Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of rapid host adaptation in the aphid parasitoid Aphidius ervi

拟议的研究所解决的基本进化问题是寄生虫如何快速适应单一宿主物种在寄生物种中进化。我们的目标是使用寄生蜂Aphidius ervi作为一个模型，以了解分子机制赋予专业化。特别是，我们感兴趣的是表型可塑性和遗传选择在这一过程中发挥的作用，以及这两种机制是否相互作用。为此，我们将进行人工进化实验，迫使寄生虫在至少20代中使用同一宿主，或者定期更换宿主。

The basic evolutionary question addressed by the proposed research is how parasites rapid adaptations to a single host species can evolve in parasitic species. We aim to use the parasitoid wasp Aphidius ervi as a model to understand the molecular mechanisms conferring specialization. In particular, we are interested what role phenotypic plasticity and genetic selection play during this process and whether these two mechanisms interact. For this, we will conduct artificial evolution experiments, where parasites will be forced to either use the same host over at least twenty generations or switch hosts regularly.