It has been demonstrated that phenotypic plasticity and genotype by environment interaction are important for coping with new and heterogeneous environments during invasions. Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is an Afrotropical invasive fly species introduced to the South American continent in 1999. This species is generalist and polyphagous, since it develops and feeds in several different fruit species. These characteristics of Z. indianus suggest that phenotypic plasticity and genotype by environment interaction may be important in this species invasion process. In this sense, our aim was to investigate the role of genetic variation for phenotypic plasticity (genotype by environment interaction) in Z. indianus invasion of the South American continent. Specifically, we quantified quantitative genetic variation and genotype by environment interactions of morphological and life history traits in different developmental environments, that is, host fruits. This was done in different populations in the invasive range of Z. indianus in Argentina. Results showed that Z. indianus populations have considerable amounts of quantitative genetic variation. Also, genotype by environment interactions was detected for the different traits analyzed in response to the different developmental environments. Interestingly, the amounts and patterns of these parameters differed between populations. We interpreted these results as the existence of differences in evolutionary potential between populations that have an important role in the short‐ and long‐term success of the Z. indianus invasion process.

中文翻译：

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Zaprionus indianus（双翅目：果蝇科）入侵种群的生活史和形态特征的环境相互作用的基因型对比水平

已经证明，环境相互作用的表型可塑性和基因型对于在入侵期间应对新的异质环境很重要。Zaprionus indianus Gupta（双翅目：果蝇科）是 1999 年引入南美大陆的一种非热带入侵苍蝇物种。该物种是多食性和多食性的，因为它在几种不同的水果物种中发育和进食。Z. indianus 的这些特征表明环境相互作用的表型可塑性和基因型在该物种入侵过程中可能很重要。从这个意义上说，我们的目的是研究遗传变异对表型可塑性（环境相互作用的基因型）在 Z. indianus 入侵南美洲大陆中的作用。具体来说，我们通过不同发育环境（即寄主果实）中形态和生活史特征的环境相互作用来量化数量遗传变异和基因型。这是在阿根廷 Z. indianus 入侵范围内的不同种群中进行的。结果表明，Z. indianus 种群具有相当数量的遗传变异。此外，针对不同发育环境所分析的不同性状，通过环境相互作用检测了基因型。有趣的是，这些参数的数量和模式因人群而异。我们将这些结果解释为种群之间进化潜力存在差异，这些差异对 Z. indianus 入侵过程的短期和长期成功具有重要作用。