Inconsistent effects of developmental temperature acclimation on low-temperature performance and metabolism in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Question: Does acclimation to developmental temperature consistently affect metabolism and low-temperature performance when measured in different laboratory and field assays? Hypothesis: Developmental acclimation reflecting naturally fluctuating thermal conditions consistently increases different components of performance at low temperatures and results in a clearly defined metabolic signature. Organism: The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster acclimated at different temperatures during development under semi-field and laboratory conditions Field site: Mt. Rothwell (37°53′22″S, 144°26′25″E) and laboratory facilities at the University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Methods: Adult females de..