Developmental timing of Drosophila pachea pupae is robust to temperature changes

Rearing temperature is correlated with the timing and speed of development
in a wide range of poikiloterm animals that do not regulate their body
temperature. However, exceptions exist, especially in species that live in
environments with high temperature extremes or oscillations. Drosophila
pachea is endemic to the Sonoran desert in Mexico, in which temperatures
and temperature variations are extreme. We wondered if the developmental
timing in D. pachea may be sensitive to differing rearing temperatures or
if it remains constant. We determined the overall timing of the Drosophila
pachea life-cycle at different temperatures. The duration of pupal
development was similar at 25 °C, 29 °C and
32 °C, although the relative progress differed at particular
stages. Thus, D. pachea may have evolved mechanisms to buffer temperature
effects on developmental speed, potentially to ensure proper development
and individual's fitness in desert climate conditions.