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EFFECTS OF INGESTED ETHANOL ON ADULT DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER (DIPTERA: DROSOPHILIDAE)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 May 2012

Abstract

An apparatus consisting of a plastic box and a feeding circuit permits the calculation of μl volumes of ethanol ingested by Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. The net amount of ethanol taken (expressed in 100% ethanol) has been examined in various experimental conditions: sucrose solutions, ethanol–sucrose solutions at various sucrose and alcohol concentrations, ethanol solutions - cube of sucrose and ethanol solutions alone. The data obtained on ingestion by Drosophila show that the consumption of sucrose solutions was inversely proportional to the concentrations of sucrose. The amount of ethanol ingested during 14 days was directly related to the concentration of ethanol in the diets although in general the total volume of solution consumed did not vary significantly in most cases. The analyses of observations of 14 days showed that decreased mortality was obtained with the rise in the concentration of sucrose in sucrose-water solutions in 0.5–3% range and the mortality increased with the rise in the concentration of ethanol in the diets, yet ethanol-sucrose was better than cube of sugar alone.

Résumé

Un appareil composé d’une boîte de plastique et d’un circuit d’alimentation permet de mesurer les microlitres d’éthanol ingérés par Drosophila melanogaster Meigen. La quantité de liquide bu (exprimée en 100% d’éthanol) a été mesurée sous différentes conditions expérimentales : solutions de saccharose, solutions de saccharose et d’éthanol à des concentrations variables, solution d’éthanol avec des cubes de saccharose et solutions d’éthanol seulement. Les résultats démontrent que la consommation de saccharose est inversement proportionnelle à la concentration de cette substance en solution. Par contre, la quantité d’éthanol ingéré pendant 14 jours est directement fonction de la concentration d’éthanol dans les diètes bien qu’en général le volume total de la solution consommée ne varie pas significativement dans la plupart des cas. Nos observations démontrent qu’une diminution de mortalité est notée lorsque la concentration de saccharose augmente de 0.5 à 3% dans la solution. Par contre la mortalité s’élève lors d’une augmentation de la concentration d’éthanol dans les diètes. La solution de saccharose–éthanol donne une meilleure survie que celle des cubes de saccharose.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 1981

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