Adaptive genetic structure in phytophagous insect populations

Genetic variation in insect populations is frequently structured into discrete groups, or demes, that form in response to stochastic forces or natural selection. Because host-plant populations are often highly heterogeneous, phytophagous insects may form demes that are adapted to the unique traits o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in Ecology & Evolution 1996-06, Vol.11 (6), p.235-238
Main Author: Mopper, Susan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Biological evolution
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution
Insecta
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
Protozoa. Invertebrates
Records, symptoms, damages, economic importance, population surveys
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Genetic variation in insect populations is frequently structured into discrete groups, or demes, that form in response to stochastic forces or natural selection. Because host-plant populations are often highly heterogeneous, phytophagous insects may form demes that are adapted to the unique traits of individual plants. Recent field experiments indicate that selection pressures imposed by host-plants can promote rapid adaptive evolution in natural insect populations at very fine spatial scales. Adaptive deme formation may be more common among endophagous insects, which feed and reside within plant tissue, than for externally feeding insects, because internal feeders experience stronger plant-mediated selection pressures.
ISSN:0169-5347
1872-8383
DOI:10.1016/0169-5347(96)10036-7