Microspatial genetic differentiation for tolerance and utilization of various alcohols and acetic acid in Drosophila species from India

Abstract: In five Indian localities, it was possible to collect D. melanogaster in two different types of habitats, namely ordinary domestic and alcohol rich ones. Tolerance and utilization capacity of several alcohols and of acetic acid were analyzed in a total of 10 local populations. Results on two other species (D. repleta and D. immigrans) were also available from one place. In each locality, the population from alcohol rich habitat proved to be more tolerant to all the investigated products and also to be more capable of using them as a resource. Alcohols toxicity increased with increasing carbon chain length and secondary alcohols were more toxic than primary ones. Utilization capacity of all products was relatively independent of their toxicity. Especially acetic acid, the toxicity of which was low and similar to that of ethanol, was always a fairly poor resource. From a genetic point of view, tolerance and utilization capacity appeared as two relatively independent traits. Natural selection, which is responsible for the genetic differentiation of local populations, is likely to act simultaneously on both traits.