Adaptation of Drosophila subobscura chromosomal inversions to climatic variables: the Balkan natural population of Avala

The adaptive value of chromosomal inversions continues raising relevant questions in evolutionary biology. In many species of the Drosophila genus, different inversions have been recognized to be related to thermal adaptation, but it is necessary to determine to which specific climatic variables the inversions are adaptive. With this aim, the behavior of thermal adapted inversions of Drosophila subobscura regarding climatic variables was studied in the natural population of Avala (Serbia) during the 2014-2017 period. The results obtained were compared with those previously reported in the Font Groga (Barcelona, Spain) population, which presents different climatic and environmental conditions. In both populations, it was observed that most thermal adapted inversions were significantly associated with the first, second or both principal components, which were related with maximum, minimum and mean temperatures. Moreover, a significant increase over years (2004-2017) for the minimum temperature was detected. In parallel, a significant variation over time in Avala was only observed for the frequencies of 'warm' and 'non-thermal' adapted inversions of the U chromosome. However, stability in the chromosomal inversion polymorphism was observed for the 2014-2017 period which might result from the temporal span of the study and/or selective process acting on the population.

Automated summary

The adaptive value of chromosomal inversions in evolutionary biology continues to raise questions. Studies on Drosophila species show that thermal adapted inversions are significantly associated with temperature-related principal components, with a significant increase in minimum temperature observed over the years. However, stability in chromosomal inversion polymorphism was observed over a certain period of time, possibly due to the selective processes acting on the population.