Data from: Reasons for success: rapid evolution for desiccation resistance and life-history changes in the polyphagous fly Anastrepha ludens

Species that exhibit broad ranges of distribution may successfully navigate environmental changes by modifying some of their life history traits. Environmental humidity imposes a critical stress that organisms may overcome by increasing their resistance to desiccation. We used experimental evolution to investigate adaptation to desiccation in the tephritid Anastrepha ludens, a species with high fecundity, late maturation and long lifespan. We measured morphological, physiological, developmental as well as demographic changes involved in the adaptation to desiccation. Notwithstanding a low heritability (h2 = 0.237), desiccation resistance evolved extremely rapidly and few negative trade-offs were detected. Selected flies exhibited correlated increases in longevity, body size, the amount of body lipids and bulk water content, and in the duration of the pupal stage. Females further delayed sexual maturation, decreased daily fecundity but retained high lifetime reproductive potential. No differences in male mating competitiveness were found. Selected and control lines differed in longevity but not in total female fecundity, demonstrating that A. ludens flies have the capability for fast adaptation to desiccation without loosing their reproductive capability. Thus, it seems that a rapid evolutionary response to desiccation in this polyphagous insect works as a buffer for environmental variation and reduces the strength of selection on reproductive traits.具有广泛分布范围的物种类群，可通过调整部分生活史特征，顺利应对环境变化。环境湿度是一种关键胁迫因子，生物体可通过提升抗干燥性（desiccation resistance）来抵御该胁迫。我们借助实验进化手段，探究实蝇科（Tephritidae）物种Anastrepha ludens的抗干燥适应性，该物种具有繁殖力强、成熟延迟、寿命较长的特性。我们测定了与抗干燥适应相关的形态学、生理学、发育学及种群统计学特征变化。尽管其遗传力较低（h²=0.237），但抗干燥性的进化速度极快，且几乎未检测到负面权衡效应。经筛选的实蝇个体，其寿命、体型、体脂含量、总体含水量及蛹期时长均呈现协同增长。雌性个体进一步延迟了性成熟，日产卵量有所下降，但仍保留了较高的终身繁殖潜力。未观察到雄性交配竞争力存在显著差异。筛选组与对照组品系的寿命存在显著差异，但雌虫总产卵量并无不同，这表明A. ludens能够快速适应干燥环境，且不会丧失繁殖能力。综上，这种多食性昆虫对干燥胁迫的快速进化响应，似乎可作为环境波动的缓冲机制，并降低了繁殖性状所承受的选择压力。