Impact of Habitat Modification on the Distribution and Abundance of Fruit Flies (Diptera:

Tephritidae) in Southeast Queensland

S. Raghu · Anthony R. Clarke · Richard A.I. Drew · Kees Hulsman

Published in 2000, researchers investigated the effect of habitat disturbance on the distribution and
abundance of native fruit flies in southeast Queensland, a rapidly urbanizing area. Over the course of six
months, researchers collected and analyzed data on four species (Bactroceratryoni, Bactrocera
neohumeralis, Bactrocera chorista, and Dacus aequalis) in three habitat types: suburbia, open sclerophyll
woodland, and rainforest. They also looked at the data on a “dacine fruit fly” basis, which included all
fruit fly species caught during the study period (as would happen in a biodiversity assessment): these
included the four species already mentioned as well as Bactrocera melas, Bactrocera bryoniae,
Bactrocera newmani, and Dacus absonifacies. The polyphagous pest species reacted differently when
analyzed at the species level.

Based on the combined results, it appears that replacing rainforest with suburbia has no impact, or even a
positive effect, on the overall abundance of fruit flies. However, at the species level, this is an incorrect
inference based on the abundance of a single pest species. According to this view, the transition of
rainforest into suburbia increases dacine richness and abundance. While this seems to be valid for B.
tryoni abundance, it is inaccurate for the other three species. If the data are pooled at every stage, the
greater absolute prevalence of this pest species would skew the estimation toward the incorrect
conclusion that suburbia is a favored fly habitat. Many ecological and applied environmental studies,
particularly on invertebrates, continue to function at genus, family, "guild," or "assemblage" stages.
Although it is quite far from the first to make this point (Resh and Unzicker 1975; Walter 1988; Baskin
1994; Walter and Paterson 1994, 1995; Weaver 1995; Bengtsson 1998; Simberloff 1998), however there
should be the need to carry out ecological work at the species level, if true understanding of process and
pattern is to be gained.

Many insect species' distribution and abundance are likely to change as a result of this change. However,
it is not always clear how these developments affect insects, whether negatively, neutrally, or positively.
As this study shows, the widespread anthropogenic belief that all destruction of native biodiversity has to
be bad for the animals in that habitat is not true. Despite the lack of evidence, it is likely that rainforest
depletion over the last 200 years has had a detrimental impact on the habitats of the latter two species.

Prepared by:
Jorge Pawee A. Duran
MaEd Biology- Advanced Ecology