Summary
During a period of 3 years, and in different seasons, adult specimens ofDrosophila were captured in an area in the center of the Iberian Peninsula. 11 different species were collected over the whole period. The abundance of the 4 more common species follows seasonal patterns:D. busckii assumes a preponderance in the spring,D. melanogaster in the summer,D. simulans in the autumn, andD. subobscura in the winter. It is suggested that seasonal changes may play a major role in making possible the existence of related species in the same habitat.
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References
F.J. Ayala, in: Essays in evolution and genetics in honor of Theodosius Dobzhansky, p. 121. Ed. M.K. Hecht and W.C. Steere. Appleton-Century Crofts, New York 1970.
E. Mayr, Animal Species and Evolution. Harvard Press, Cambridge 1963.
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I thank Dr F.J. Ayala for useful discussions and help in preparing the English text. I appreciate comments on the manuscript from Dr A. Prevosti and Dr A. Fontdevila.
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Ochando, D. Seasonal distribution ofDrosophila species. Experientia 36, 163–164 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01953708
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01953708