scholarly journals Latitudinal clines for morphometrical traits in Drosophila kikkawai: a study of natural populations from the Indian subcontinent

1998 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
DEV KARAN ◽  
ASHOK K. MUNJAL ◽  
PATRICIA GIBERT ◽  
BRIGITTE MORETEAU ◽  
RAVI PARKASH ◽  
...  

Natural populations of Drosophila kikkawai were collected in India and Sri Lanka, along a latitudinal transect ranging from 6·8° to 31·8° N latitude. Six morphometrical traits were analysed: wing and thorax length, body weight, ovariole number, and abdominal and sternopleural bristle numbers. Significant clines were observed for the three size-related traits and for ovariole number, corresponding to a regular increase in the mean value with latitude, but not for bristle numbers. Due to the utilization of two types of laboratory food, data were distributed into two separate data sets. A low-nutrient food produced smaller flies on average because of more intense crowding. The two rearing conditions produced significant clines but with significantly different slopes. The wing/thorax ratio, which is inversely related to wing loading, also increased with latitude. The analysis of Indian climatic conditions suggested that winter temperature, decreasing from south to north, could be more efficient than summer temperature, which varies in an opposite way, as a selective factor for inducing the clinal variations. The sibling species D. leontia, which is known only from the humid tropics, was found to be much smaller than D. kikkawai and did not fit the clinal regressions. Such morphological differences should help to identify the two species when found in sympatry.

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 2391-2403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda S Lobell ◽  
Rachel R Kaspari ◽  
Yazmin L Serrano Negron ◽  
Susan T Harbison

Abstract Ovariole number has a direct role in the number of eggs produced by an insect, suggesting that it is a key morphological fitness trait. Many studies have documented the variability of ovariole number and its relationship to other fitness and life-history traits in natural populations of Drosophila. However, the genes contributing to this variability are largely unknown. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study of ovariole number in a natural population of flies. Using mutations and RNAi-mediated knockdown, we confirmed the effects of 24 candidate genes on ovariole number, including a novel gene, anneboleyn (formerly CG32000), that impacts both ovariole morphology and numbers of offspring produced. We also identified pleiotropic genes between ovariole number traits and sleep and activity behavior. While few polymorphisms overlapped between sleep parameters and ovariole number, 39 candidate genes were nevertheless in common. We verified the effects of seven genes on both ovariole number and sleep: bin3, blot, CG42389, kirre, slim, VAChT, and zfh1. Linkage disequilibrium among the polymorphisms in these common genes was low, suggesting that these polymorphisms may evolve independently.


Genetics ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 101 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-256
Author(s):  
Rama S Singh ◽  
Donal A Hickey ◽  
Jean David

ABSTRACT We have studied allozyme variation at 26 gene loci in nine populations of Drosophila melanogaster originating on five different continents. The distant populations show significant genetic differentiation. However, only half of the loci studied have contributed to this differentiation; the other half show identical patterns in all populations. The genetic differentiation in North American, European and African populations is correlated with the major climatic differences between north and south. These differences arise mainly from seven loci that show gene-frequency patterns suggestive of latitudinal clines in allele frequencies. The clinal variation is such that subtropical populations are more heterozygous than temperate populations. These results are discussed in relation to the selectionist and neutralist hypotheses of genetic variation in natural populations.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivan Rwomushana

Abstract The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda, is a lepidopteran pest that feeds in large numbers on the leaves, stems and reproductive parts of more than 350 plant species, causing major damage to economically important cultivated grasses such as maize, rice, sorghum, sugarcane and wheat but also other vegetable crops and cotton. Native to the Americas, it has been repeatedly intercepted at quarantine in Europe and was first reported from Africa in 2016 where it caused significant damage to maize crops. In 2018, S. frugiperda was first reported from the Indian subcontinent (Ganiger et al., 2018; Sharanabasappa Kalleshwaraswamy et al., 2018). It has since invaded Bangladesh, Thailand, Myanmar, China and Sri Lanka (IPPC, 2018b, 2019; FAO, 2019c). The ideal climatic conditions for fall armyworm present in many parts of Africa and Asia, and the abundance of suitable host plants suggests the pest can produce several generations in a single season, and is likely to lead to the pest becoming endemic.


2010 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 371-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Malik ◽  
N. Marwan ◽  
J. Kurths

Abstract. Precipitation during the monsoon season over the Indian subcontinent occurs in form of enormously complex spatiotemporal patterns due to the underlying dynamics of atmospheric circulation and varying topography. Employing methods from nonlinear time series analysis, we study spatial structures of the rainfall field during the summer monsoon and identify principle regions where the dynamics of monsoonal rainfall is more coherent or homogenous. Moreover, we estimate the time delay patterns of rain events. Here we present an analysis of two separate high resolution gridded data sets of daily rainfall covering the Indian subcontinent. Using the method of event synchronization (ES), we estimate regions where heavy rain events during monsoon happen in some lag synchronised form. Further using the delay behaviour of rainfall events, we estimate the directionalities related to the progress of such type of rainfall events. The Active (break) phase of a monsoon is characterised by an increase(decrease) of rainfall over certain regions of the Indian subcontinent. We show that our method is able to identify regions of such coherent rainfall activity.


