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An Assay for Measuring the Effects of Ethanol on the Locomotion Speed of Caenorhabditis elegans

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The evolutionary ecology of ethanol.

Anna C Bowland¹, Amanda D Melin², David J Hosken¹

¹Centre for Ecology and Conservation, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Cornwall, UK.

Trends in Ecology & Evolution

|October 31, 2024

Summary

Ethanol, commonly associated with humans, is found in nature and benefits various species. This eco-evolutionary study reveals ethanol

Keywords:

alcohol alcohol dehydrogenase animal–ethanol interactions feeding ecology fermented foods symbiosis

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Area of Science:

Eco-evolutionary biology
Biochemistry
Ethology

Background:

Ethanol consumption is traditionally viewed as a human-specific behavior.
Emerging evidence suggests ethanol occurs naturally in various plant-based resources like fruits, saps, and nectars.
The ecological role and evolutionary implications of ethanol in non-human organisms remain underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the eco-evolutionary significance of ethanol in the natural world.
To explore the adaptive benefits and diverse reasons for ethanol consumption across multiple taxa.
To understand how ethanol shapes ecological interactions and symbiotic relationships.

Main Methods:

Literature review of existing studies on ethanol in natural environments.
Eco-evolutionary analysis of ethanol's impact on different species.
Exploration of nutritional and non-nutritional hypotheses for ethanol ingestion.

Main Results:

Ethanol is present in numerous wild food sources, including fruits, saps, and nectars.
Ingesting ethanol provides advantages that promote adaptations for its utilization in diverse animal taxa.
Ethanol consumption is linked to nutritional benefits, medicinal properties, and cognitive or social-behavioral effects.

Conclusions:

Ethanol is an ecologically significant compound that influences natural selection.
Ethanol has played a role in shaping the evolution of numerous species.
Ethanol mediates and structures symbiotic relationships involving plants, microbes, insects, and mammals.