PRF/J: The Evolution of Diet Breadth in the Two-Feeding Beetles

本研究旨在开发一个系统作为模型，用于测试处理昆虫饮食广度进化的基本遗传假设，包括宿主转移和/或扩展。研究人员将利用两种以种子为食的甲虫兄弟物种——定子beali（一种专门研究寄主植物绿绿藻的甲虫）和定子limbatus（一种与50多种寄主植物有关的通才甲虫）——来寻找影响食性宽度的进化机制。这项工作包括记录种群内和种群间在产卵偏好和寄主适宜性方面的变异模式，随后利用实验室和实地实验检查这种变异的遗传和环境来源。对昆虫食性宽度的机制进行遗传分析对于理解同域物种形成、将新的寄主植物物种纳入食性（特别是对引进的害虫）、维持自然种群内的遗传变异以及开发可靠的害虫防治措施/技术非常重要。＊＊＊

9403244 Fox This research aims to develop a system to be used as a model for testing fundamental genetic hypotheses dealing with the evolution of insect diet breadth, including host shifts and/or expansions. Evolutionary mechanisms responsible for diet breadth will be sought using two sibling species of seed-feeding beetle, Stator beali (a specialist restricted to the host plant Chloroleucon ebano) and Stator limbatus (a feeding generalist associated with more than fifty host plant species). The work involves documenting patterns of intra- and inter-population variation in oviposition preference and host suitability, and subsequently examination of genetic and environmental sources of this variation using laboratory and field experimentation. %%% Performing a genetic analysis of mechanisms responsible for insect diet breadth is important to understanding sympatric speciation, incorporation of novel host plant species into diet (particularly for introduced pests), maintenance of genetic variation within natural populations, and development of reliable pest control practices / techniques. ***