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Journal article

Reduced learning ability as a consequence of evolutionary adaptation to nutritional stress in Drosophila melanogaster

  • Kolss, Munjong Section of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
  • Kawecki, Tadeusz J. Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland - Section of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
    2008
Published in:
  • Ecological Entomology. - 2008, vol. 33, no. 5, p. 583-588
Drosophila melanogaster
behaviour
learning
memory
nutritional stress
trade-off
artificial selection
experimental evolution
pleiotropy
English Abstract. 1. Dietary conditions affect cognitive abilities of many species, but it is unclear to what extent this physiological effect translates into an evolutionary relationship.2. A reduction of competitive ability under nutritional stress has been reported as a correlated response to selection for learning ability in Drosophila melanogaster. Here we test whether the reverse holds as well, i.e. whether an evolutionary adaptation to poor food conditions leads to a decrease in learning capacities.3. Populations of D. melanogaster were: (i) not subject to selection (control), (ii) selected for improved learning ability, (iii) selected for survival and fast development on poor food, or (iv) subject to both selection regimes.4. There was no detectable response to selection for learning ability.5. Selection on poor food led to higher survival, faster development and smaller adult size as a direct response, and to reduced learning ability as a correlated response. This study supports the hypothesis that adaptation to poor nutrition is likely to trade off with the evolution of improved learning ability.
Faculty
Faculté des sciences et de médecine
Department
Département de Biologie
Language
  • English
Classification
Biology
License
License undefined
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://folia.unifr.ch/unifr/documents/300702
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