Phenotypic plasticity of the aedeagus of Drosophila mediopunctata: Effect of the temperature

In this study, we analyzed the phenotypic plasticity of the male intromittent organ (aedeagus) of Drosophila mediopunctata genitalia in response to temperature. Size and shape of the aedeagus were examined with univariate statistics and geometric morphometrics. The following results emerged: firstly, flies raised at 16.5 °C had bigger aedeagi than those raised at 20 °C; secondly, significant differences in shape were also found between the two groups of flies, mainly in the apical area, located using the thin-plate spline interpolating function; thirdly, the coefficients of variation for the traits of the aedeagus were comparable to other traits in Drosophila and likewise to genital traits in other organisms. These findings were analyzed in an evolutionary context.