Census and phenotype data supporting Drosophila adaptive tracking

Direct observation of evolution in response to natural environmental
change can resolve fundamental questions about adaptation including its
pace, temporal dynamics, and underlying phenotypic and genomic
architecture. We tracked evolution of fitness-associated phenotypes and
allele frequencies genome-wide in ten replicate field populations of
Drosophila melanogaster over ten generations from summer to late fall.
Adaptation was evident over each sampling interval (1-4 generations) with
exceptionally rapid phenotypic adaptation and large allele frequency
shifts at many independent loci. The direction and basis of the adaptive
response shifted repeatedly over time, consistent with the action of
strong and rapidly fluctuating selection. Overall, we find clear
phenotypic and genomic evidence of adaptive tracking occurring
contemporaneously with environmental change, demonstrating the temporally
dynamic nature of adaptation.