Genetic Variation for Maternal Ovipositional Preferences and Offspring Growth and Survival

Mousseau 9409004 昆虫与其取食和产卵的植物之间的相互作用引起了种群生物学家和农业科学家的极大兴趣。 摘要本研究以五种栎树为对象，探讨采叶小蠹的产卵行为、幼虫生长及存活情况。marilandica，Q. nigra、黑果栎Q. incana和Q. Margaretta）在美国东南部。 将确定遗传和环境影响对这种甲虫对给定树种的偏好的相对重要性。 同样，将研究不同树木上幼虫生长和存活变化的遗传和环境基础。 据推测，如果雌性产卵（w.r.t.），树种）可能是幼虫成功的最重要的决定因素。 这项研究还将测试雌性的偏好与其后代的成功之间的相关性。 本研究的结果将提供有关促进特定植物上的昆虫的专业化的因素的见解，这将对有关昆虫的饮食广度和寄主种族形成的问题产生影响。

Mousseau 9409004 The interactions between insects and the plants upon which they feed and lay eggs are of great interest to both population biologists and agriculture scientists. This study will investigate egg laying behavior, larval growth, and survival of the leaf-mining beetle, Brachys tessellatus (Coleoptera:Buprestidae), known to attack five species of oak trees (Quercus laevis, Q. marilandica, Q. nigra, Q. incana, and Q. margaretta) in the southeastern United States. The relative importance of the genetic and environmental influences on this beetle's preferences for a given tree species will be determined. Similarly, the genetic and environmental basis to variation in larval growth and survival on the different trees will be examined. It is postulated that where a female deposits an egg (w.r.t. tree species) may be the most important determinant of larval success. This study will also test for a correlation between a female's preference and the success of her offspring. The results of this study will provide insights concerning the factors promoting the specialization of an insect on a given plant, which will have bearing on questions relating to insect diet breadth, and host-race formation.