Zaprionus indianus is a dipteran (Drosophilidae) with a wide distribution throughout the tropics and temperate Palearctic and Nearctic regions. There have been proposals to reclassify the genus Zaprionus as a subgenus or group of the genus Drosophila because various molecular markers have indicated a close relationship between Zaprionus species and the immigrans-Hirtodrosophila radiation within Drosophila. These markers, together with alloenzymes and quantitative traits, have been used to describe the probable scenario for the expansion of Zaprionus indianus from its center of dispersal (Africa) to regions of Asia (ancient dispersal) and the Americas (recent dispersal). The introduction of Z. indianus into Brazil was first reported in 1999 and the current consensus is that the introduced flies came from high-latitude African populations through the importation of fruit. Once in Brazil, Z. indianus spread rapidly throughout the Southeast and then to the rest of the country, in association with highway-based fruit commerce. These and other aspects of the evolutionary biology of Z. indianus are addressed in this review, including a description of a probable route for this species’ dispersal during its recent expansion.

Zaprionus indianus was first recorded in Brazil in 1999 and rapidly spread throughout the country. We have obtained data on esterase loci polymorphisms (Est2 and Est3), and analyzed them, using Landscape Shape Interpolation and the Monmonier Maximum Difference Algorithm to discover how regional invasion occurred. Hence, it was apparent that Z. indianus, after first arriving in São Paulo state, spread throughout the country, probably together with the transportation of commercial fruits by way of the two main Brazilian freeways, BR 153, to the south and the surrounding countryside, and the BR 116 along the coast and throughout the north-east.

Carboxylesterases are enzymes often associated with insect resistance to insecticides. The Est3 locus of Zaprionus indianus Gupta (Diptera: Drosophilidae) harbors four alleles that encode carboxylesterases with potentially detoxifying roles. In this study, we propose a model of resistance to insecticides in Z. indianus based on the adaptability of the Est3 locus inferred from the spread of its alleles over 27 generations in experimental populations, and their frequencies in field populations, which were either exposed or unexposed to the organophosphorous insecticide malathion. The increase in the frequency of this allele in experimental populations, and its high prevalence in field populations exposed to organophosphorous insecticides suggest that natural selection favors individuals with the Est3‐3 allele. The low frequency of this allele in unexposed field populations, and the low productivity of Est3‐3 homozygotes indicate that an adaptive cost is associated with this allele. The existence of a marker locus for insecticide resistance in Z. indianus makes it possible to use this species as a bioindicator for monitoring the excessive use of organophosphorous products and the emergence of resistance, and to devise strategies for the management of agricultural pests.

This study analyzes the pre-adult interactions of Zaprionus indianus, a recently-introduced species in Brazil, with two others Drosophilidae under laboratory conditions. The effects of larval residues on the viability and on the developmental time of Z. indianus, Drosophila simulans and D. sturtevanti were used to evaluate pre-adult competitive interactions, conditioning the culture medium with larval residues. Pre-adult interactions between Z. indianus, D. sturtevanti and D. simulans may affect their relative abundance over time, since the viability of Z. indianus was negatively affected by residues of D. sturtevanti, and its residues reduced the viability of D. simulans and the developmental time of both D. simulans and D. sturtevanti.

Neste trabalho, foi realizada a análise dos vídeos didáticos produzidos no curso Biologia Celular em Cena, com base na Teoria Cognitiva de Aprendizagem Multimídia (TCAM). Esse curso foi ministrado para alunos dos três cursos presenciais de Licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas da cidade de Uberaba/MG. No curso, foram discutidos temas da Biologia Celular com base no uso de animações, a produção audiovisual como importante recurso didático no ensino de Biologia, além da realização de oficinas de edição de áudio e vídeo para produção de vídeos didáticos com o uso da técnica stop motion. A TCAM permite analisar se as produções levam em conta princípios que facilitam o aprendizado, sem sobrecarga de informações, respeitando os limites da capacidade cognitiva do aluno. Tais princípios podem contribuir para que a elaboração de objetos de aprendizagem multimídia sejam mais eficientes quanto a seu uso no ensino.

No abstract

Zaprionus indianus (fig fly) is a drosophilid of African origin that was recorded in Brazilian territory in 1999, quickly dispersing throughout the country, causing impacts on fig culture, and becoming one of the dominant Drosophilidae species in the Cerrado biome. Due to the fact it is an invasive species and a potential pest in fruit cultivars, it is essential to monitor the variations in the populations of this species aiming to verify its genetic and demographic structure and possible impacts on the drosophilid community. The demography and the genetic data obtained from the Est3 polymorphism of fig fly have been evaluated in six populations of Brazilian Cerrado sampled during the dry season. Multivariate analyses of PCA, UPGMA and landscape genetics were performed. The results have indicated variation in the demography of the sampled populations, the presence of two alleles (Est31 and Est34) in all of them, and a higher isolation degree of the Guaíra (SP) population. Thus, the fig fly is a colonizer of the Brazilian Cerrado, and the polymorphisms of Est3 locus are an appropriate genetic marker to investigate the bioinvasion process.

Artigo recebido em 27/06/2022. Última versão recebida em 11/07/2022. Aprovado em 12/07/2022. Avaliado pelo sistema Triple Review: a) Desk Review pelo Editor-Chefe; e b) Double Blind Review (avaliação cega por dois avaliadores da área).