GENETIC DIFFERENTIATION OF 3 QUANTITATIVE TRAIT IN NATURAL-POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER OF EASTERN-EUROPE OF CENTRAL-ASIA

Variation in three quantitative traits (wing length, rate of development, and productivity) was assessed in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster of Eurasia. Wing length was estimated in 16 populations of Eastern Europe, Caucasus, and Central Asia. It was shown to decrease in clinal fashion from northwest to southeast and was negatively correlated with temperature. No difference in developmental rate among three east European and three Central Asian populations was detected. Productivity was significantly higher in populations of eastern Europe as compared to those of Central Asia. Selective mechanisms of maintenance of clinal variation in natural Drosophila populations are discussed.