scholarly journals Larval Performance in the Context of Ecological Diversification and Speciation inLycaeidesButterflies

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cynthia F. Scholl ◽  
Chris C. Nice ◽  
James A. Fordyce ◽  
Zachariah Gompert ◽  
Matthew L. Forister
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Oviposition Preference ◽  
Ecological Speciation ◽  
Larval Performance ◽  
Ecological Traits ◽  
Ecological Diversification ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Plant Effects

The role of ecology in diversification has been widely investigated, though few groups have been studied in enough detail to allow comparisons of different ecological traits that potentially contribute to reproductive isolation. We investigated larval performance within a species complex ofLycaeidesbutterflies. Caterpillars from seven populations were reared on five host plants, asking if host-specific, adaptive larval traits exist. We found large differences in performance across plants and fewer differences among populations. The patterns of performance are complex and suggest both conserved traits (i.e., plant effects across populations) and more recent dynamics of local adaptation, in particular forL. melissathat has colonized an exotic host. We did not find a relationship between oviposition preference and larval performance, suggesting that preference did not evolve to match performance. Finally, we put larval performance within the context of several other traits that might contribute to ecologically based reproductive isolation in theLycaeidescomplex. This larger context, involving multiple ecological and behavioral traits, highlights the complexity of ecological diversification and emphasizes the need for detailed studies on the strength of putative barriers to gene flow in order to fully understand the process of ecological speciation.

Leaf traits influencing oviposition preference and larval performance ofCameraria ohridellaon native and novel host plants

2014 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilla D'Costa ◽  
Monique S.J. Simmonds ◽  
Nigel Straw ◽  
Bastien Castagneyrol ◽  
Julia Koricheva
Keyword(s):  
Host Plants ◽  
Oviposition Preference ◽  
Leaf Traits ◽  
Larval Performance ◽  
Novel Host

scholarly journals Testing the Role of Habitat Isolation among Ecologically Divergent Gall Wasp Populations

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott P. Egan ◽  
Glen R. Hood ◽  
James R. Ott
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Assortative Mating ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Habitat Isolation ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Gall Wasp ◽  
Quercus Virginiana ◽  
Respective Host

Habitat isolation occurs when habitat preferences lower the probability of mating between individuals associated with differing habitats. While a potential barrier to gene flow during ecological speciation, the effect of habitat isolation on reproductive isolation has rarely been directly tested. Herein, we first estimated habitat preference for each of six populations of the gall waspBelonocnema treataeinhabiting eitherQuercus virginianaorQ. geminata. We then estimated the importance of habitat isolation in generating reproductive isolation betweenB. treataepopulations that were host specific to eitherQ. virginianaorQ. geminataby measuring mate preference in the presence and absence of the respective host plants. All populations exhibited host preference for their native plant, and assortative mating increased significantly in the presence of the respective host plants. This host-plant-mediated assortative mating demonstrates that habitat isolation likely plays an important role in promoting reproductive isolation among populations of this host-specific gall former.

scholarly journals Ant-Related Oviposition and Larval Performance in a Myrmecophilous Lycaenid

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew D. Trager ◽  
Matthew D. Thom ◽  
Jaret C. Daniels
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Larval Growth ◽  
Oviposition Preference ◽  
Larval Performance ◽  
Costs And Benefits ◽  
Miami Blue Butterfly ◽  
Measures Of Performance

We experimentally assessed ant-related oviposition and larval performance in the Miami blue butterfly (Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri). Ant tending had sex-dependent effects on most measures of larval growth: female larvae generally benefitted from increased tending frequency whereas male larvae were usually unaffected. The larger size of female larvae tended by ants resulted in a substantial predicted increase in lifetime egg production. Oviposition by adult females that were tended byC. floridanusants as larvae was similar between host plants with or without ants. However, they laid relatively more eggs on plants with ants than did females raised without ants, which laid less than a third of their eggs on plants with ants present. In summary, we found conditional benefits for larvae tended by ants that were not accompanied by oviposition preference for plants with ants present, which is a reasonable result for a system in which ant presence at the time of oviposition is not a reliable indicator of future ant presence. More broadly, our results emphasize the importance of considering the consequences of variation in interspecific interactions, life history traits, and multiple measures of performance when evaluating the costs and benefits of mutualistic relationships.

scholarly journals No fitness costs are induced by Spiroplasma infections of Aphis citricidus reared on two different host plants

