Variation in quantity and composition of cuticular hydrocarbons in the scorpion Buthus occitanus (Buthidae) in response to acute exposure to desiccation stress

Gefen, Eran; Talal, Stav; Brendzel, O.; Dror, Adi; Fishman, Ayelet

doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2014.12.004

Cited by 27 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…This explains why coexisting species still have highly different CHC profiles, but it stresses the need to study quantitative, interspecific CHC variation across different taxa. Arthropods can also acclimatize to drier habitats by producing higher total CHC quantities [53,54]. This effect is much weaker than that of relative CHC composition since it does not change T m , but deserves further study in interspecific comparisons.…”

Section: (B) Precipitation Shapes Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profilesmentioning

confidence: 98%

How do cuticular hydrocarbons evolve? Physiological constraints and climatic and biotic selection pressures act on a complex functional trait

2017

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Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) cover the cuticles of virtually all insects, serving as a waterproofing agent and as a communication signal. The causes for the high CHC variation between species, and the factors influencing CHC profiles, are scarcely understood. Here, we compare CHC profiles of ant species from seven biogeographic regions, searching for physiological constraints and for climatic and biotic selection pressures. Molecule length constrained CHC composition: long-chain profiles contained fewer linear alkanes, but more hydrocarbons with disruptive features in the molecule. This is probably owing to selection on the physiology to build a semi-fluid cuticular layer, which is necessary for waterproofing and communication. CHC composition also depended on the precipitation in the ants' habitats. Species from wet climates had more alkenes and fewer dimethyl alkanes than those from drier habitats, which can be explained by different waterproofing capacities of these compounds. By contrast, temperature did not affect CHC composition. Mutualistically associated (parabiotic) species possessed profiles highly distinct from non-associated species. Our study is, to our knowledge, the first to show systematic impacts of physiological, climatic and biotic factors on quantitative CHC composition across a global, multi-species dataset. We demonstrate how they jointly shape CHC profiles, and advance our understanding of the evolution of this complex functional trait in insects.

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Section: (B) Precipitation Shapes Cuticular Hydrocarbon Profilesmentioning

confidence: 98%

How do cuticular hydrocarbons evolve? Physiological constraints and climatic and biotic selection pressures act on a complex functional trait

2017

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“…The huge variation (and low R 2 values of the CHC density relationship with surface area—volume ratio) indicates that species are highly idiosyncratic even within each taxon. This finding is inconsistent with the experimental evidence for a quantitative effect of CHCs on water loss, which were however based on experiments with a few model species only [21, 22]. Thus, CHC amount/density does not seem to be a general, singular predictor of physical properties of the epicuticle across species and taxa (see also [15]).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

“…Thus, CHC amount/density does not seem to be a general, singular predictor of physical properties of the epicuticle across species and taxa (see also [15]). Compositional aspects of CHC in insects which have been intensively studied focusing on general ecology and evolution [39, 50–53] seem to be crucial, and overall compositional differences in CHC may influence the insects’ ecophysiological responses like water loss [4, 20, 21]. Recently, Menzel et al [54] showed that the evolutionary patterns of CHC composition on a global scale are influenced by regional climatic conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In chemical communication, even small compositional differences can cause an entire change of the message and the behavioral response [4]. Regarding CHCs as protective barriers against water loss, a compositional change can lead to different physical properties of the surface lipids, which alters ecophysiological responses [13, 14, 20, 21]. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that different water loss rates in arthropods could be explained by the amount of CHCs [21–24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regarding CHCs as protective barriers against water loss, a compositional change can lead to different physical properties of the surface lipids, which alters ecophysiological responses [13, 14, 20, 21]. Furthermore, there is growing evidence that different water loss rates in arthropods could be explained by the amount of CHCs [21–24]. Most of these studies, however, only focused on model species rather than providing comparative studies across species and taxa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The relationship between epicuticular long-chained hydrocarbons and surface area - volume ratios in insects (Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera)

2017

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Long-chain cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are common components of the epicuticle of terrestrial arthropods. CHC serve as a protective barrier against environmental influences but also act as semiochemicals in animal communication. Regarding the latter aspect, species- or intra-functional group specific CHCs composition and variation are relatively well studied. However, comparative knowledge about the relationship of CHC quantity and their relation to surface area—volume ratios in the context of water loss and protection is fragmentary. Hence, we aim to study the taxon-specific relationship of the CHC amount and surface-area to volume ratio related to their functional role (e.g. in water loss). We focused on flower visiting insects and analyzed the CHC amounts of three insect orders (Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and Diptera) using gas chromatography—mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We included 113 species from two grassland plots, quantified their CHCs, and measured their body mass and surface area. We found differences in the surface area, CHCs per body mass and the CHC density (= amount of CHCs per surface area) across the three insect taxa. Especially the Hymenoptera had a higher CHC density compared to Diptera and Lepidoptera. CHC density could be explained by surface area-volume ratios in Hymenoptera but not in Diptera and Lepidoptera. Unexpectedly, CHC density decreased with increasing surface area—volume ratios.

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Will the climate of plant origins influence the chemical profiles of cuticular waxes on leaves of Leymus chinensis in a common garden experiment?

Hou

et al. 2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Cuticular wax covering the leaf surface plays important roles in protecting plants from biotic and abiotic stresses. Understanding the way in which plant leaf cuticles reflect their growing environment could give an insight into plant resilience to future climate change. Here, we analyzed the variations of cuticular waxes among 59 populations of Leymus chinensis in a common garden experiment, aiming to verify how environmental conditions influence the chemical profiles of cuticular waxes. In total, eight cuticular wax classes were identified, including fatty acids, aldehydes, primary alcohols, alkanes, secondary alcohols, ketones, β-diketones, and alkylresorcinols, with β-diketones the predominant compounds in all populations (averaged 67.36% across all populations). Great intraspecific trait variations (ITV) were observed for total wax coverage, wax compositions, and the relative abundance of homologues within each wax class. Cluster analysis based on wax characteristics could separate 59 populations into different clades. However, the populations could not be separated according to their original longitudes, latitudes, annual temperature, or annual precipitation. Redundancy analysis showed that latitude, arid index, and the precipitation from June to August were the most important parameters contributing to the variations of the amount of total wax coverage and wax composition and the relative abundance of wax classes. Pearson's correlation analysis further indicated that the relative abundance of wax classes, homologues in each wax class, and even isomers of certain compound differed in their responses to environmental factors. These results suggested that wax deposition patterns of L. chinensis populations formed during adaptations to their long-term growing environments could inherit in their progenies and exhibit such inheritance even these progenies were exported to new environments. K E Y W O R D S adaptation, common garden experiment, intraspecific trait variation, leaf wax, Leymus chinensis

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Variation in quantity and composition of cuticular hydrocarbons in the scorpion Buthus occitanus (Buthidae) in response to acute exposure to desiccation stress

Cited by 27 publications

References 20 publications

How do cuticular hydrocarbons evolve? Physiological constraints and climatic and biotic selection pressures act on a complex functional trait

How do cuticular hydrocarbons evolve? Physiological constraints and climatic and biotic selection pressures act on a complex functional trait

The relationship between epicuticular long-chained hydrocarbons and surface area - volume ratios in insects (Diptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera)

Will the climate of plant origins influence the chemical profiles of cuticular waxes on leaves of Leymus chinensis in a common garden experiment?

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