Date of Completion
2025
Document Type
Honors College Thesis
Department
Biology
Thesis Type
Honors College, College of Arts and Science Honors
First Advisor
Joaquin CB Nunez
Second Advisor
Molly Stanley
Third Advisor
Yolanda Chen
Keywords
Drosophila, Evolution, Behavior, Diversity, temperature
Abstract
Environmental conditions shape behavioral decisions critical for survival and reproduction, yet individuals within a species often respond differently to the same conditions. While previous research has demonstrated that Drosophila melanogaster shift their feeding behavior in response to temperature, these studies do not account for genetic diversity in natural populations, limiting our understanding of how genetic variation influences this response. In this study, I used the Drosophila Genetics Reference Panel (DGRP) to examine genotype-dependent variation in feeding preference and egg-laying behavior at different temperatures. I found that while some genotypes shifted their feeding preferences from yeast-based to plant-based diets in cold environments, others maintained consistent feeding behavior or exhibited a response in the opposite direction. Egg-laying behavior in a cold environment also varied by genotype, with some flies conserving energy by not laying eggs, while others showed significant investment in eggs. These results suggest that the proposed adaptive shift in diet and reproductive investment under cold conditions is not a universal strategy but rather one influenced by genetic background. By highlighting genetic variation in these behaviors, this study underscores the importance of incorporating genetic diversity when investigating how organisms respond to environmental challenges.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Proud, Luke Andrew; Stanley, Molly; and Nunez, Joaquin CB, "Characterizing the effect of genetic diversity on temperature-dependent behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster" (2025). UVM Patrick Leahy Honors College Senior Theses. 747.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/hcoltheses/747