BIO 101 --Ms. Wilson's class is looking for sources with information on the drosophila's effect on the ecosystem. The information can come from a book, journal, magazine and/or newspaper article. According to Ms. Wilson, the drosophila has two major effects on the ecosystem.

#1. The drosophila is a pest to humans. To find information that backs this up, go to "Gale Database Articles" and do a "Basic Search" i for “'fruit fly' and pest.” This will bring up several magazine, journal and newspaper articles that refer to them as a pest.

#2. They help to decompose rotting fruit (so they are decomposers). In the Gale Database Articles, doing a basic keyword search for “fruit fly” brings up an article on the “fruit fly” from the Columbia Encyclopedia (under the Reference tab); not only does this article mention that the drosophila is a pest, but it also says that they are found around decaying vegetation. Also, in the reference book, Insects Their Natural History and Diversity (Ref QL 473 .M32 2006), look in the index under "drosophilidae" (the plural for drosophila); the 1st page reference takes you to an entry that refers to them feeding on decaying fruit.