The effect of chemical information on the spatial distribution of fruit flies: I Model results.

ABSTRACT: Animal aggregation is a general phenomenon in ecological systems. Aggregations are generally considered as an evolutionary advantageous state in which members derive the benefits of protection and mate choice, balanced by the costs of limiting resources and competition. In insects, chemical information conveyance plays an important role in finding conspecifics and forming aggregations. In this study, we describe a spatio-temporal simulation model designed to explore and quantify the effects of these infochemicals, i.e., food odors and an aggregation pheromone, on the spatial distribution of a fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) population, where the lower and upper limit of local population size are controlled by an Allee effect and competition. We found that during the spatial expansion a

SUBMITTER: Lof ME 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2792341 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature