Survivorship and gene frequencies of Drosophila melanogaster populations in abnormal oxygen atmospheres.

Vestigial wing and wild type populations of Drosophila melanogaster were exposed to 5%, 20%, and 60% oxygen at normal atmospheric pressure. Adult mortality rates, larval production, and allele frequency changes in four gene-enzymes were examined in the populations. All flies in 60% oxygen survived as well as controls until day 20 and then died out within the next 10 to 12 d. In 5% oxygen, vestigial wing flies had mortality rates greater than the 20% controls initially, but the rate eventually approached that of the controls. Wild type flies in 5% oxygen survived as well as controls. Larval production and rate of eclosure in 60% oxygen were similar to controls, but reduced in 5% oxygen. Allele frequency shifts to 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and phosphoglucomutase were observed in 5% oxygen, and a shift of alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase allele frequencies occurred in 60% oxygen. There was no evidence of in vivo inactivation of ADH, 6-PGD, alpha-GPD or PGM in 60% oxygen.