sample showed some significant changes, but different in direction than those documented in 1981. Increases in frequency of the "cooler" adapted gene arrangements seems to have ceased at the upper elevations, and for one chromosome, changes in frequency seemed to be shifting towards frequencies associated with warmer climates.
- Type
- Generic Dataset
- Authors
- Etges, William
- Date of Issue
- 2016-10-11
- Units
- GRSM
- Keywords
- APHN, Appalachian Highlands Network, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, GRSM, GRSM Permitted Study ID: GRSM-00232, SER, Southeast Region
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Biological Integrity | Focal Species or Communities | Terrestrial Invertebrates