Physiological mechanisms of dehydration tolerance contribute to the invasion potential of ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) relative to its less widely distributed congeners
Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a highly invasive
species now with an almost cosmopolitan distribution. Two other damaging, polyphagous and closely-related
species, the marula fruit fly, Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), and the Natal fly, Ceratitis rosa Karsch, are not established
outside of sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, adult water balance traits and nutritional body composition were
measured in all three species at different temperatures and levels of relative humidity to determine whether
tolerance of water stress may partially explain their distribution.
Results: Adult C. capitata exhibited higher desiccation resistance than C. rosa but not C. cosyra. Desiccation
resistance of C. capitata was associated with lower rates of water loss under hot and dry conditions, higher
dehydration tolerance, and higher lipid reserves that were catabolised during water stress. In comparison with
C. capitata, C. cosyra and C. rosa lost water at significantly higher rates under hot, dry conditions, and did not
catabolise lipids or other sources of metabolic water during water stress.
Conclusions: These results suggest that adult physiological traits permitting higher tolerance of water stress
play a role in the success of C. capitata, particularly relative to C. rosa. The distribution of C. cosyra is likely
determined by the interaction of temperature with water stress, as well as the availability of suitable hosts for
larval development.
Description
CITATION: Weldon, C. W., et al. 2016. Physiological mechanisms of dehydration tolerance contribute to the invasion potential of ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) relative to its less widely distributed congeners. Frontiers in Zoology, 13:15, doi:10.1186/s12983-016-0147-z.
The original publication is available at http://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com
The original publication is available at http://frontiersinzoology.biomedcentral.com
Keywords
Fruit flies -- Water balance traits, Fruit flies -- Nutritional body composition, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)(Diptera : Tephritidae), Ceratitis cosyra (Walker), Ceratitis rosa Karsch
Citation
Weldon, C. W., et al. 2016. Physiological mechanisms of dehydration tolerance contribute to the invasion potential of ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae) relative to its less widely distributed congeners. Frontiers in Zoology, 13:15, doi:10.1186/s12983-016-0147-z