Data from: Adaptive patterns of phenotypic plasticity in laboratory and field environments in Drosophila melanogaster

Identifying mechanisms of adaptation to variable environments is essential in developing a comprehensive understanding of evolutionary dynamics in natural populations. Phenotypic plasticity allows for phenotypic change in response to changes in the environment, and as such may play a major role in adaptation to environmental heterogeneity. Here, the plasticity of stress response in D. melanogaster originating from two distinct geographic regions and ecological habitats was examined. Adults were given a short-term, 5-day exposure to combinations of temperature and photoperiod to elicit a plastic response for three fundamental aspects of stress tolerance that vary adaptively with geography. This was replicated in both the laboratory and in outdoor enclosures in the field. In the laboratory, geographic origin was the primary determinant of the stress response. Temperature and the interaction between temperature and photoperiod also significantly affected stress resistance. In the outdoor enclosures, plasticity was distinct among traits and between geographic regions. These results demonstrate that short-term exposure of adults to ecologically relevant environmental cues results in predictable effects on multiple aspects of fitness. These patterns of plasticity vary among traits and are highly distinct between the two examined geographic regions, consistent with patterns of local adaptation to climate and associated environmental parameters.阐明适应多变环境的机制，对于全面理解自然种群的进化动态至关重要。表型可塑性（Phenotypic plasticity）指生物体能响应环境变化而发生表型改变，因此其可能在适应环境异质性的过程中发挥核心作用。本研究针对来自两个不同地理区域与生态栖息地的黑腹果蝇（D. melanogaster）的胁迫响应可塑性展开探究：对成虫进行为期5天的短期暴露处理，设置温度与光周期的不同组合，以诱导三种随地理分布产生适应性分化的胁迫耐受性核心性状的可塑性响应。该实验分别在实验室与野外户外笼舍中重复开展。实验室实验结果显示，地理起源是胁迫响应的首要决定因素；温度以及温度与光周期的交互作用同样对胁迫抗性存在显著影响。而在野外笼舍实验中，不同性状间以及不同地理种群间的可塑性均存在显著差异。上述结果表明，成虫短期暴露于生态相关的环境信号下，会对适合度的多个维度产生可预测的影响。不同性状的可塑性模式存在差异，且两个受试地理种群间的可塑性模式差异显著，这与它们针对气候及相关环境参数的局部适应模式相符。