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Dryad

Data from: Distinct cold tolerance traits independently vary across genotypes in Drosophila melanogaster

Cite this dataset

Garcia, Mark Joseph; Littler, Aerianna S.; Sriram, Aditya; Teets, Nicholas (2020). Data from: Distinct cold tolerance traits independently vary across genotypes in Drosophila melanogaster [Dataset]. Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.9kd51c5dn

Abstract

The ability to cope with low temperature is a critical adaptation in thermally variable environments. Cold hardiness is comprised of several traits, including minimum temperatures for growth and activity, ability to survive severe cold, and ability to recover normal function after cold subsides. Across species, these traits are correlated and share physiological mechanisms, suggesting they were shaped by shared evolutionary processes. However, the extent cold hardiness traits and their associated mechanisms covary within populations has not been assessed. We measured five cold hardiness traits – critical thermal minimum (CTmin), chill coma recovery (CCR), acute and chronic cold tolerance, and cold-induced changes in locomotor behavior – along with cold-induced expression of two genes with known roles in cold hardiness (Heat Shock Protein 70 and Frost) – across 12 lines of D. melanogaster derived from a single population. We observed significant genetic variation in all traits, but few correlated across genotypes, and these correlations were sex-dependent. Further, cold-induced gene expression varied by genotype, but there was no evidence supporting our hypothesis that cold-hardy lines would have either higher baseline expression or induction of stress genes. These results suggest cold hardiness traits possess unique mechanisms and may have the capacity to evolve independently.

Funding