Phylogeny, ecology, and evolution of mycophagous Drosophilidae (Diptera)

Abstract

A number of species and taxa of Drosophilidae (Diptera) are used as model clades in various fields of biology, but our knowledge on their ecology and co-evolution (e.g. how their populations are regulated and how they interact with host organisms, enemies, and competitors) is still limited. According to studies on their host use, their primary larval resources are fruits, flowers, plant leaves and stems, tree sap, and fungal fruiting bodies, and most species are specialized to one of these resources. Among these species, those exploiting fungal fruiting bodies (i.e. mycophagous species) have been relatively well studied for their ecology, because their resources are commonly found in the field, hence their interactions with enemies and competitors can be assessed rather easily. So far, a review article has been published on their ecology in 1990. Since then, remarkable advances have been achieved on their taxonomy, phylogeny, diversity, and interactions with parasites, parasitoids, and competitors. This article reviews literature mainly published since 1990 to provide a basis for the future study of their ecology and evolution.