Latitudinal variation in octanol dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase allele frequencies in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract
The octanol dehydrogenase (Odh) and acid phosphatase (Acph) loci of Drosophila melanogaster are each polymorphic for two electrophoretically detectable alleles. The frequencies of the Odh and Acph alleles have been analysed in populations sampled from up to a 40 ° latitudinal range in each of Australasia, North America and Europe/Asia. OdhS frequency is found to be significantly negatively associated with distance from the equator in all three zones. The relationship of AcphS frequency to distance from the equator is significant and negative in Australasia but neither significant nor consistent in sign in North America and Europe/Asia.