Phenotypic plasticity in desiccation physiology of closely related, range restricted and broadly distributed fruit fly species

1. Variation in geographic range size among closely related species may result from differences in physiological traits, such as desiccation tolerance, that enable these species to interact with their environment or adapt to new surroundings.
2. We tested the hypothesis that insect species with a broader geographic range have either a higher basal desiccation tolerance or mount a more plastic response than more narrowly distributed species by exposing four fruit fly species (Ceratitis capitata, Ceratitis rosa, Ceratitis cosyra and Ceratitis podocarpi) to one of three acclimation treatments (control: standard relative humidity and temperature; desiccation: standard temperature and low humidity; and temperature: low relative humidity and high temperature) and measuring metabolic rate, activity, water loss rates and survival.
3. The targeted physiological responses differed between species and acclimation treatments. Survival of the widely distributed C. capitata improved by up to 43% afte..., ,

1. 亲缘关系密切的物种间地理分布范围的变异，可能源于生理性状的差异——例如脱水耐性（desiccation tolerance），这类性状可帮助物种与环境互动，或是适应全新的栖息环境。
2. 本研究验证了如下假说：相较于分布范围较窄的昆虫物种，地理分布更广的昆虫物种要么具备更高的基础脱水耐性，要么能产生更强的可塑性响应。实验选取了4种实蝇属物种（地中海实蝇（Ceratitis capitata）、玫瑰实蝇（Ceratitis rosa）、可可实蝇（Ceratitis cosyra）及荚果实蝇（Ceratitis podocarpi）），将其置于3种驯化处理环境中：对照组为标准温湿度；脱水处理组为标准温度、低湿度；高温处理组为低相对湿度与高温。随后测定了供试物种的代谢率（metabolic rate）、活动水平、失水速率（water loss rates）与存活率。
3. 目标生理响应在不同物种与驯化处理间存在差异。分布广泛的C. capitata的存活率最高可提升43%……