Isofemale Strains and Quantitative Traits in Natural Populations of Drosophila

Abstract

Variability among isofemale strains from natural populations is discussed for quantitative morphological [Drosophila melanogaster], behavioral [D. melanogaster, D. pseudoobscura, D. persimilis] and physiological traits. Comparative studies among populations within species and between sibling species are enhanced by studying such variability, and information on genetic architectures is obtainable on any species than can be cultured in the laboratory. In the study of behavioral traits, isofemale strains are likely to play a major future role because studies can be readily carried out across strains, populations, experimental designs and environments. The same applies to those ecological factors, such as the effects of temperature extremes which determine whether resource utilization as measured by behavior occurs in nature.