Environmental Stress and Reproduction in Fruit Flies
Author Information
Author(s): Wayne Marta L, Soundararajan Usha, Harshman Lawrence G
Primary Institution: University of Florida
Hypothesis
Females selected for starvation resistance would exhibit decreased egg production at the age they were selected.
Conclusion
Selection for female starvation resistance resulted in an increase in ovariole number as a correlated response to selection and a decrease in early age fecundity.
Supporting Evidence
- Females from lines selected for starvation resistance produced fewer eggs early in adult life.
- Selected females exhibited a greater number of ovarioles than unselected lines.
- Maternal starvation resulted in progeny with a greater number of ovarioles.
Takeaway
When fruit flies are chosen for their ability to survive without food, they tend to lay fewer eggs early in life but have more egg-producing structures called ovarioles.
Methodology
The study involved artificial selection of Drosophila melanogaster for starvation resistance and measured the effects on ovariole number and egg production.
Limitations
The study may not account for all environmental factors affecting reproduction and stress resistance.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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