Microbiota Influences Fitness and Timing of Reproduction in the Fruit Fly Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

The ability of associated microorganisms (“microbiota”) to influence animal life history traits has been recognized and investigated, especially in the past 2 decades. For many microbial communities, there is not always a clear definition of whether the microbiota or its members are beneficial, pathogenic, or relatively neutral to their hosts’ fitness.