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An ecological/genetic approach to the study of enzymatic polymorphisms in Drosophila maculifrons^*

Carmen Carolina Romero Saavedra; Vera Lúcia S. Valente; Mary Napp⁺

Departamento de Genética, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Caixa Postal 15053, 91501-970 Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. Fax: (051) 336-2011, Phone: (051) 339-1355/6713. Send correspondence to V.L.S.V.
⁺Deceased

ABSTRACT

Allelic variability at four enzyme loci of populations of Drosophila maculifrons, a species well distributed within its geographical range, chromosomally polymorphic for paracentric inversions and putatively generalist, was investigated. Samples came from locations within four physiographical regions of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, differing in altitude, climate, vegetation components, as well as in structure of drosophilid communities. Data on climatic preferences, breeding and feeding site choices confirmed expectations about the ecological "versatility" of this species. Allele frequencies changed more significantly in space than on time and microhabitat scales. An excess of homozygotes was detected in many samples for three of the loci considered. A characterization of the environmental heterogeneity of the four localities considered and the way this species exploited them is presented, together with data on allozyme polymorphisms, and this is discussed from an evolutionary point of view.

Keywords: enzymatic; polymorphisms; Drosophila maculifrons.

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* This work is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Manly Napp.