Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Spatial population dynamics of a specialist aphid parasitoid, Lysiphlebus hirticornis Mackauer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae): evidence for philopatry and restricted dispersal

Nyabuga, Franklin LU ; Loxdale, Hugh D ; Heckel, David G and Weisser, Wolfgang W (2010) In Heredity 105. p.433-442
Abstract
Within insect communities, the population ecology of organisms

representing higher trophic levels, for example, hymenopterous

parasitoids, may be influenced by the structure of

their insect hosts. Using microsatellite markers and ecological

data, we investigated the population structure of the specialist

braconid wasp parasitoid, Lysiphlebus hirticornis Mackauer

attacking Metopeurum fuscoviride, a specialist aphid feeding

on tansy, Tanacetum vulgare. Previous studies revealed that

M. fuscoviride has a classic metapopulation structure with

high subpopulation turnover. In this study, up to 100% of

ramets within a host plant genet colonized by aphids... (More)
Within insect communities, the population ecology of organisms

representing higher trophic levels, for example, hymenopterous

parasitoids, may be influenced by the structure of

their insect hosts. Using microsatellite markers and ecological

data, we investigated the population structure of the specialist

braconid wasp parasitoid, Lysiphlebus hirticornis Mackauer

attacking Metopeurum fuscoviride, a specialist aphid feeding

on tansy, Tanacetum vulgare. Previous studies revealed that

M. fuscoviride has a classic metapopulation structure with

high subpopulation turnover. In this study, up to 100% of

ramets within a host plant genet colonized by aphids were

colonized by the parasitoid, yet plants with aphids but

no parasitoids were also observed. Genetic differentiation

measured by FST, actual differentiation (D) and relative

differentiation (GST) indicated highly structured parasitoid

population demes, with restricted gene flow among and

between parasitoid subpopulations at the various sites.

Interestingly, both field data and population assignment

analysis showed that the parasitoid is highly philopatric. Thus,

despite the frequent local extinctions of the aphid host, the

parasitoid continuously exploits its aphid host and contributes

to the demise of local aphid subpopulations, rather than

spreading its genes over many aphid populations. FST values

for the haplodiploid parasitoid were similar to those found in an

independent study of the diploid aphid host, M. fuscoviride,

hence supporting the view that an insect herbivore’s population

structure directly influences the ecology and genetics of

the higher trophic level, in this case the wasp parasitoid (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
L. hirticornis, M. fuscoviride, microsatellites, philopatry, isolation by distance, gene flow
in
Heredity
volume
105
pages
433 - 442
publisher
Macmillan
external identifiers
  • scopus:77958453909
ISSN
1365-2540
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
8feb6830-4c69-4739-a37d-9680324166c8 (old id 3954495)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 10:01:11
date last changed
2022-02-28 17:43:24
@article{8feb6830-4c69-4739-a37d-9680324166c8,
  abstract     = {{Within insect communities, the population ecology of organisms<br/><br>
representing higher trophic levels, for example, hymenopterous<br/><br>
parasitoids, may be influenced by the structure of<br/><br>
their insect hosts. Using microsatellite markers and ecological<br/><br>
data, we investigated the population structure of the specialist<br/><br>
braconid wasp parasitoid, Lysiphlebus hirticornis Mackauer<br/><br>
attacking Metopeurum fuscoviride, a specialist aphid feeding<br/><br>
on tansy, Tanacetum vulgare. Previous studies revealed that<br/><br>
M. fuscoviride has a classic metapopulation structure with<br/><br>
high subpopulation turnover. In this study, up to 100% of<br/><br>
ramets within a host plant genet colonized by aphids were<br/><br>
colonized by the parasitoid, yet plants with aphids but<br/><br>
no parasitoids were also observed. Genetic differentiation<br/><br>
measured by FST, actual differentiation (D) and relative<br/><br>
differentiation (GST) indicated highly structured parasitoid<br/><br>
population demes, with restricted gene flow among and<br/><br>
between parasitoid subpopulations at the various sites.<br/><br>
Interestingly, both field data and population assignment<br/><br>
analysis showed that the parasitoid is highly philopatric. Thus,<br/><br>
despite the frequent local extinctions of the aphid host, the<br/><br>
parasitoid continuously exploits its aphid host and contributes<br/><br>
to the demise of local aphid subpopulations, rather than<br/><br>
spreading its genes over many aphid populations. FST values<br/><br>
for the haplodiploid parasitoid were similar to those found in an<br/><br>
independent study of the diploid aphid host, M. fuscoviride,<br/><br>
hence supporting the view that an insect herbivore’s population<br/><br>
structure directly influences the ecology and genetics of<br/><br>
the higher trophic level, in this case the wasp parasitoid}},
  author       = {{Nyabuga, Franklin and Loxdale, Hugh D and Heckel, David G and Weisser, Wolfgang W}},
  issn         = {{1365-2540}},
  keywords     = {{L. hirticornis; M. fuscoviride; microsatellites; philopatry; isolation by distance; gene flow}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{433--442}},
  publisher    = {{Macmillan}},
  series       = {{Heredity}},
  title        = {{Spatial population dynamics of a specialist aphid parasitoid, <i>Lysiphlebus hirticornis</i> Mackauer (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Aphidiinae): evidence for philopatry and restricted dispersal}},
  volume       = {{105}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}