Maternal and grandmaternal age influence offspring fitness in Drosophila

The influence of maternal and grandmaternal age on progeny egg-to-adult via bility was assessed in Drosophila serrata. Viability in progeny decreased w ith increasing maternal age. The potential for cumulative age effects was i nvestigated in two environments, one of which im oh ed nutrient and cold st ress. Environment influenced viability and female age influenced progeny eg g-to-adult viability across one generation. The influence on viability was cumulative across two generations. Females from old mothers, who also had o ld grandmothers, had the lowest viability in both environments. Grandmatern al effects were associated with a decrease in egg hatch rate whereas matern al effects also involved larval-to-adult viability. The age of the mother a nd grandmother should be taken into account when evaluating life-history tr aits in Drosophila.