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Habitat selection by Drosophila melanogaster larvae
Author(s) -
Rodriguez Lucy,
Sokolowski Marla B.,
Shore Joel S.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1420-9101.1992.5010061.x
Subject(s) - biology , pupa , larva , habitat , survivorship curve , ecology , selection (genetic algorithm) , drosophila melanogaster , drosophila (subgenus) , zoology , genetics , cancer , artificial intelligence , computer science , gene
Drosophila melanogaster larvae are used to examine habitat choice behavior and its effect on a component of preadult fitness (pupal survivorship). We established strains of flies by collecting pupae from two microhabitats from an orchard. Strain differences in pupation site choice (on versus off fruit) persisted in a field‐like laboratory assay without artificial selection. To produce heterogeneous environments, air temperature and soil water content were varied in these assays. A habitat suitability difference measure was used to determine for each environment, which microhabitat (on or off fruit) resulted in greater pupal survivorship. We found 1) that habitat choice behavior had both plastic and heritable components, 2) that strain‐by‐environment interactions influenced habitat choice behavior and pupal survivorship and, 3) a significant positive correlation between habitat suitability and larval habitat choice behavior.