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William J. Etges Office: SCEN 732 Phone: (479) 575-6358 FAX: (479) 575-4010 wetges@uark.edu

Degrees:

Research Interests:

Our group uses ecological, physiological, genetic, and systematic approaches to adaptation and speciation. A majority of work involves study of the relationships between desert Drosophila and their host plants due to the wealth of previous knowledge of this fascinating system.

1. We are assessing the ecological genomics of D. mojavensis populations characterized by different life histories, use of different host plants, courtship songs, and epicuticular hydrocarbon profiles in collaboration with Allen Gibbs.  Results of microarray studies will allow us to identify transcriptional differences associated with different host cacti, across different life stages and ages, responses to temperature and desiccation differences, and allow comparison of gene expression profiles in wild vs. laboratory reared flies.  We are particularly interested in understanding genomic responses to heat and desiccation stress as a model for understanding the consequences of global warming in this well studied desert species.
2. We continue to evaluate genetic and ecological determination of sexual isolation among geographically isolated populations of Drosophila mojavensis.  QTL analysis of courtship songs and epicuticular hydrocarbon variation known to influence patterns of mate choice both within and between populations has revealed how key gene regions interact with host cacti during population divergence. Fine mapping of these QTLs as well as whole genome mapping of suites of traits is underway.
   
3. Comparative analysis of sexual isolation in the Drosophila buzzatii species cluster from Brazil and Argentina has revealed the pace of evolutionary changes in premating reproductive isolation in this monophyletic group of cactophilic Drosophila. Sexual isolation between species, epicuticular hydrocarbon variation, and courtship song differences have been evaluated in a phylogenetic framework.

Academic Interests:

Evolutionary genetics, ecological genomics, natural and sexual selection in the wild, speciation, cuticular hydrocarbon chemistry and evolution, systematics

Lab Website:

Recent Publications:

Oliveira, C. C., M. H. Manfrin, F. M. Sene, L. L. Jackson and W. J. Etges.  2011. Variations on a theme: diversification of cuticular hydrocarbons in a clade of cactophilic Drosophila. BMC Evolutionary Biology 2011 11:179. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-11-179

Havens, J. A., S. H. Orzack, and W. J. Etges.  2011. Mate choice opportunity leads to shorter progeny egg to adult development time in a desert insect. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 24:1317-1324 - (also see Corrigendum).

Yew, J. Y., K. Dreisewerd, C. C. de Oliveira, and W. J. Etges.  2011. Male-specific transfer and fine scale differentiation of newly identified cuticular hydrocarbons and triacylglycerides in a Drosophila species pair. PLoS ONE 6(2): e16898. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0016898.

Etges, W. J., C. C. de Oliveira, M. A. F. Noor, and M. G. Ritchie.  2010. Genetics of incipient speciation in Drosophila mojavensis. III. Life history divergence and reproductive isolation. Evolution 64:3549-3569.

Jennings, J. H. and W. J. Etges.  2010.  Species hybrids in the lab but not in nature: a reanalysis of premating isolation between Drosophila arizonae and D. mojavensis. Evolution 64:587-598.