Population genetic structure underlying the geographic variation in beetle structural colour with multiple transition zones

Araki, Yoshifumi; Sota, Teiji

doi:10.1111/mec.15758

Cited by 8 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 88 publications

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“…Although there was little genetic divergence among the southern populations, the genetic divergence between SR and SI + SG individuals was also shown by the PC1–PC2 plot. These population genetic structure results were similar to our previous RAD‐seq results (Araki & Sota, 2021).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Whole‐genome resequencing reveals recent divergence of geographic populations of the dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus with color variation

Araki

Sota

2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Knowledge of population divergence history is key to understanding organism diversification mechanisms. The geotrupid dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus, which inhabits montane forests and exhibits three color forms (red, green, and indigo), diverged into five local populations (west/red, south/green, south/indigo, south/red, and east/red) in the Kinki District of Honshu, Japan, based on the combined interpretation of genetic cluster and color-form data. Here, we estimated the demographic histories of these local populations using the newly assembled draft genome sequence of P. auratus and whole-genome resequencing data obtained from each local population. Using coalescent simulation analysis, we estimated P. auratus population divergences at ca. 3800, 2100, 600, and 200 years ago, with no substantial gene flow between diverged populations, implying the existence of persistent barriers to gene flow. Notably, the last two divergence events led to three local populations with different color forms.The initial divergence may have been affected by climatic cooling around that time, and the last three divergence events may have been associated with the increasing impact of human activities. Both climatic cooling and increasing human activity may have caused habitat fragmentation and a reduction in the numbers of large mammals supplying food (dung) for P. auratus, thereby promoting the decline, segregation, and divergence of local populations. Our research demonstrates that geographic population divergence in an insect with conspicuous differences in traits such as body color may have occurred rapidly under the influence of human activity.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 91%

Whole‐genome resequencing reveals recent divergence of geographic populations of the dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus with color variation

Araki

Sota

2023

Ecology and Evolution

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“…The elytral colors can be related to geography, as found in the Phelotrupes auratus beetles. [ 53 ] The variation of Pachyrhynchus species with different elytral mechanisms, for example, in P. erichsoni (Figure 6) make similar geographic correlations unlikely. Although the exact function of the elytron color is unclear, by providing a background for the colored markings, it may aid in enhancing the color contrast for aposematic signaling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pachyrhynchus Weevils Use 3D Photonic Crystals with Varying Degrees of Order to Create Diverse and Brilliant Displays

Parisotto

Steiner

Cabras

et al. 2022

Small

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The brilliant appearance of Easter Egg weevils, genus Pachyrhynchus (Coleoptera, Curculionidae), originates from complex dielectric nanostructures within their elytral scales and elytra. Previous work, investigating singular members of the Pachyrhynchus showed the presence of either quasi‐ordered or ordered 3D photonic crystals based on the single diamond () symmetry in their scales. However, little is known about the diversity of the structural coloration mechanisms within the family. Here, the optical properties within Pachyrhynchus are investigated by systematically identifying their spectral and structural characteristics. Four principal traits that vary their appearance are identified and the evolutionary history of these traits to identify ecological trends are reconstructed. The results indicate that the coloration mechanisms across the Easter Egg weevils are diverse and highly plastic across closely related species with features appearing at multiple independent times across their phylogeny. This work lays a foundation for a better understanding of the various forms of quasi‐ordered and ordered diamond photonic crystal within arthropods.

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“…The P. auratus derived from Cape Toi are red or green in color and are classi ed into Group B. P. auratus from Nara Park has a lazuline color and is classi ed into Group A [1]. Thus, although P. auratus has geographical variations in color, the relationships between these mitochondrial DNA haplotypes and the exoskeleton body color remain unclear [13]. P. auratus is a coleopteran insect that mainly eats herbivore animal droppings, and their habitat depends on their host herbivores [2].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The nutritional metabolic process of the dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus depends on the host animal

Sakamoto

Sinzeki

Kakinuma

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: The dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus is a holometabolous insect belonging to the order Coleoptera, and it is widely distributed in Japan. The P. auratus habitat depends on host herbivore animals. P. auratus eats the dung of the host herbivores and carries it underground for its young. In this process, herbivore droppings disappear from the ground, not only keeping the ground hygienic but also maintaining good soil conditions for plant growth. In this way, a rich ecosystem is maintained. In recent years, the population of P. auratus has decreased, and the main cause has been the decrease in grazing land. It seems that Japanese dung beetles are mainly dependent on herbivores for nutrient sources. However, the physiological relationship between host herbivores and P. auratus has not been well investigated. Here, we investigated the nutritional metabolism system of P. auratus by performing whole gene expression analysis of individuals collected from two areas where the ecosystem is occupied by different specific herbivores.Results: We obtained 209,123 transcripts from P. auratus from Nara Park and Cape Toi and identified 2,592 differentially expressed genes in the fat bodies of the Nara Park and Cape Toi groups. We annotated P. auratus transcripts using Homo sapiens and Drosophila melanogaster genes as references; 36.6% of P. auratus transcripts were assigned to H. sapiens genes, and 24.7% of P. auratus transcripts were assigned to D. melanogaster genes. Therefore, we chose H. sapiens genes for P. auratus transcript annotation. Principal component analysis and gene set enrichment analysis revealed that the nutritional metabolism of P. auratus from Cape Toi might differ from that of P. auratus from Nara Park.Conclusion: We analyzed the nutritional metabolism system of P. auratus from Cape Toi and Nara Park and found that the characteristics of the nutritional metabolism process might depend on the plants consumed by the host herbivore. Our findings will contribute to elucidating the relationships among habitat plants, herbivores, and dung decomposers and may aid in the maintenance of sustainable land health cycles.

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Population genetic structure underlying the geographic variation in beetle structural colour with multiple transition zones

Cited by 8 publications

References 88 publications

Whole‐genome resequencing reveals recent divergence of geographic populations of the dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus with color variation

Whole‐genome resequencing reveals recent divergence of geographic populations of the dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus with color variation

Pachyrhynchus Weevils Use 3D Photonic Crystals with Varying Degrees of Order to Create Diverse and Brilliant Displays

The nutritional metabolic process of the dung beetle Phelotrupes auratus depends on the host animal

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