Data from: Nutritional geometry and fitness consequences in Drosophila suzukii, the Spotted-Wing Drosophila

Since its arrival to North America less than a decade ago, the invasive Spotted-Wing Drosophila (Drosophila suzukii) has inflicted substantial economic losses on soft fruit agriculture due to its ability to oviposit into ripening fruits. More effective management approaches for this species are needed, but little is known about the factors that influence behavioral choices made by D. suzukii when selecting hosts, or the consequences that their offspring experience when developing in different environments. Using a nutritional geometry methodology, we found that the ratio of proteins-to-carbohydrates (P:C) present in media greatly influenced adult D. suzukii behavior and subsequent offspring development. Whereas adult flies showed a strong bias in their oviposition and association behaviors toward carbohydrate-rich foods, larval survival and eclosion rate were strongly dependent on protein availability. Here, we explore the preference–performance hypothesis (PPH), in which females are predicted to oviposit on medias that provide the greatest offspring benefits, in regard to its relevance in D. suzukii behavior and consequences for management. Our results provide valuable insight into the ecology and evolution of this species that may hopefully lead to more effective management strategies.自不到十年前传入北美以来，入侵物种斑翅果蝇（Spotted-Wing Drosophila, Drosophila suzukii）因其可在成熟果实内产卵的特性，给软质果品农业造成了巨额经济损失。目前亟需开发针对该物种的更高效防治手段，但学界对斑翅果蝇选择寄主时的行为影响因素，以及其子代在不同环境下发育的生存结局仍知之甚少。本研究采用营养几何（nutritional geometry）研究方法，发现培养基中蛋白质与碳水化合物（P:C）的比例，对斑翅果蝇成虫行为及其后续子代发育均具有显著调控作用。尽管成虫在产卵与栖息选择行为上，表现出对高碳水化合物食物的强烈偏好，但幼虫存活率与羽化率却高度依赖于蛋白质的供给水平。本研究围绕偏好-性能假说（preference–performance hypothesis, PPH）展开探讨——该假说预测雌性昆虫会选择能为子代带来最优生存收益的介质产卵，并结合斑翅果蝇的行为特征与防治意义展开分析。本研究结果为该物种的生态学与进化研究提供了重要见解，有望助力开发更高效的防治策略。