Heat tolerance and the effect of mild heat stress on reproductive characters in Drosophila buzzatii males

1.This study investigated the effect of stressful high temperatures on male reproduction.2.When studying the detrimental effects of, and adaptation to, naturally occurring thermal stress, it is relevant to consider reproductive traits as these traits are more sensitive than are survival.3.Generally, an increasingly severe stress treatment decreased reproductive ability and fecundity, and increased permanent sterility and time to regain fertility. Heat hardening protected against the negative effect of stress.4.However, not all traits were equally affected by the heat stress or not all responded to the hardening treatment. This underlines that many mechanisms participate in the various components that constitute stress resistance.