Population dynamics of fruitflies in British Columbia

Authors

  • M. Fitz-Earle Department of Biology Capilano College North Vancouver, B.C.
  • D. G. Holm Department of Zoology University of British Columbia Vancouver, B.C.

Abstract

Fluctuations in the populations of three species of the genus <i>Drosophila</i> were studied for fourteen months at an isolated fruitdump in the southern Okanagan Valley of British Columbia. The fruitdump was considered to provide ideal conditions for overwintering since it contained vast quantities of food and generated abundant heat. However, only <i>D. hydei</i> overwintered, whereas <i>D. pseudoobscura</i> and <i>D. melanogaster</i> did not. <i>D. hydei</i> seemed to occupy the most desirable location on the fruitdump, to the exclusion of the other species. None of the three species oversummered at the dump. The question of maintenance of <i>D. pseudoobscura</i> and <i>D. melanogaster</i> populations is discussed.

References

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Published

2019-08-28

Issue

Vol. 78 (1981): Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia

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Articles

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