Life History Traits and Thermal Tolerance of Drosophila affinis Flies from Elevational Transects

Presenter's Name(s)

Caela Flanagan

Conference Year

January 2023

Abstract

On mountains, climate varies elevationally, applying different selective pressures on organisms. This study aims to use the fruit fly species, D.affinis along elevational transects to test for local adaptation of thermal tolerance and life history traits and quantify gene flow between populations. To investigate elevational differences, fly lines were derived from Camel’s Hump Mountain, Vermont. Metrics for thermal tolerance and life history traits were measured and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences. Evidence for improved cold tolerance at higher elevations was found, suggesting that colder climates have resulted in local adaptation

Primary Faculty Mentor Name

Sara Helms Cahan

Graduate Student Mentors

Katie Borra

Status

Undergraduate

Student College

College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Program/Major

Biological Science

Abstract only.

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Life History Traits and Thermal Tolerance of Drosophila affinis Flies from Elevational Transects

On mountains, climate varies elevationally, applying different selective pressures on organisms. This study aims to use the fruit fly species, D.affinis along elevational transects to test for local adaptation of thermal tolerance and life history traits and quantify gene flow between populations. To investigate elevational differences, fly lines were derived from Camel’s Hump Mountain, Vermont. Metrics for thermal tolerance and life history traits were measured and a phylogenetic tree was constructed using mitochondrial Cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene sequences. Evidence for improved cold tolerance at higher elevations was found, suggesting that colder climates have resulted in local adaptation