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Adaptations of an insect to a novel host plant: a phylogenetic approach
Article first published online: 9 JUN 2006
DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01118.x
© 2006 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2006 British Ecological Society
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How to Cite
GASSMANN, A. J., LEVY, A., TRAN, T. and FUTUYMA, D. J. (2006), Adaptations of an insect to a novel host plant: a phylogenetic approach. Functional Ecology, 20: 478–485. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2006.01118.x
Publication History
- Issue published online: 9 JUN 2006
- Article first published online: 9 JUN 2006
- Received 26 September 2005; revised 31 January 2006; accepted 20 February 2006Editor: Charles W. Fox
- Abstract
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Keywords:
- Consumption;
- conversion efficiency;
- host shift;
- phylogeny;
- plant–herbivore interactions
Summary
- 1The importance of behavioural vs physiological adaptations in the evolution of host associations by herbivorous insects is largely unknown.
- 2We compared sister species of beetles, one of which, Ophraella slobodkini, feeds on the lineage's ancestral host, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, while O. notulata has shifted to a novel host, Iva frutescens. Assuming O. slobodkini represents the features of the Ambrosia-feeding ancestor, we asked if behavioural and physiological barriers to utilizing Iva existed and if adaptation to these barriers occurred. We also tested for trade-offs between use of novel and ancestral hosts by O. notulata.
- 3We found evidence that the ancestor of O. notulata would have been deterred from feeding on Iva and suffered lower conversion efficiency.
- 4Ophraella notulata appears to have adapted behaviourally by increasing consumption of Iva, but we did not detect a significant increase in its physiological capacity to use Iva. Additionally, the switch to Iva by O. notulata did not reduce its physiological capacity to use the ancestral host, Ambrosia.
- 5Our results suggest that novel host associations may arise from behavioural adaptations, with physiological adaptations a secondary result of behavioural changes. We discuss implications for hypotheses of host shifts and the evolution of specialization.