Effects of hypoxia and low temperature on female physiology and reproduction of <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>

across multiple genetic backgrounds. We quantified metabolic rate, thermal tolerance, body mass, fertility, oogenesis progression, and oocyte apoptosis to assess organismal responses to environmental stress. Hypoxia generally increased respiratory quotient and body mass, but its effects on thermal tolerance and fertility were highly genotype dependent. Across traits, combined stressors frequently produced responses that differed from those observed under single stressors, including reduced fertility, altered oogenesis, and changes in oocyte cell death. Importantly, these effects were not uniform: some genotypes exhibited increased oocyte production or reduced cell death under combined stress, highlighting pronounced genotype-dependent differences in stress sensitivity and reproductive allocation. Together, our results demonstrate that the interaction between hypoxia and temperature can modulate metabolic and reproductive responses in ways that are not predictable from single-stressor responses alone. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating genetic background and interacting environmental stressors when evaluating organismal tolerance and adaptive potential under ongoing environmental change.

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Publication Details

Journal
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Published
2026-04-10
DOI
https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.04.08.717251
Primary Topic
Physiological and biochemical adaptations
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Effects of hypoxia and low temperature on female physiology and reproduction of Drosophila melanogaster

Amelia May, Arthur G. Appel, Laurie S. Stevison, Emma Saurette et al.
bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
Physiological and biochemical adaptations
article

Effects of hypoxia and low temperature on female physiology and reproduction of Drosophila melanogaster

Amelia May, Arthur G. Appel, Laurie S. Stevison, Emma Saurette, Natalia Rivera-Rincon
article en

Abstract

across multiple genetic backgrounds. We quantified metabolic rate, thermal tolerance, body mass, fertility, oogenesis progression, and oocyte apoptosis to assess organismal responses to environmental stress. Hypoxia generally increased respiratory quotient and body mass, but its effects on thermal tolerance and fertility were highly genotype dependent. Across traits, combined stressors frequently produced responses that differed from those observed under single stressors, including reduced fertility, altered oogenesis, and changes in oocyte cell death. Importantly, these effects were not uniform: some genotypes exhibited increased oocyte production or reduced cell death under combined stress, highlighting pronounced genotype-dependent differences in stress sensitivity and reproductive allocation. Together, our results demonstrate that the interaction between hypoxia and temperature can modulate metabolic and reproductive responses in ways that are not predictable from single-stressor responses alone. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating genetic background and interacting environmental stressors when evaluating organismal tolerance and adaptive potential under ongoing environmental change.

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
University of California, Riverside (US), Auburn University (US)
Auburn University, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of General Medical Sciences
Openalex Percentile: Top 18%
Physiological and biochemical adaptations
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