نامه انجمن حشره‌شناسی ایران (Jul 2024)

Impact of Corn Meal and Wild Yeast Media on Drosophila Diversity in the Assam-Meghalaya Rolling Terrain

  • Aparajita Rabha,
  • Dhirendra K Sharma,
  • Chittaranjan Baruah,
  • Arup Nama Das

DOI
https://doi.org/10.61186/jesi.44.3.8
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 44, no. 3
pp. 329 – 348

Abstract

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The distribution and diversity of Drosophila species across six sites in the rolling terrain between Assam and Meghalaya, employing trap-bait and net sweeping methods throughout the year. Using corn meal and Musa balbisiana (Wild yeast mediated) as culture media, flies were collected and analyzed for abundance, richness, and diversity using Simpson, Shannon-Wiener, and Berger-Parker indices. In Baridua, Drosophila melanogaster was predominant with 968 individuals on corn meal and a richer community of 2,536 on Musa balbisiana. Tura had 844 individuals on corn meal dominated by D. melanogaster, D. elegans, D. repleta and D. sechellia while, Musa balbisiana recorded 851 individuals with D. melanogaster being dominant, alongside D. suzukii, D. sechellia, D. busckii and D. pseudoobscura. Kharkutta showed 717 individuals on corn meal predominantly D. melanogaster and D. subobscura while 949 individuals recorded in Musa balbisiana dominated by D. melanogaster, D. nasuta, D. pseudoobscura, D. subobscura and D. immigrans. Rangjuli recorded 902 individuals on corn meal with D. melanogaster, D. yakuba and D. repleta as dominant species while 1,746 individuals recorded on Musa balbisiana with D. melanogaster, D. suzukii, D. simulans and D. repleta being dominant. Dudhnoi had 825 individuals on corn meal with D. melanogaster as dominant, along with D. suzukii, D. busckii, while 2,104 individuals recorded on Musa balbisiana dominated by D. melanogaster, D. mauritiana, D. immigrans. Langpih showed 566 individuals on corn meal with D. melanogaster, D. mauritiana and D. immigrans being dominant while 834 individuals recorded on Musa balbisiana dominated by D. melanogaster, D. immigrans, D. bipectinata, D. repleta and D. suzukii. It has been found that wild yeast media significantly increased Drosophila diversity compared to corn meal. Future research should explore species genetic analysis, seasonal variations, climate change effects, genetic diversity, habitat influences, human activity impacts, and ecological interactions for effective conservation strategies.

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