Genetic divergence and phenotypic plasticity contribute to variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the seaweed fly Coelopa frigida
Abstract Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) form the boundary between insects and their environments and often act as essential cues for species, mate, and kin recognition. This complex polygenic trait can be highly variable both among and within species, but the causes of this variation, especially the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2019-11-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5690 |
| _version_ | 1818434473755148288 |
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| author | Emma Berdan Swantje Enge Göran M. Nylund Maren Wellenreuther Gerrit A. Martens Henrik Pavia |
| author_facet | Emma Berdan Swantje Enge Göran M. Nylund Maren Wellenreuther Gerrit A. Martens Henrik Pavia |
| author_sort | Emma Berdan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) form the boundary between insects and their environments and often act as essential cues for species, mate, and kin recognition. This complex polygenic trait can be highly variable both among and within species, but the causes of this variation, especially the genetic basis, are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated phenotypic and genetic variation of CHCs in the seaweed fly, Coelopa frigida, and found that composition was affected by both genetic (sex and population) and environmental (larval diet) factors. We subsequently conducted behavioral trials that show CHCs are likely used as a sexual signal. We identified general shifts in CHC chemistry as well as individual compounds and found that the methylated compounds, mean chain length, proportion of alkenes, and normalized total CHCs differed between sexes and populations. We combined these data with whole genome resequencing data to examine the genetic underpinnings of these differences. We identified 11 genes related to CHC synthesis and found population‐level outlier SNPs in 5 that are concordant with phenotypic differences. Together these results reveal that the CHC composition of C. frigida is dynamic, strongly affected by the larval environment, and likely under natural and sexual selection. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:37:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2de6c42977344c939b196b374dbe2fe3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:37:33Z |
| publishDate | 2019-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-2de6c42977344c939b196b374dbe2fe32022-12-21T22:54:25ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582019-11-01921121561217010.1002/ece3.5690Genetic divergence and phenotypic plasticity contribute to variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the seaweed fly Coelopa frigidaEmma Berdan0Swantje Enge1Göran M. Nylund2Maren Wellenreuther3Gerrit A. Martens4Henrik Pavia5Department of Marine Sciences University of Gothenburg Göteborg SwedenInstitute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment Carl‐von‐Ossietzky University Oldenburg Wilhelmshaven GermanyDepartment of Marine Sciences – Tjärnö University of Gothenburg Strömstad SwedenPlant & Food Research Limited Nelson New ZealandInstitute for Zoology University of Hamburg Hamburg GermanyDepartment of Marine Sciences – Tjärnö University of Gothenburg Strömstad SwedenAbstract Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) form the boundary between insects and their environments and often act as essential cues for species, mate, and kin recognition. This complex polygenic trait can be highly variable both among and within species, but the causes of this variation, especially the genetic basis, are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated phenotypic and genetic variation of CHCs in the seaweed fly, Coelopa frigida, and found that composition was affected by both genetic (sex and population) and environmental (larval diet) factors. We subsequently conducted behavioral trials that show CHCs are likely used as a sexual signal. We identified general shifts in CHC chemistry as well as individual compounds and found that the methylated compounds, mean chain length, proportion of alkenes, and normalized total CHCs differed between sexes and populations. We combined these data with whole genome resequencing data to examine the genetic underpinnings of these differences. We identified 11 genes related to CHC synthesis and found population‐level outlier SNPs in 5 that are concordant with phenotypic differences. Together these results reveal that the CHC composition of C. frigida is dynamic, strongly affected by the larval environment, and likely under natural and sexual selection.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5690Coelopa frigidacuticular hydrocarbonsdietpopulation differentiationsexual signal |
| spellingShingle | Emma Berdan Swantje Enge Göran M. Nylund Maren Wellenreuther Gerrit A. Martens Henrik Pavia Genetic divergence and phenotypic plasticity contribute to variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the seaweed fly Coelopa frigida Ecology and Evolution Coelopa frigida cuticular hydrocarbons diet population differentiation sexual signal |
| title | Genetic divergence and phenotypic plasticity contribute to variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the seaweed fly Coelopa frigida |
| title_full | Genetic divergence and phenotypic plasticity contribute to variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the seaweed fly Coelopa frigida |
| title_fullStr | Genetic divergence and phenotypic plasticity contribute to variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the seaweed fly Coelopa frigida |
| title_full_unstemmed | Genetic divergence and phenotypic plasticity contribute to variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the seaweed fly Coelopa frigida |
| title_short | Genetic divergence and phenotypic plasticity contribute to variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the seaweed fly Coelopa frigida |
| title_sort | genetic divergence and phenotypic plasticity contribute to variation in cuticular hydrocarbons in the seaweed fly coelopa frigida |
| topic | Coelopa frigida cuticular hydrocarbons diet population differentiation sexual signal |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5690 |
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