Drosophila species learn dialects through communal living

Abstract

Many species are able to share information about their environment by communicating through auditory, visual, and olfactory cues. In Drosophila melanogaster, exposure to parasitoid wasps leads to a decline in egg laying, and exposed females communicate this threat to naïve flies, which also depress egg laying. We find that species across the genus Drosophila respond to wasps by egg laying reduction, activate cleaved caspase in oocytes, and communicate the presence of wasps to naïve individuals. Communication within a species and between closely related species is efficient, while more distantly related species exhibit partial communication. Remarkably, partial communication between some species is enhanced after a cohabitation period that requires exchange of visual and olfactory signals. This interspecies “dialect learning” requires neuronal cAMP signaling in the mushroom body, suggesting neuronal plasticity facilitates dialect learning and memory. These observations establish Drosophila as genetic models for interspecies social communication and evolution of dialects.

NewDrosophilaLong-Term Memory Genes Revealed by Assessing Computational Function Prediction Methods

“…For example, Drosophila melanogaster females will retain their eggs (oviposition depression) when environmental conditions are determined to be nutritionally unsuitable (Spradling et al 1999, 135-177). Drosophila will also depress their oviposition rates during and following an encounter with an endoparasitoid wasp by inducing effector caspases in a stage specific manner in the ovary (Lefevre et al 2012, 230-233; Lynch et al 2016; Kacsoh et al 2017; Kacsoh et al 2018, e1007430; Kacsoh et al 2015b, 10.7554/eLife.07423). These endoparasitoids regularly infect Drosophila larvae, upwards of 90% in nature (Driessen et al 1989, 409-427; Fleury et al 2004, 181-194; LaSalle 1993, 197-215).…”

“…These endoparasitoids regularly infect Drosophila larvae, upwards of 90% in nature (Driessen et al 1989, 409-427; Fleury et al 2004, 181-194; LaSalle 1993, 197-215). Egg depression following wasp-exposure is maintained and is dependent on long-term memory formation (Kacsoh et al 2018, e1007430; Kacsoh et al 2017; Kacsoh et al 2015b, 10.7554/eLife.07423; Bozler et al 2017, e1007054). It is important to note that adult Drosophila are under no threat from these wasps.…”

“…This makes all behavioral changes in response to the wasps anticipatory as a means to benefit their offspring. These changes are mediated, in part, by the visual system (Kacsoh et al 2018, e1007430; Kacsoh et al 2015b, 10.7554/eLife.07423; Kacsoh et al 2015a, 1143-1157; Kacsoh et al 2013, 947-950). There has also been evidence to demonstrate the involvement of long-term memory genes and proteins that mediate the maintenance of this oviposition depression behavior.…”

Correction: Drosophila species learn dialects through communal living

“…Kacsoh BZ, Bozler J, Bosco G (2018) Correction: Drosophila species learn dialects through communal living. PLoS Genet 14(11): e1007825.…”

Multiculturalism is good for flies, too

“…If communication exists, what parts of the brain are required, what gene functions are involved, and to what extent does neural plasticity play a role? In the current issue of PLOS Genetics , Kacsoh and colleagues [ 5 ] now demonstrate that flies not only can convey a threat from a predatory wasp to members of their own species but can convey that threat to members of several diverged species, provided that the flies are cohabitated and can learn each other’s dialect (even if multiple species are included in the cohabitation period). These data reveal a level of behavioral complexity in flies that has not been recognized until now.…”