Courtier Lab – Developmental timing of Drosophila pachea pupae is robust to temperature changes

Rearing temperature is correlated with the timing and speed of development in a wide range of poikiloterm animals that do not regulate their body temperature. However, exceptions exist, especially in species that live in environments with high temperature extremes or oscillations. Drosophila pachea is endemic to the Sonoran desert in Mexico, in which temperatures and temperature variations are extreme. We wondered if the developmental timing in D. pachea may be sensitive to differing rearing temperatures or if it remains constant. We determined the overall timing of the Drosophila pachea life-cycle at different temperatures. The duration of pupal development was similar at 25 °C, 29 °C and 32 °C, although the relative progress differed at particular stages. Thus, D. pachea may have evolved mechanisms to buffer temperature effects on developmental speed, potentially to ensure proper development and individual’s fitness in desert climate conditions.