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Social attraction mediated by fruit flies' microbiome.
Isvarya Venu1, Zachary Durisko, Jianping Xu
1Animal Behaviour Group, Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada.
The Journal of Experimental Biology
|April 19, 2014
Summary
Fruit fly larvae and adults are attracted to food odors produced by their gut bacteria. These microbiome-derived volatiles guide flies to suitable food sources, potentially indicating a safer microbial environment.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Ecology
- Microbiology
- Insect Science
Background:
- Larvae and adult fruit flies demonstrate attraction to volatiles from larval-occupied food substrates.
- The role of larval gut bacteria in producing these attractive volatiles remains to be fully elucidated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether larval gut bacteria are the source of attractive volatiles.
- To determine the specific bacterial species responsible for volatile production and attraction.
- To understand the role of learned versus innate attraction to used food cues.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted using bacteria-free (axenic) fruit fly larvae and food substrates.
- Attraction assays were performed with axenic larvae and adults exposed to volatiles from axenic food, standard food, and food inoculated with specific bacteria (Lactobacillus brevis, L. plantarum).
- Controlled learning experiments assessed larval perception of used versus unused food cues.
Main Results:
- Axenic larvae and adults did not show attraction to bacteria-free used food.
- Attraction was observed towards standard used food (with intact microbiome) and towards axenic food/larvae inoculated with L. brevis or L. plantarum.
- Larvae did not show a preference for standard or axenic used food in learning experiments, but preferred simulated used food with burrows.
Conclusions:
- Fruit fly attraction to used food is mediated by volatiles derived from their gut microbiome, specifically L. brevis and L. plantarum.
- These microbiome-derived volatiles likely serve as signals for locating suitable food patches with a hospitable microbial environment.
- The findings highlight the ecological significance of the insect microbiome in mediating host-environment interactions and resource location.
