Abstract
ABSTRACTUnderstanding social behaviour requires a study case that is simple enough to be tractable, yet complex enough to remain interesting. Do larval Drosophila meet these requirements? In a broad sense, this question can refer to effects of the mere presence of other larvae on the behaviour of a target individual. Here we focused in a more strict sense on ‘peer pressure’, that is on the question of whether the behaviour of a target individual larva is affected by what a surrounding group of larvae is doing. We found that innate olfactory preference of a target individual was neither affected (i) by the level of innate olfactory preference in the surrounding group nor (ii) by the expression of learned olfactory preference in the group. Likewise, learned olfactory preference of a target individual was neither affected (iii) by the level of innate olfactory preference of the surrounding group nor (iv) by the learned olfactory preference the group was expressing. We conclude that larval Drosophila thus do not take note of specifically what surrounding larvae are doing. This implies that in a strict sense, and to the extent tested, there is no social interaction between larvae. These results validate widely used en mass approaches to the behaviour of larval Drosophila.
Highlights
An appreciation of what the conspecifics are doing is fundamentally important for the organization of behaviour
We could test whether there were any behavioural differences between the target individuals embedded in a wild-type strain Canton-Special (WT) group that did show attraction to the odour or an Orco1 mutant group that did not
We found no differences in the behaviour of WT target individuals embedded in a WT group versus in an Orco1 mutant group
Summary
An appreciation of what the conspecifics are doing is fundamentally important for the organization of behaviour This is so from the subtleties of peer pressure in humans, via coordinated hunting in wolves, penguins, or sharks, the intricate interactions in social bees, wasps and termites or the swarming of locusts, to the rituals of courtship in their respective form throughout the animal kingdom. Understanding these processes, faces a dilemma: a study case is needed that is both simple enough to be experimentally tractable, and complex enough to remain interesting.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 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.
