Longevity in the Drosophila virilis Species Group. II. The D. montana Phylad
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Date
1987-06
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Abstract
Longevity differences due to species, strain, and sex were examined for members of the Drosophila montana phylad of the D. virilis species group: D. ezoana, D. kanekoi, D. littoralis, D. borealis, D. flavomontana, D. lacicola, D. montana, and a new species (A) from British Columbia. Longevity of newly eclosed adults of each of these species on standard cornmeal medium was analyzed in order to discover intraspecific, interspecific, and sexual differences. Drosophila flavomontana Colorado males lived the longest (52 days), whereas D. borealis Minnesota males survived only 24 days. Female D. kanekoi lived almost 49 days, but females of species A died after 23 days. Strains of the other species had longevities between these extremes. This species phylad is divided into three subgroups based on cytological and biochemical characteristics. The results of the longevity study mirrored this phylogeny with two exceptions. Females lived longer than males for over one-half of the species. The results suggest that genetic similarity may contribute to adult longevity, although environmental interactions probably are also a factor.
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Author Institution: Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University
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The Ohio Journal of Science. v87, n3 (June, 1987), 90-92