Lack of habitat choice in a natural population of drosophila subobscura

Abstract

Microgeographic genetic differentiation maintained by individual habitat choice has previously been described in Drosophila persimilis. In this study individual preferences for different habitats, times of day, and baits were investigated in D. subobscura using mark-release-recapture methods. No evidence was found for the occurrence of individual habitat choice, and this is consistent with the fact that the inversion polymorphism of D. subobscura is relatively inflexible and does not respond quickly to the environment. Individuals did not tend to prefer different times of day, but there was some suggestion of feeding or breeding site fidelity, with individuals returning to familiar baits. © 1980 The Genetical Society of Great Britain.