The influence of gene flow on latitudinal clines of photoperiodic adult diapause in the Drosophila auraria species-complex

Temperate species belonging to the Drosophila auraria species complex, D. auraria Peng, D. biauraria Bock & Wheeler, D. triauraria Bock & Wheeler and D. subauraria Kimura, enter reproductive diapause to pass the winter in response to short daylengths. These species from Japan showed latitudinal clines in critical daylength which is longer in populations from higher latitudes. The slopes of these clines coincided well with that of the cline which is approximately predicted from climatic data, suggesting that these clines result from adaptation of the species to the latitudinal gradient of climatic conditions. Between the mainlands and the surrounding islands of Japan, the slopes of clines did not differ significantly, but the deviation from the regression line was usually smaller in mainland populations. It is assumed that gene flow reduces the genetic variation among mainland populations and results in the development of smooth clines. In the plain of east China, D. triauraria did not show clinal variation in critical daylength, although the development of the cline is expected from climatic data. Extensive gene flow among Chinese populations is considered to prevent the development of a cline.