Behavioural and genetic analyses of Nasonia shed light on the evolution of sex pheromones

Niehuis, Oliver; Buellesbach, Jan; Gibson, Joshua D.; Pothmann, Daniela; Hanner, Christian; Mutti, Navdeep S.; Judson, A. K.; Gadau, Juergen; Rüther, Joachim; Schmitt, Thomas

doi:10.1038/nature11838

Cited by 109 publications

(153 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

144

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…First, we found similar pMSP components in distantly related Bicyclus lineages and most pMSP components in one Bicyclus species could be found scattered as trace compounds in a few other Bicyclus lineages (in 14% of the species on average, noted by grey cells in figure 2b). This large phenotypic standing variation, as found in other species [41,57], suggests that each Bicyclus rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org Proc. R. Soc.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Selection on male sex pheromone composition contributes to butterfly reproductive isolation

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Selection can facilitate diversification by inducing character displacement in mate choice traits that reduce the probability of maladaptive mating between lineages. Although reproductive character displacement (RCD) has been demonstrated in two-taxa case studies, the frequency of this process in nature is still debated. Moreover, studies have focused primarily on visual and acoustic traits, despite the fact that chemical communication is probably the most common means of species recognition. Here, we showed in a large, mostly sympatric, butterfly genus, a strong pattern of recurrent RCD for predicted male sex pheromone composition, but not for visual mate choice traits. Our results suggest that RCD is not anecdotal, and that selection for divergence in male sex pheromone composition contributed to reproductive isolation within the Bicyclus genus. We propose that selection may target olfactory mate choice traits as a more common sensory modality to ensure reproductive isolation among diverging lineages than previously envisaged.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 75%

Selection on male sex pheromone composition contributes to butterfly reproductive isolation

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…2B and SI Appendix, Table S3) (35). Linoleic acid is an essential unsaturated fatty acid in other insects that lack Δ12-desaturase activity, and in Nasonia it is the precursor of the male-derived sex pheromone (4R,5R)-and (4R,5S)-5-hydroxy-4-decanolides, which is highly attractive to virgin females (36,37). Male mating success positively correlates with the amount of pheromone that they produce (38), which likely explains the high levels of expression of these genes.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic and epigenetic architecture of sex-biased expression in the jewel wasps Nasonia vitripennis and giraulti

Wang

Werren

Clark

2015

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is extraordinary diversity in sexual dimorphism (SD) among animals, but little is known about its epigenetic basis. To study the epigenetic architecture of SD in a haplodiploid system, we performed RNA-seq and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing of adult females and males from two closely related parasitoid wasps, Nasonia vitripennis and Nasonia giraulti. More than 75% of expressed genes displayed significantly sex-biased expression. As a consequence, expression profiles are more similar between species within each sex than between sexes within each species. Furthermore, extremely male-and female-biased genes are enriched for totally different functional categories: male-biased genes for key enzymes in sexpheromone synthesis and female-biased genes for genes involved in epigenetic regulation of gene expression. Remarkably, just 70 highly expressed, extremely male-biased genes account for 10% of all transcripts in adult males. Unlike expression profiles, DNA methylomes are highly similar between sexes within species, with no consistent sex differences in methylation found. Therefore, methylation changes cannot explain the extensive level of sex-biased gene expression observed. Female-biased genes have smaller sequence divergence between species, higher conservation to other hymenopterans, and a broader expression range across development. Overall, female-biased genes have been recruited from genes with more conserved and broadly expressing "house-keeping" functions, whereas male-biased genes are more recently evolved and are predominately testis specific. In summary, Nasonia accomplish a striking degree of sex-biased expression without sex chromosomes or epigenetic differences in methylation. We propose that methylation provides a general signal for constitutive gene expression, whereas other sex-specific signals cause sex-biased gene expression.sex-biased expression | DNA methylation | RNA-seq | WGBS-seq | fatty acid desaturase

show abstract

“…We are currently testing alternative mechanisms of reproductive isolation, for example hybrid breakdown based on genetic differences [51], cytoplasmic incompatibility caused by Wolbachia infection [52] and sexual isolation owing to different pheromones [53]. Remarkably, a recent study revealed that cuticular hydrocarbons, which are used as mate recognition rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org Proc.…”

Section: Discussion (A) the Role Of Early Learning For Host Differentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Does early learning drive ecological divergence during speciation processes in parasitoid wasps?

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Central to the concept of ecological speciation is the evolution of ecotypes, i.e. groups of individuals occupying different ecological niches. However, the mechanisms behind the first step of separation, the switch of individuals into new niches, are unclear. One long-standing hypothesis, which was proposed for insects but never tested, is that early learning causes new ecological preferences, leading to a switch into a new niche within one generation. Here, we show that a host switch occurred within a parasitoid wasp, which is associated with the ability for early learning and the splitting into separate lineages during speciation. Lariophagus distinguendus consists of two genetically distinct lineages, most likely representing different species. One attacks drugstore beetle larvae (Stegobium paniceum (L.)), which were probably the ancestral host of both lineages. The drugstore beetle lineage has an innate host preference that cannot be altered by experience. In contrast, the second lineage is found on Sitophilus weevils as hosts and changes its preference by early learning. We conclude that a host switch has occurred in the ancestor of the second lineage, which must have been enabled by early learning. Because early learning is widespread in insects, it might have facilitated ecological divergence and associated speciation in this hyperdiverse group.

show abstract

Behavioural and genetic analyses of Nasonia shed light on the evolution of sex pheromones

Cited by 109 publications

References 29 publications

Selection on male sex pheromone composition contributes to butterfly reproductive isolation

Selection on male sex pheromone composition contributes to butterfly reproductive isolation

Genetic and epigenetic architecture of sex-biased expression in the jewel wasps Nasonia vitripennis and giraulti

Does early learning drive ecological divergence during speciation processes in parasitoid wasps?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About