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Genetic variation at the alcohol dehydrogenase locus in Drosophila melanogaster in relation to environmental variation: Ethanol levels in breeding sites and allozyme frequencies

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Summary

Ethanol levels in Drosophila breeding sites in seepages of unfortified wine inside wineries have been found to be similar to those in many decaying fruits and vegetables. Fortified wine seepages inside wineries have ethanol levels on average three times as high as other breeding sites. However there was no evidence that this variation in ethanol levels was associated with differences in Adh F frequencies in D. melanogaster at sites either within wineries or outside wineries. D. simulans was at lower frequencies at sites inside wineries compared to sites outside although this difference may not be related to ethanol levels. It is concluded that adaptation to natural levels of environmental ethanol by D. melanogaster does not necessarily modify Adh frequencies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Population Biology, Research School of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University, P.O. Box 475, 2601, Canberra City, A.C.T., Australia

    J. B. Gibson, T. W. May & A. V. Wilks

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  1. J. B. Gibson
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  2. T. W. May
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  3. A. V. Wilks
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Gibson, J.B., May, T.W. & Wilks, A.V. Genetic variation at the alcohol dehydrogenase locus in Drosophila melanogaster in relation to environmental variation: Ethanol levels in breeding sites and allozyme frequencies. Oecologia 51, 191–198 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540600

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00540600

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