EFFECTS OF POPULATION DENSITY AND TEMPERATURE CONDITION ON FITNESS IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

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Abstract
Using the Oregon-R strain of D. melanogaster, the pre-adult fitness components of developmental time and viability were estimated under various environmental conditions of larval density and temperature. Eclosion patterns acquired a circadian rhythm under fluctuating temperature conditions. Developmental time was delayed not only by increasing larval density, but also by fluctuating temperature. Although pre-adult viability decreased with increasing larval density, it did not decrease with fluctuating temperature. Correlations between developmental time and pre-adult viability under constant and fluctuating temperatures were -0.55 and -0.31, respectively. Coefficients of variation for pre-adult viability were larger than those for developmental time. Under fluctuating temperature and low larval density, they were larger than under constant temperature and high larval density. In general, pre-adult fitness components seem to be strongly influenced by environmental conditions. Fitness components must therefore be carefully estimated by considering the effects of environmental conditions.

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