Parallel Patterns of Morphological and Behavioral Variation among Host-Associated Populations of Two Gall Wasp Species
Date
2013-01-21
Authors
Egan, Scott P.
Hood, Glen R.
DeVela, Gabriel
Ott, James R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
A powerful approach to address the general factors contributing to ecological speciation is to compare distantly related taxa that inhabit the same selective environments. In this design, similarities among taxa can elucidate general mechanisms of the process whereas differences may uncover specific factors important to the process for individual taxa. Herein, we present evidence of parallel patterns of morphological and behavioral variation among host-associated populations of two species of cynipid gall wasps, Belonocnema treatae and Disholcaspis quercusvirens, that each exhibit a life cycle intimately tied to the same two host plant environments, Quercus geminata and Q. virginiana. Across both gall-former species we find consistent differences in body size and gall morphology associated with host plant use, as well as strong differences in host plant preference, a measure of habitat isolation among populations. These consistent differences among taxa highlight the important role of host plant use in promoting reproductive isolation and morphological variation among herbivorous insect populations–a prerequisite for ecological speciation.
Description
Keywords
plants, speciation, insects, leaves, physiological parameters, animal behavior, herbivory, habitats, Biology
Citation
Egan, S. P., Hood, G. R., DeVela, G., & Ott, J. R. (2013). Parallel patterns of morphological and behavioral variation among host-associated populations of two gall wasp species. PLoS One, 8(01), e54690.
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Rights Holder
© 2013 Egan et al.
Rights License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.