Feast or Famine: An Observational Study on the Effects of Varying Food Levels on a Drosophila hydei Colony's Success

Overview

Objectives/Goals The objective was to determine which food level would result in the most successful Drosophila hydei colony. It was hypothesized that the colony which receives the largest amount of food (Colony A) will produce the most offspring, therefore becoming the most successful. Methods/Materials Five Drosophila hydei colonies were made and observed during each trial. Each colony received a different amount of food. Colony A received 50 mL, B recieved 40mL, C received 30 mL, D recieved 20 mL, and E received 10mL. An eighteen day period was alotted for each trial and the colonies were observed for the duration. Success was then measured upon the number of offspring produced in each colony. Results Colony E was the most successful of the five colonies observed. Colony E produced or tied for the most offspring in each of the two trials. Conclusions/Discussion The data did not support the hypothesis. However colony A did produce offspring the fastest in each of the two trials. Colony A was always ahead of all the other colonies in terms of the life cycle of the Drosophila hydei. From these results one may form the theory that more food yields faster reproduction rate, but not necessarily more offspring. One may also form the theory that less food yields a slower reproduction rate but a larger amount of offspring.

Competition history

• CSEF 2013 Zoology · Entry S2204

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