Abstract
BackgroundDrosophila flies explore the environment very efficiently in order to colonize it. They explore collectively, not individually, so that when a few land on a food spot, they attract the others by signs. This behaviour leads to aggregation of individuals and optimizes the screening of mates and egg-laying on the most favourable food spots.ResultsFlies perform cycles of exploration/aggregation depending on the resources of the environment. This behavioural ecology constitutes an excellent model for analyzing simultaneous processing of neurosensory information. We reasoned that the decision of flies to land somewhere in order to achieve aggregation is based on simultaneous integration of signals (visual, olfactory, acoustic) during their flight. On the basis of what flies do in nature, we designed laboratory tests to analyze the phenomenon of neuronal coincidence. We screened many mutants of genes involved in neuronal metabolism and the synaptic machinery.ConclusionMutants of NO-dependent cyclase show a specifically-marked behaviour phenotype, but on the other hand they are associated with moderate biochemical defects. We show that these mutants present errors in integrative and/or coincident processing of signals, which are not reducible to the functions of the peripheral sensory cells.
Highlights
Drosophila flies explore the environment very efficiently in order to colonize it
We have shown that exploration in Drosophila is a powerful behavioural tool for analyzing the genetic basis of the machinery involved in the integration of multiple environmental signs [1]
Performance in exploration is altered in soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) mutants In a previous paper we reported that searching behaviour involves a strong collective component and flies help each other through various signs to optimize the efficiency of exploration [1]
Summary
Drosophila flies explore the environment very efficiently in order to colonize it They explore collectively, not individually, so that when a few land on a food spot, they attract the others by signs. We previously showed that the first flies to find the appropriate food spot (explorers) signal to the others (followers) [1] Such collective exploration leads to remarkably efficient aggregation. They aggregate to screen sex partners and to lay eggs on the food spot most favourable for sustaining the development of larvae. This cooperative task suggests that costly individual foraging behaviour has not been selected (page number not for citation purposes)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
