Seasonal variation in natural populations of Drosophila in Dharwad, India
Srinath B S, N Shivanna
Drosophila flies were collected in and around Dharwad district during different seasons of 2011 and 2012. A total of 13853 individual flies comprising of 20 different species were collected by bottle trapping and net sweeping method. Maximum number (19) of species was recorded during monsoon 2012 and minimum number of species (5) during winter 2012 Statistical analysis revealed a positive correlation between abundance and average rainfall. No correlation was observed between abundance and temperature. The diversity of species was more during post-monsoon 2012 and less during winter 2012. Their abundance cluster analysis revealed three clusters where D. malerkotliana, D. bipectinata, D. nasuta nasuta and Phorticella striata are predominant species. D. eugracilis, D. jambulina, D. rajasekari, D. sulfurigaster neonasuta and D. ananassae are intermediate species whereas remaining 11 species are less dominant species.