[C virus of Drosophila and dynamics of host population].
Drosophila melanogaster populations are naturally infected by the Drosophila C virus (DCV). Ingestion of this non-hereditary virus early in the life-cycle has a positive effect. Demographic parameters measured on DCV-free and DCV-infected populations of the same genotype enabled us to compute the population growth rates (multiplication rates) by means of matrix models. The DCV-infected sample had a larger growth rate both for low and high larval densities. Since it is not possible to experiment on a mixed population where DCV-free and DCV-infected individuals live together, a model combining competition and contamination was used. Simulations showed that coexistence of free and infected animals can occur. Such a result leads us to question the relation between population growth rate and fitness.
Thomas-Orillard
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Laboratoire d'écologie, URA-CNRS 258, Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, Paris, France.
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D000818:Animals; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000821:virology*; D007304:Insect Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D007814:Larva; D016015:Logistic Models; D010849:Picornaviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D011157:Population Dynamics