Diet dependent longevity and hypoxic tolerance of adult Drosophila melanogaster

Relationships between nutrition and longevity are of growing interest. Here we analysed the influences of dietary restriction on the survival of Drosophila exposed to atmospheric oxygen or to chronic hypoxia. Dietary restriction was achieved by food dilution, by sucrose restriction or by yeast restriction. Sucrose and yeast influenced survival in a complex manner that was best visualised using a phenotypic landscape metaphor. Survival contour maps integrate poorly understood behavioural adaptations, metabolic regulations and nutrient signalling pathways in a comprehensive manner. Dietary yeast produced a bell shaped survival response which was dependent on sucrose. Hypoxic flies had a reduced longevity as compared to normoxic flies and their dependence on specific nutrients was modified. Yeast which was beneficial to normoxic flies was toxic for hypoxic flies. In addition hypoxic flies were more resistant to starvation. We conclude that the survival and the hypoxic tolerance of Drosophila have different nutritional requirements.