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.

解析生物对多变环境的适应机制，是全面理解自然种群进化动态的核心任务。表型可塑性（Phenotypic plasticity）指生物体可随环境变化发生表型改变，因此在应对环境异质性的适应过程中可能发挥关键作用。本研究针对源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。研究人员将成虫置于温度与光周期的组合环境中进行为期5天的短期暴露，以诱导出三种随地理分布呈现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半自然围笼中重复开展。实验室实验结果表明，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具有显著影响。而在野外围笼实验中，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。上述结果证实，成虫短期暴露于符合生态场景的环境信号下，可对适合度的多个维度产生可预测的影响。这类可塑性模式在不同性状间存在分化，且在两个受试地理种群间差异显著，这与种群针对气候及相关环境参数的本地适应模式相一致。