Complexity of the cold acclimation response in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Insects can increase their resistance to cold stress when they are exposed to non-lethal conditions prior to the stress; these plastic responses are normally described only in terms of immediate effects on mortality. Here we examine in Drosophila melanogaster the short- and longer-term effects of different conditions on several measures of cold resistance, but particularly chill coma recovery. Short-term exposure to sublethal temperature (cold hardening) did not decrease chill coma recovery times even though it decreased mortality. Exposure to 12°C for 2 days (acclimation) decreased chill coma recovery times for a range of stressful temperatures when flies were cultured at 25°C, but did not ..