Meeting Abstract

S9-4  Wednesday, Jan. 6 10:00  Extreme low temperatures remodel metabolic physiology and life history in Drosophila melanogaster WILLIAMS, C.M.*; SZEJNER, A.; MORGAN, T.S.; SUNNY, N.E.; MCCUE, M.D.; HAHN, D.A.; Univ. of California, Berkeley; Univ. of Florida, Gainesville; Kansas State University; Univ. of Florida, Gainesville; St Mary’s University; Univ. of Florida, Gainesville cmw@berkeley.edu http://cmwilliamslab.com

Living in cold regions is associated with two primary challenges: 1) increased frequency and severity of low temperature exposure which can induce mortality and curtail opportunities; and 2) a short and on average cool growing season, in which it is difficult to complete development and grow to large adult size in a timely fashion. Elevational and latitudinal clines in cold hardiness have traditionally been attributed to the former evolutionary driver, while parallel clines in metabolic rates, growth rates, and development times have been attributed to the latter. Here, we show that adaptation of Drosophila melanogaster to acute low temperature exposure induces increased growth rates, metabolic rates, and increased rates of catabolism and anabolism. In addition, cold-adapted flies have greater metabolic plasticity, and maintain metabolic homeostasis more effectively during cold exposure leading to faster recovery times. We suggest that selection pressures imposed by acute low temperature exposure may be an under-appreciated force leading to the development and maintenance of elevational and latitudinal clines in metabolic traits.