Genetic variation in aggregation behaviour and interacting phenotypes in Drosophila.

ABSTRACT: Aggregation behaviour is the tendency for animals to group together, which may have important consequences on individual fitness. We used a combination of experimental and simulation approaches to study how genetic variation and social environment interact to influence aggregation dynamics in Drosophila To do this, we used two different natural lines of Drosophila that arise from a polymorphism in the foraging gene (rovers and sitters). We placed groups of flies in a heated arena. Flies could freely move towards one of two small, cooler refuge areas. In groups of the same strain, sitters had a greater tendency to aggregate. The observed behavioural variation was based on only two parameters: the probability of entering a refuge and the likelihood of choosing a refuge based on the number of

SUBMITTER: Philippe AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4822458 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature