Systematics, Evolution, and Biodiversity
10-Minute Paper
Laure M. Olazcuaga
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
Julien Foucaud
University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Candice Deschamps
University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Anne Loiseau
University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Jean-Loup Imbert
University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Romain Vedovato
University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Robin Guilhot
University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Mathieu Gautier
University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Ruth A. Hufbauer
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado
Nicolas O. Rode
University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Arnaud Estoup
University of Montpellier, CIRAD, INRAE
Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France
Both genetic and non-genetic effects can influence the match between phenotypes and local environments, resulting in phenotypic patterns of local adaptation. Theory predicts that the relative influence of these effects depends on the scale of temporal and spatial heterogeneity. While coarse-grained environments are expected to promote local genetic adaptation (i.e., genetic effects), fine-grained environments are expected to promote adaptive phenotypic plasticity (i.e., non-genetic effects). When heterogeneity is intermediate, it remains unclear the extent to which these effects contribute to the emergence of phenotypic patterns of local adaptation. Here, we use Drosophila suzukii to evaluate the relative influence of genetic and non-genetic effects on patterns of local adaptation in heterogeneous environments of intermediate grain. The pest's environment is intermediately heterogeneous, since it develops in a succession of different fruits throughout the year, each of which exert their own selection pressures. Using reciprocal transplant experiments of natural D. suzukii populations collected from different fruits, we found a strong pattern of local phenotypic adaptation to host fruits, with genetic effects (persisting over multiple laboratory generations) predominating over non-genetic effects (observed only during the parental generation sampled in the wild). Our study demonstrates that spatially and temporally variable selection can maintain phenotypic variation and that local genetic adaptation can occur rapidly in natural populations. This dynamic process could be partly explained by the large effective population size of D. suzukii in the wild and by the strong selective pressures induced by the host plants.