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A Temperature Gradient Assay to Determine Thermal Preferences of Drosophila Larvae
Published on: June 25, 2018
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Wolbachia modifies thermal preference in Drosophila melanogaster
Amy M Truitt1, Martin Kapun2, Rupinder Kaur3
1Department of Environmental Science and Management, Portland State University, Portland, OR, USA.
Environmental Microbiology
|July 5, 2018
Summary
Fruit flies infected with Wolbachia bacteria show a preference for cooler temperatures. This temperature preference varies depending on the specific Wolbachia strain, suggesting a behavioral adaptation to host-symbiont interactions.
Area of Science:
- Microbial Ecology
- Animal Behavior
- Genetics
Background:
- Environmental factors significantly impact host-symbiont interactions and organismal fitness.
- While microbial replication is temperature-dependent, the influence of symbionts on host environmental preference is less understood.
- Wolbachia, an endosymbiotic bacterium, is known to affect various host traits in arthropods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of Wolbachia infection status and genetic variants on the thermal preference of Drosophila melanogaster.
- To determine if host-symbiont dynamics influence behavioral thermoregulation.
Main Methods:
- Conducted thermal preference (Tp) assays with Drosophila melanogaster.
- Compared temperature choices between uninfected flies and flies infected with different Wolbachia strains (wMel, wMelCS, wMelPop).
Main Results:
- Wolbachia-infected Drosophila melanogaster exhibited a preference for lower temperatures compared to uninfected controls.
- Significant shifts in thermal preference were observed across different Wolbachia variants: -1.2°C for wMel and -4°C for wMelCS and wMelPop.
- Uninfected flies preferred a temperature of 24.4°C.
Conclusions:
- Wolbachia infection significantly alters the thermal preference of Drosophila melanogaster.
- Variation in thermal preference is associated with specific Wolbachia strains, suggesting a role in host-symbiont co-adaptation.
- This behavioral adjustment may facilitate bacterial titre regulation and represent a form of self-medication by the host.
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