Larva-to-adult and pupa-to-adult mortality dynamics in crowded cultures ofDrosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Pupal mortality is shown here to bear the main responsibility for total mortality duringDrosophila melanogaster development in crowded conditions. The dynamics of the pupa-to-adult and larva-to-adult processes of mortality follows a S-shaped logistic model, like survival in density-dependent processes. Data given here confirm to some extent Wallace's suggestion that pupal mortality is a density-dependent process.