Abstract
A survey in the development of larval movement patterns of D. melanogaster and D. simulans wild stocks was made. Larval movement patterns of four lines of D. melanogaster genetically selected for fast and slow feeding rate were also examined. The following behavioural elements were considered: locomotion, turning behaviour and number of larvae moving within a small area (“sitter” larvae). Because locomotion increases with larval age whilst turning does not substantially change between 24 to 96 hours of age, the larval movement pattern of Drosophila tends to be straighter as development proceeds. In the absence of food, Drosophila larvae increase locomotion and decrease turning. The opposite situation occurs when larvae are deposited on a nutritive substrate. However, larvae of a slow feeding line (SA) have a modified pattern of movement in the presence and in the absence of food. Orthokinesis and klinokinesis were more obvious in D. simulans larvae. Quantitative differences in the larval movement pattern of these two sibling species were greater on a nutritive medium. In both species the percentage of “sitter” larvae increases in the presence of food, particularly in D. simulans. This increase depends on larval age. Crosses between two D. melanogaster strains, which differ in larval turning, suggest that one pair of major additive genetic factors control this behaviour. The adaptative nature of larval movement patterns of Drosophila is discussed.
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Troncoso, B., Godoy-Herrera, R. & Mora, W. The development of larval movement patterns in Drosophila. Heredity 58, 321–329 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1987.58
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/hdy.1987.58
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