Is Drosophila Larval Competition Involved in Incipient Speciation?
Title | Is Drosophila Larval Competition Involved in Incipient Speciation? |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2025 |
Authors | Jean-François F, Pratibha S, Baptiste R, Jean-Pierre F, Jérôme C, Deepa A, Claude E |
Journal | J Chem Ecol |
Volume | 51 |
Issue | 1 |
Pagination | 2 |
Date Published | 2025 Jan 22 |
ISSN | 1573-1561 |
Keywords | Animals, Competitive Behavior, Drosophila melanogaster, Female, Fertility, Genetic Speciation, Larva, Male, Pheromones, Reproduction, Sexual Behavior, Animal |
Abstract | Geographical, ethological, temporal and ecological barriers can affect interbreeding between populations deriving from an ancestral population, this progressively leading to speciation. A rare case of incipient speciation currently occurs between Drosophila melanogaster populations sampled in Zimbabwe (Z) and all other populations (M). This phenomenon was initially characterized by Z females refusing to mate with M males. Despite the fact that Z and M flies produce different amounts of cuticular pheromones, their manipulation and that of other sensory signals exchanged during courtship behavior only marginally rescued the behavioral isolation. To further explore the putative mechanisms involved in this phenomenon, we first assessed the fecundity in matings between Z and M flies. Then, we measured the reproduction and survival in adults resulting of co-cultured Z and M larvae. In these two experiments, Z flies rarely emerged. Z and M larvae produced different amounts of food-derived metabolites which were altered in co-culture condition. This maybe related to the different bacteria composition in the gut and body of Z and M flies. However, the mating behavior of co-cultured flies did not change and their cuticular pheromone profile was slightly altered. Thus, the Z/M larval competition could reinforce the barriers induced by gametic and behavioral isolation processes on this incipient speciation phenomenon. |
DOI | 10.1007/s10886-025-01560-y |
Alternate Journal | J Chem Ecol |
PubMed ID | 39841299 |
PubMed Central ID | 1088670 |
Grant List | PARI 2016 / / Bourgogne-Franche Comté Regional Council / PARI 2016 / / Bourgogne-Franche Comté Regional Council / PARI 2016 / / Bourgogne-Franche Comté Regional Council / PARI 2016 / / Bourgogne-Franche Comté Regional Council / RTI 4006 / / Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India / |