The Ecology of Hawaiian Flower-Breeding Drosophilids. I. Selection in the Larval Habitat

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Abstract
The population density estimates for the Hawaiian flower-breeding drosophilids indicate that morning glory blossoms can support only low numbers of larvae (.ltoreq. 6/blossom). Evidence from experimental manipulations of blossoms indicates that Scaptomyza caliginosa larvae do not require pollen or yeasts in their diets. The nutritional requirements of S. caliginosa larvae appear to be qualitatively similar to those of Hawaiian leaf-breeding drosophilid larvae (i.e., bacterial microflorae within decaying plant tissues). The evidence also supports the notion that the large egg-small clutch strategy of S. caliginosa is an evolutionary response to both density-dependent (larval crowding) and density-independent (moisture stress) factors in the larval habitat.

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