Abstract
The time when red pigment is deposited in the ovata and redimita morphs of Enoplognatha ovata is determined by a closely linked regulatory locus. In Nidderdale, Yorkshire, red pigment in the ovata morph is deposited early in development but the redimita pattern can develop either early or late. Phenotype frequencies at the regulatory locus define two main areas; one of which has a high and the other a very low frequency of the regulatory phenotype causing early production of red pigment. Phenotype frequencies at the regulatory locus and at the structural locus upon which it acts are not correlated. Bottlenecks in populations in the past might be responsible for allelic distributions at both loci, although selection cannot be excluded.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Abraham, I, and Doane, W W. 1978. Genetic regulation of tissue-specific expression of amylase structural genes in Drosophila melanogaster. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 75, 4446–4450.
Allendorf, F W, Knudsen, K L, and Phelps, S R. 1982. Identification of a gene regulating the tissue expression of a phosphoglucomutase locus in rainbow trout. Genetics, 102, 259–268.
Barnes, B W, and Birley, A J. 1978. Genetic variation for enzyme activity in a population of D. melanogaster IV. Analysis of alcohol dehydrogenase activity in chromosome substituted lines. Heredity, 40, 51–57.
Dickinson, W J. 1975. A genetic locus affecting the developmental expression of an enzyme in Drosophila melanogaster. Develop Biol, 42, 131–140.
Dickinson, W J. 1981. Evolution of patterns of gene expression in Hawaiian picture-winged Drosophila. J Mol Evol, 16, 73–94.
Everitt, B S. 1977. The Analysis of Contingency Tables. Chapman and Hall, London.
Gould, S J. 1977. Ontogeny and Phytogeny. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Hedrick, P W, and McDonald, J F. 1980. Regulatory gene adaptation: An evolutionary model. Heredity, 45, 83–97.
Heller, J, and Volokita, M. 1981. Gene regulation of shell banding in a land snail from Israel. Biol J Linn Soc, 16, 261–277.
Hoorn, A, and Scharloo, W. 1981. The functional significance of amylase polymorphism in Drosophila melanogaster VI. Duration of development and amylase activity in larvae when starch is a limiting factor. Genetica, 55, 195–202.
Kendal, M G, and Stuart, A. 1969. The Advanced Theory of Statistics Vol. 1 3rd Ed. Griffin and Co. London.
Laurie-Ahlberg, C C, Wilton, A N, Curtsinger, J W, and Emigh, T H. 1982. Naturally occurring enzyme activity variation in Drosophila melanogaster I. Sources of variation for 23 enzymes. Genetics, 102, 191–206.
McDonald, J F. 1983. The molecular basis of adaptation: A critical review of relevant ideas and observations. Ann Rev Ecol Syst, 14, 77–102.
McDonald, J F, Chambers, G K, David, J, and Ayala, F J. 1977. Adaptive response due to changes in gene regulation: A study with Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 74, 4562–4566.
Maroni, G, and Laurie-Ahlberg, C C. 1983. Genetic control of ADH expression in Drosophila melanogaster. Genetics, 105, 921–933.
Oxford, G S. 1976. The colour polymorphism in Enoplognatha ovatum (Clerck) (Araneae: Theridiidae)—Temporal stability and spatial variability. Heredity, 36, 369–381.
Oxford, G S. 1983. Genetics of colour and its regulation during development in the spider Enoplognatha ovata (Clerck) (Araneae: Theridiidae). Heredity, 51, 621–634.
Paigen, K. 1979. Genetic factors in developmental regulation. In J. G. Scandalios (ed.), Physiological Genetics, pp. 1–61. Academic Press, London.
Powell, J R. 1979. Population genetics of Drosophila amylases II. Geographic patterns in D. pseudoobscura. Genetics, 92, 613–622.
Powell, J R, and Lichtenfels, J M. 1979. Population genetics of Drosophila amylases I. Genetic control of tissue-specific expression in D. pseudoobscura. Genetics, 92, 603–612.
Powell, J R, and Amanto, G D. 1984. Population genetics of Drosophila amylases V. Genetic background and selection on different carbohydrates. Genetics, 106, 625–629.
Powell, J R, and Andjelković, M. 1983. Population genetics of Drosophila amylases IV. Selection in laboratory populations maintained on different carbohydrates. Genetics, 103, 675–689.
Powell, J R, Rico, M, and Andjelković, M. 1980. Population genetics of Drosophila amylases III. Interspecific variation. Evolution, 34, 209–213.
Schwartz, D. 1962. Genetic studies on mutant enzymes in maize III. Control of gene action in the synthesis of pH 7.5 esterase. Genetics, 47, 1609–1615.
Seligy, V L. 1971. Postembryonic development of the spider Enoplognatha ovata (Clerck) (Araneae: Theridiidae). Zool J Linn Soc, 50, 21–31.
Tejima, T, and Ohba, S. 1981. Genetic regulation of amylase activity in Drosophila virilis I. Activity variation among laboratory strains. Jpn J Genet, 56, 457–468.
Wilson, A C. 1976. Gene regulation in evolution. In F. J. Ayala (ed.) Molecular Evolution pp. 225–234. Sinauer Assoc. Inc. Sunderland, Massachusetts.
Wilson, P, and McDonald, J F. 1981. A comparative study of enzyme activity variation between α-glycerophosphate and alcohol dehydrogenases in D. melanogaster. Genetica, 55, 75–79.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Oxford, G. Geographical distribution of phenotypes regulating pigmentation in the spider Enoplognatha ovata (Clerck) (Araneae: Theridiidae). Heredity 55, 37–45 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1985.69
Received:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1985.69
This article is cited by
-
Quantum shifts in the genetic control of a colour polymorphism in Theridion grallator (Araneae: Theridiidae), the Hawaiian happy-face spider
Heredity (1996)
-
The effects of genetic background on the island-specific control of a colour polymorphism in Theridion grallator (Araneae: Theridiidae), the Hawaiian happy-face spider
Heredity (1996)
-
Visible morph-frequency variation in allopatric and sympatric populations of two species of Enoplognatha (Araneae: Theridiidae)
Heredity (1991)
-
What makes a happy face? Determinants of colour pattern in the Hawaiian happy face spider Theridion grallator (Araneae, Theridiidae)
Heredity (1989)