1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (131) ◽  
pp. 87-90
Author(s):  
G. Catasta ◽  
C. Smiraglia

AbstractThe net mass balance (1986/87–1989/90) was calculated for a small cirque glacier in the Italian Alps (Ghiacciaio della Sforzellina, 0.42 k m2, Ortles–Cevedale Group). Four annual mass balances are presented here. All four balances were negative (mean value: –0.90 m year−1), with a maximum deficit of –1.16 m year−1 in 1989–90. The climatic conditions (which are analyzed using data from the S. Caterina Valfurva Station) consisted of a succession of cold, dry winters with little snowfall. Frontal-variation data available since 1925 show a constant retreat until 1966, followed by a brief advance period which has already terminated.


2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Štaffenová ◽  
Ján Rybárik ◽  
Miroslav Jakubčík

AbstractThe aim of experimental research in the area of exterior walls and windows suitable for wooden buildings was to build special pavilion laboratories. These laboratories are ideally isolated from the surrounding environment, airtight and controlled by the constant internal climate. The principle of experimental research is measuring and recording of required physical parameters (e.g. temperature or relative humidity). This is done in layers of experimental fragment sections in the direction from exterior to interior, as well as in critical places by stable interior and real exterior climatic conditions. The outputs are evaluations of experimental structures behaviour during the specified time period, possibly during the whole year by stable interior and real exterior boundary conditions. The main aim of this experimental research is processing of long-term measurements of experimental structures and the subsequent analysis. The next part of the research consists of collecting measurements obtained with assistance of the experimental detached weather station, analysis, evaluation for later setting up of reference data set for the research locality, from the point of view of its comparison to the data sets from Slovak Hydrometeorological Institute (SHMU) and to localities with similar climate conditions. Later on, the data sets could lead to recommendations for design of wooden buildings.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jagveer Singh ◽  
Vishal Sharma ◽  
Kuldeep Pandey ◽  
Shahnawaz Ahmed ◽  
Manveen Kaur ◽  
...  

Globally, citrus fruits are grown over an area of 11.42 million ha with 179.0 million tons production. China with 82.7 m tons production is the major producer of citrus fruits followed by Brazil (18.14 m tons) and India (10.53 m tons) (FAOSTAT, 2019). All commercially used scion and rootstock cultivars belong to the genus Citrus, except kumquats, Fortunella spp., and Poncirus trifoliata, which are used as rootstock only all over the world. Worldwide citrus cultivars divided into four, reasonably-well-defined horticultural groups: the Sweet oranges, the mandarins, the grapefruits and the pummelos and the common acid members. The true or ‘biological’ citrus, including species of Citrus (C. reticulata, C. maxima and C. medica), share certain characteristics, however, these are clearly differentiated according to the morpho- taxonomic traits. Hundreds of different citrus cultivars are available. Many varieties were chance finds from natural populations, and not the product of intentional breeding efforts. Other varieties in common use have originated from planned citrus hybridization and breeding efforts from worldwide. Most of the readers will be well acquainted with the cultivated types of Citrus scion and rootstocks. This chapter provides ripening season information for worldwide, farmers/gardeners have had success with citrus in many different regions of world where tropical/subtropical climatic conditions occur.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zähner ◽  
L. Schrader ◽  
R. Hauser ◽  
M. Keck ◽  
W. Langhans ◽  
...  

AbstractThis study aimed to assess whether cows are able to cope with the range of climatic conditions they are exposed to in open stables on commercial farms in central Europe. On each of four farms, ten lactating cows were observed over a total of five weeks in winter, spring and summer. Based on continuous measurements of air temperature (–13·8 to 28·7ºC) and relative air humidity (0·26 to 0·99), a mean value of a temperature humidity index (THI) was calculated for each farm and each observation day for night and day.THI had significant effects on skin temperature and body surface temperature (infra-red thermography) both during night and day. Rectal temperature, duration of lying and cortisol concentration in the milk was significantly affected by THI during the day but not during the night. Heart rate and frequency of lying did not significantly covary with THI. Differences between farms and interactions between THI and farm were significant for most parameters. These results suggest that the climatic conditions during the day induced stronger thermoregulatory responses than the conditions during the night. Within the measured range of climatic conditions the cows were hardly exposed to severe cold or heat stress.


Development ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 637-648
Author(s):  
Par Eliane Didier ◽  
Noël Fargeix

Quantitative aspects of the colonization of the gonads by germ cells in the quail embryo (Coturnix coturnix japonica) A quantitative analysis made on quail embryos coming from 13 isolated parent couples reveals some significative variations of a genetic origin, between some of the off spring studied: the differences observed concern both the quantitative importance of the colonization of gonads by germ cells and the asymmetrical distribution of PGCs (primordial germ cells) between the two genital ridges. The chronological study of the colonization in the quail shows, as in both the duck and the chick, two periods of rapid and regular increase of the number of gonadic PGC, at stages from 13 to 18 and from 24 to 30 of Hamburger & Hamilton. The distribution of germ cells between the two genital ridges is, at the beginning of the colonization, not very asymmetrical. Between stages 18 and 24 the asymmetry increases and remains stable so that the mean value of D % (percentage of the number of PGC contained in the right gonad) from that moment on is equal to 29–34 %. This value is specific for the quail embryo.


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