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

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.

Download

Available for download on Friday, May 07, 2027

Share

COinS