Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721.
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1981 Jul;78(7):4435-9. doi: 10.1073/pnas.78.7.4435.
The yeast flora found in the major substrates of Drosophila mojavensis and in larval guts was studied both qualitatively and quantitatively. Quantitative studies show that, in four of the five substrates tested, the larvae did not contain a random sample of the yeasts present in the substrates. One widely distributed cactus yeast, Pichia cactophila, was typically in greater frequency in the larvae than in the substrates. Another cactus yeast, Candida sonorensis, typically exhibited the opposite relationship. Laboratory tests support larval preference behavior rather than differential digestion as being primarily responsible. Larvae are capable of distinguishing between patches of different yeast species and spend more time in patches of preferred yeasts. D. mojavensis appear to be ecological (host plants) generalists and physiological (yeasts) specialists in contrast to the other cactophilic Drosophila. Selective feeding by D. mojavensis larvae in natural substrates may represent optimal foraging behavior.
对发现于黑腹果蝇主要基质和幼虫肠道中的酵母菌群进行了定性和定量研究。定量研究表明,在所测试的五种基质中的四种中,幼虫体内的酵母并非来自基质中的随机样本。一种分布广泛的仙人掌酵母,毕赤酵母,通常在幼虫体内的频率高于基质。另一种仙人掌酵母,索诺伦毕赤酵母,通常表现出相反的关系。实验室测试支持幼虫偏好行为而不是差异消化是主要原因。幼虫能够区分不同酵母物种的斑块,并在偏好的酵母斑块中花费更多时间。与其他嗜仙人掌果蝇相比,黑腹果蝇似乎是生态(宿主植物)的通才和生理(酵母)的专家。黑腹果蝇幼虫在天然基质中的选择性取食可能代表了最优觅食行为。