VARIATION OF BEHAVIORAL TRAITS IN NATURAL -POPULATIONS OF DROSOPHILA-MELANOGASTER OF EURASIA

Two behavior traits - phototactic response and locomotor activity - we re studied in 13 populations of Drosophila melanogaster with countercu rrent distribution technique. These traits were characterized by three parameters: average phototactic (locomotor) activity, normalized vari ance of activity and proportion of inactive flies. Males had bigger av erage phototactic activity and average locomotor activity, but less pr oportion of inactive flies than females. For phototaxis, no correlatio n was found between all estimated parameters and geographic localizati on of populations. For locomotor activity, females exhibited clinal va riation in proportion of inactive flies.