Male mate recognition via cuticular hydrocarbons facilitates sexual isolation between sympatric leaf beetle sister species

Zhang, Bin; Xue, Huai‐Jun; Song, Ke-Qing; Liu, Jie; Li, Wenzhu; Nie, Rui‐E; Yang, Xingke

doi:10.1016/j.jinsphys.2014.08.006

Cited by 34 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…First, molecular analyses of our species show reciprocal monophyly in both nuclear and mtDNA, indicative of no gene flow between them [29]. Second, strong pre-mating isolation is based on preference for CHC profiles [31]. Third, we have shown complete post-mating reproductive isolation in laboratory trials (B.Z., unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…One of the challenges in linking speciation as a direct result of ecological selection is to understand the mechanism by which selection drives reproductive isolation [5]. For P. aenescens and P. maculicollis, it is unclear whether the differences in insect CHCs that generate sexual isolation [31] caused divergence in preference to host plant chemistry, are the result of feeding on different host plant ages, or are a secondary trait that may act as reinforcement in sympatry. At the very least, the strong ecological differences suggest that hybrids would perform poorly on rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org Proc.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Adaptation to different host plant ages facilitates insect divergence without a host shift

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Host shifts and subsequent adaption to novel host plants are important drivers of speciation among phytophagous insects. However, there is considerably less evidence for host plant-mediated speciation in the absence of a host shift. Here, we investigated divergence of two sympatric sister elm leaf beetles, Pyrrhalta maculicollis and P. aenescens, which feed on different age classes of the elm Ulmus pumila L. (seedling versus adult trees). Using a field survey coupled with preference and performance trials, we show that these beetle species are highly divergent in both feeding and oviposition preference and specialize on either seedling or adult stages of their host plant. An experiment using artificial leaf discs painted with leaf surface wax extracts showed that host plant chemistry is a critical element that shapes preference. Specialization appears to be driven by adaptive divergence as there was also evidence of divergent selection; beetles had significantly higher survival and fecundity when reared on their natal host plant age class. Together, the results identify the first probable example of divergence induced by host plant age, thus extending how phytophagous insects might diversify in the absence of host shifts.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptation to different host plant ages facilitates insect divergence without a host shift

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…; Zhang et al. ). In fact, simulations show that male mate choice can feasibly act as the sole driver of species recognition during reinforcement, completing the speciation process (Servedio ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 98%

Male mate choice via cuticular hydrocarbon pheromones drives reproductive isolation betweenDrosophilaspecies

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mate discrimination is a key mechanism restricting gene flow between species. While studied extensively with respect to female mate choice, mechanisms of male mate choice between species are far less studied. Thus, we have little knowledge of the relative frequency, importance, or overall contribution of male mate discrimination to reproductive isolation. In the present study, we estimated the relative contributions of male and female choice to reproductive isolation between Drosophila simulans and D. sechellia, and show that male mate discrimination accounts for the majority of the current isolation between these species. We further demonstrate that males discriminate based on female cuticular hydrocarbon pheromones, and collect evidence supporting the hypothesis that male mate discrimination may alleviate the costs associated with heterospecific courtship and mating. Our findings highlight the potentially significant contribution of male mate choice to the formation of reproductive isolating barriers, and thus the speciation process. K E Y W O R D S :Male mate choice, reproductive isolation, courtship, behavior, speciation, pheromones.

show abstract

“…Increases in the amount of CHCs or changes in their chemical composition resulting in increased chain length, linearity, and saturation are the main means of minimizing cuticular transpiration in insects (Benoit, 2010; Gibbs & Rajpurohit, 2010). Besides the key role of CHCs in preventing water loss (Gibbs & Rajpurohit, 2010; Savković, Vučković & Stojković, 2012), they are also involved in other important functions, such as protecting insects from microorganisms (Stinziano et al, 2015), chemical communication for recognition between closely related taxa (e.g., Howard & Blomquist, 2005; Billeter et al, 2009; Savković, Vučković & Stojković, 2012; Pattanayak et al, 2014; Zhang et al, 2014), sexual recognition (Carlson et al, 1971; Jacob & Hansen, 1986) or signalling of age and individual reproductive status (Cuvillier-Hot et al, 2001). CHCs with chain lengths ranging from approximately 21 to 50 carbons are usually related to cuticular permeability, while those with fewer than 21 carbons (volatile compounds) are involved in other functions (Chung & Carroll, 2015), such as pheromones or defensive compounds (Blomquist & Bagnères, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cuticle hydrocarbons in saline aquatic beetles

Botella‐Cruz

Villastrigo

Pallarés

et al. 2017

PeerJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hydrocarbons are the principal component of insect cuticle and play an important role in maintaining water balance. Cuticular impermeability could be an adaptative response to salinity and desiccation in aquatic insects; however, cuticular hydrocarbons have been poorly explored in this group and there are no previous data on saline species. We characterized cuticular hydrocarbons of adults and larvae of two saline aquatic beetles, namely Nebrioporus baeticus (Dytiscidae) and Enochrus jesusarribasi (Hydrophilidae), using a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. The CHC profile of adults of both species, characterized by a high abundance of branched alkanes and low of unsaturated alkenes, seems to be more similar to that of some terrestrial beetles (e.g., desert Tenebrionidae) compared with other aquatic Coleoptera (freshwater Dytiscidae). Adults of E. jesusarribasi had longer chain compounds than N. baeticus, in agreement with their higher resistance to salinity and desiccation. The more permeable cuticle of larvae was characterized by a lower diversity in compounds, shorter carbon chain length and a higher proportion of unsaturated hydrocarbons compared with that of the adults. These results suggest that osmotic stress on aquatic insects could exert a selection pressure on CHC profile similar to aridity in terrestrial species.

show abstract

Male mate recognition via cuticular hydrocarbons facilitates sexual isolation between sympatric leaf beetle sister species

Cited by 34 publications

References 42 publications

Adaptation to different host plant ages facilitates insect divergence without a host shift

Adaptation to different host plant ages facilitates insect divergence without a host shift

Male mate choice via cuticular hydrocarbon pheromones drives reproductive isolation betweenDrosophilaspecies

Cuticle hydrocarbons in saline aquatic beetles

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About