Journal
ECOLOGY LETTERS
Volume 17, Issue 10, Pages 1257-1264Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/ele.12331
Keywords
Attraction; Drosophila simulans; ecosystem engineering; mutualism; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; volatiles; yeast
Categories
Funding
- Swiss National Foundation
- University of Auckland
- University of Auckland Faculty of Science FRDF grant [3702173]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Niche construction theory explains how organisms' niche modifications may feed back to affect their evolutionary trajectories. In theory, the evolution of other species accessing the same modified niche may also be affected. We propose that this niche construction may be a general mechanism driving the evolution of mutualisms. Drosophilid flies benefit from accessing yeast-infested fruits, but the consequences of this interaction for yeasts are unknown. We reveal high levels of variation among strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in their ability to modify fruits and attract Drosophila simulans. More attractive yeasts are dispersed more frequently, both in the lab and in the field, and flies associated with more attractive yeasts have higher fecundity. Although there may be multiple natural yeast and fly species interactions, our controlled assays in the lab and field provide evidence of a mutualistic interaction, facilitated by the yeast's niche modification.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available