Qualitative and quantitative studies of pteridine eye pigments in Drosophila. A statistical analysis of fluorometric data on seven Hawaiian species

Abstract

Two dimensional thin layer chromatography followed by fluorometric quantification of pteridine eye pigments promises to be a very useful methodology for biochemical taxonomy to identify the relationships among species of Hawaiian Drosophila. This protocol and the statistical interpretation of the data provide a new way to look at relationships among various species of the Genus Drosophila. They imply new relationships among groups of Drosophila species hot easily detected by other procedures, and also confirms some of the taxonomic relationships between species while at the same time providing a new window to clarify and expand other relationships. With improvements in the methodology, additional species to work with, and more precise environmental data, this tool can greatly expand our understanding of the evolutionary pathways and ecological genetics of the Hawaiian Drosophila.