
%0 Journal Article
%A Parsons, PA 
%T Longevity of Cosmopolitan and Native Australian Drosophila in Ethanol Atmospheres.
%J Australian Journal of Zoology
%D 1981/02/01
%V 29
%N 1
%P 33-39
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO9810033
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/ZO9810033 
%X The longevity of adults exposed to ethanol vapour over solutions of ethanol in water is increased in Drosophila species that are normally collected by attraction to fermented-fruit baits. These include species of subgenera Drosophila, Dorsilopha, Sophophora and Scaptodrosophila. The increase occurs up to a threshold where ethanol becomes a metabolic cost rather than a benefit. Except for a temperatezone population of D. melanogaster with a threshold of about 12%, the remainder cluster between 1.6 and 5.1%. These latter include several species utilizing resources additional to fruits, in particular various vegetables and flowers. Also included is the specialist species D. buzzatii which exploits the cactus Opuntia as a resource. In contrast, D. (Scaptodrosophila) inornata, a species collected by sweeping in southern temperate rain forests, has a threshold of <1% ethanol, while in D. (Scaptodrosophila) hibisci, which utilizes endemic Hibiscus flowers as a resource, longevity is not increased. The frequency and level of ethanol resource utilization in species not attracted to fermented-fruit baits is an open question. However, it is likely that all species attracted to fermented-fruit baits are able to utilize gaseous ethanol. 
