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Drosophila and Selection in Nature: From Laboratory Fitness Components to Field Assessments

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Adaptation and Fitness in Animal Populations

Abstract

Studies on Drosophila model organisms are producing a wealth of information on the genetic basis of complex traits and on patterns of genetic divergence in specific genes. This emerging information is interpreted within an evolutionary framework but direct connections with fitness in nature are usually tenuous. Drosophila fitness under natural conditions can be difficult to define partly because of the small size of flies and immature stages, the tendency of flies to use ephemeral resources, and the interaction between Drosophila, yeasts and plant tissue. Here I briefly examine new ways in which some aspects of fitness have been measured in Drosophila under semi-natural and natural conditions. I highlight some of the insights that can be gained from combining genomic and other – omic assessments when studies are interpreted within a fitness framework. These types of studies can ultimately provide insights into the way selection produces evolutionary diversity within Drosophila and more generally.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CESAR – Centre for Environmental Stress and Adaptation Research Department of Genetics, University of Melbourne, Vic 3010, Australia

    Ary A. Hoffmann

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  1. Ary A. Hoffmann
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale 2351, Australia

    Julius van der Werf

  2. Animal Genetics and Breeding Unit, University of New England, Armidale, Australia

    Hans-Ulrich Graser

  3. Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney 2109, Australia

    Richard Frankham

  4. Australian Museum, 6 College Street, Sydney 2010, Australia

    Richard Frankham

  5. The Institute for Genetics and Bioinformatics, University of New England, Armidale 2351, Australia

    Cedric Gondro

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Hoffmann, A.A. (2009). Drosophila and Selection in Nature: From Laboratory Fitness Components to Field Assessments. In: van der Werf, J., Graser, HU., Frankham, R., Gondro, C. (eds) Adaptation and Fitness in Animal Populations. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9005-9_11

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