Data from: Neuronal function and dopamine signaling evolve at high temperature in Drosophila

Neuronal activity is temperature sensitive and affects behavioral traits
important for individual fitness, such as locomotion and courtship. Yet,
we do not know enough about the evolutionary response of neuronal
phenotypes in new temperature environments. Here, we use long-term
experimental evolution of Drosophila simulans populations exposed to novel
temperature regimes. Here, we demonstrate a direct relationship between
thermal selective pressure and the evolution of neuronally expressed
molecular and behavioral phenotypes. Several essential neuronal genes
evolve lower expression at high temperatures and higher expression at low
temperatures, with dopaminergic neurons standing out by displaying the
most consistent expression change across independent replicates. We
functionally validate the link between evolved gene expression and
behavioral changes by pharmacological intervention in the experimentally
evolved D. simulans populations as well as by genetically
triggered expression changes of key genes in D. melanogaster. As
natural temperature clines confirm our results for Drosophila and
Anophelespopulations, we conclude that neuronal dopamine evolution is a
key factor for temperature adaptation.