2020 ◽  
Vol 80 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Guidolin ◽  
F. L. Cônsoli
Keyword(s):  
Host Plant ◽  
Host Plants ◽  
Aphid Species ◽  
Immune Defense ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Fitness Costs ◽  
Ecological Traits ◽  
Plant Utilization ◽  
High Infection

Abstract Aphids can harbor several secondary symbionts that alter important aphid-related ecological traits, such as defense against natural enemies, heat tolerance and host plant utilization. One of these secondary symbionts, Spiroplasma, is well known in Drosophila as a sex modulator and by interacting with the host immune system. However, little is known on the effects of Spiroplasma on aphids, such as its influence on the host immune defense against fungi and on host plant utilization. Aphid infections by Spiroplasma are known to be low and few aphid species were reported to be infected with this secondary symbiont, however aphids belonging to the genus Aphis in neotropical regions show high infection rates by Spiroplasma. Thus, we investigated the association of Spiroplasma with the tropical aphid Aphis citricidus through comparative biology experiments on two host plants with different nutritional value to the aphid. We demonstrate Spiroplasma induced no significant fitness costs to A. citricidus on either host plant as no changes in the fitness traits we assessed were observed. Spiroplasma infection only induced sutle changes on host longevity and fecundity. Therefore, we concluded Spiroplasma established a neutral interaction with A. citricidus under the selection pressure we tested, and argue on stress conditions that could better demonstrate the role of Spiroplasma in A. citricidus bioecology and associated costs involved.

scholarly journals Habitat Choice and Speciation

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophie E. Webster ◽  
Juan Galindo ◽  
John W. Grahame ◽  
Roger K. Butlin
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Local Adaptation ◽  
Ecological Speciation ◽  
Habitat Choice ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Evolutionary Mechanisms ◽  
Important Challenge ◽  
Intertidal Gastropod ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

The role of habitat choice in reproductive isolation and ecological speciation has often been overlooked, despite acknowledgement of its ability to facilitate local adaptation. It can form part of the speciation process through various evolutionary mechanisms, yet where habitat choice has been included in models of ecological speciation little thought has been given to these underlying mechanisms. Here, we propose and describe three independent criteria underlying ten different evolutionary scenarios in which habitat choice may promote or maintain local adaptation. The scenarios are the result of all possible combinations of the independent criteria, providing a conceptual framework in which to discuss examples which illustrate each scenario. These examples show that the different roles of habitat choice in ecological speciation have rarely been effectively distinguished. Making such distinctions is an important challenge for the future, allowing better experimental design, stronger inferences and more meaningful comparisons among systems. We show some of the practical difficulties involved by reviewing the current evidence for the role of habitat choice in local adaptation and reproductive isolation in the intertidal gastropodLittorina saxatilis, a model system for the study of ecological speciation, assessing whether any of the proposed scenarios can be reliably distinguished, given current research.

scholarly journals The Role of Parasitism in Adaptive Radiations—When Might Parasites Promote and When Might They Constrain Ecological Speciation?

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anssi Karvonen ◽  
Ole Seehausen
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Isolation ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Ecological Speciation ◽  
Divergent Selection ◽  
Divergent Evolution ◽  
Selective Agents ◽  
Adaptive Radiations ◽  
Recurrent Patterns ◽  
Single Versus

Research on speciation and adaptive radiation has flourished during the past decades, yet factors underlying initiation of reproductive isolation often remain unknown. Parasites represent important selective agents and have received renewed attention in speciation research. We review the literature on parasite-mediated divergent selection in context of ecological speciation and present empirical evidence for three nonexclusive mechanisms by which parasites might facilitate speciation: reduced viability or fecundity of immigrants and hybrids, assortative mating as a pleiotropic by-product of host adaptation, and ecologically-based sexual selection. We emphasise the lack of research on speciation continuums, which is why no study has yet made a convincing case for parasite driven divergent evolution to initiate the emergence of reproductive isolation. We also point interest towards selection imposed by single versus multiple parasite species, conceptually linking this to strength and multifariousness of selection. Moreover, we discuss how parasites, by manipulating behaviour or impairing sensory abilities of hosts, may change the form of selection that underlies speciation. We conclude that future studies should consider host populations at variable stages of the speciation process, and explore recurrent patterns of parasitism and resistance that could pinpoint the role of parasites in imposing the divergent selection that initiates ecological speciation.

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