Summary
A comparison of the results of 13 generations of directional selection (with control lines) for higher body weight in Drosophila melanogaster in two variable temperature environments (cyclic and random) with those of three constant temperature environments (19°, 24·5°, and 27°C) is made. Rates of genetic gain obtained in the variable environments were similar to those achieved in constant temperature environments. The ability to buffer against environmental changes, in terms of body weight and some fitness characteristics, was altered by selection for higher body weight but not by the environmental regimes. Lines selected at the presumed optimum temperature (24·5°C) performed best at all temperatures. These results indicate that long-term genetic gain in a quantitative trait through directional selection is probably unaffected in any major way by normal variations in environmental conditions and that selection for overall performance should be carried out in the most favourable environment.
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Kammerer, C., Young, S. Directional selection for body weight in constant and variable environments in Drosophila melanogaster. Heredity 50, 237–251 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1983.27
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1983.27