1
|
Force E, Couzi P, Dacher M, Debernard S. Diet Impacts the Reproductive System's Maturation in the Male Moth Agrotis ipsilon (Noctuidae, Lepidoptera). JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 148:104532. [PMID: 37353192 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2023.104532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
In male moth Agrotis ipsilon, sexual maturation occurs between the third and the fifth day of adult life and is characterized by the development of the reproductive organs such as testes and accessory sex glands. Since sexual maturation requires considerable energy investment, we hypothesized that diet would be an essential regulatory factor in this developmental process. Indeed, the links between the male diet and reproductive physiology have not been described as in females. To test the previous hypothesis, we offered male moths diets corresponding to different flower nectars found in nature, and measured morphological and functional changes in the testes and accessory sex glands. In comparison to a diet composed of sucrose only, males fed with a diet composed of diverse sugars, including glucose, supplemented with sodium led to an earlier increase in the length and the protein content of accessory sex glands, as well as a reduction of the testicular volume accompanied by an acceleration of the sperm bundle transfer from the testes to the duplex. These results show that these specific diets accelerate the maturation of the reproductive system in male moth Agrotis ipsilon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Evan Force
- Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Est Créteil, INRAE, CNRS, IRD, Institute for Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES Paris, F-78026 Versailles, France; Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Est Créteil, INRAE, CNRS, IRD, Institute for Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES Paris, F-75005 Paris, France.
| | - Philippe Couzi
- Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Est Créteil, INRAE, CNRS, IRD, Institute for Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES Paris, F-78026 Versailles, France
| | - Matthieu Dacher
- Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Est Créteil, INRAE, CNRS, IRD, Institute for Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES Paris, F-78026 Versailles, France; Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Est Créteil, INRAE, CNRS, IRD, Institute for Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES Paris, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Debernard
- Sorbonne Université, Université Paris-Est Créteil, INRAE, CNRS, IRD, Institute for Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris, iEES Paris, F-75005 Paris, France.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Young FJ, Montgomery SH. Pollen feeding in Heliconius butterflies: the singular evolution of an adaptive suite. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20201304. [PMID: 33171092 PMCID: PMC7735275 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Major evolutionary transitions can be triggered by behavioural novelty, and are often associated with 'adaptive suites', which involve shifts in multiple co-adapted traits subject to complex interactions. Heliconius butterflies represent one such example, actively feeding on pollen, a behaviour unique among butterflies. Pollen feeding permits a prolonged reproductive lifespan, and co-occurs with a constellation of behavioural, neuroanatomical, life history, morphological and physiological traits that are absent in closely related, non-pollen-feeding genera. As a highly tractable system, supported by considerable ecological and genomic data, Heliconius are an excellent model for investigating how behavioural innovation can trigger a cascade of adaptive shifts in multiple diverse, but interrelated, traits. Here, we synthesize current knowledge of pollen feeding in Heliconius, and explore potential interactions between associated, putatively adaptive, traits. Currently, no physiological, morphological or molecular innovation has been explicitly linked to the origin of pollen feeding, and several hypothesized links between different aspects of Heliconius biology remain poorly tested. However, resolving these uncertainties will contribute to our understanding of how behavioural innovations evolve and subsequently alter the evolutionary trajectories of diverse traits impacting resource acquisition, life history, senescence and cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fletcher J. Young
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
- School of Biological Science, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol UBS8 1TQ, UK
| | - Stephen H. Montgomery
- School of Biological Science, University of Bristol, 24 Tyndall Avenue, Bristol UBS8 1TQ, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zhang C, Adler PH, Monaenkova D, Andrukh T, Pometto S, Beard CE, Kornev KG. Self-assembly of the butterfly proboscis: the role of capillary forces. J R Soc Interface 2019; 15:rsif.2018.0229. [PMID: 30045890 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The proboscis of butterflies and moths consists of two C-shaped fibres, the galeae, which are united after the insect emerges from the pupa. We observed that proboscis self-assembly is facilitated by discharge of saliva. In contrast with vertebrate saliva, butterfly saliva is not slimy and is an almost inviscid, water-like fluid. Butterfly saliva, therefore, cannot offer any viscoelastic adhesiveness. We hypothesized that capillary forces are responsible for helping butterflies and moths pull and hold their galeae together while uniting them mechanically. Theoretical analysis supported by X-ray micro-computed tomography on columnar liquid bridges suggests that both concave and convex liquid bridges are able to pull the galeae together. Theoretical and experimental analyses of capillary forces acting on natural and artificial proboscises show that these forces are sufficiently high to hold the galeae together.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chengqi Zhang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Peter H Adler
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Daria Monaenkova
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Taras Andrukh
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Suellen Pometto
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Charles E Beard
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Konstantin G Kornev
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rivera-Vega LJ, Galbraith DA, Grozinger CM, Felton GW. Host plant driven transcriptome plasticity in the salivary glands of the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0182636. [PMID: 28792546 PMCID: PMC5549731 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0182636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2017] [Accepted: 07/22/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Generalist herbivores feed on a wide array of plants and need to adapt to varying host qualities and defenses. One of the first insect derived secretions to come in contact with the plant is the saliva. Insect saliva is potentially involved in both the pre-digestion of the host plant as well as induction/suppression of plant defenses, yet how the salivary glands respond to changes in host plant at the transcriptional level is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to determine how the labial salivary gland transcriptome varies according to the host plant on which the insect is feeding. In order to determine this, cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) larvae were reared on cabbage, tomato, and pinto bean artificial diet. Labial glands were dissected from fifth instar larvae and used to extract RNA for RNASeq analysis. Assembly of the resulting sequencing reads resulted in a transcriptome library for T. ni salivary glands consisting of 14,037 expressed genes. Feeding on different host plant diets resulted in substantial remodeling of the gland transcriptomes, with 4,501 transcripts significantly differentially expressed across the three treatment groups. Gene expression profiles were most similar between cabbage and artificial diet, which corresponded to the two diets on which larvae perform best. Expression of several transcripts involved in detoxification processes were differentially expressed, and transcripts involved in the spliceosome pathway were significantly downregulated in tomato-reared larvae. Overall, this study demonstrates that the transcriptomes of the salivary glands of the cabbage looper are strongly responsive to diet. It also provides a foundation for future functional studies that can help us understand the role of saliva of chewing insects in plant-herbivore interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Loren J. Rivera-Vega
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - David A. Galbraith
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Christina M. Grozinger
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| | - Gary W. Felton
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rivera-Vega LJ, Acevedo FE, Felton GW. Genomics of Lepidoptera saliva reveals function in herbivory. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2017; 19:61-69. [PMID: 28521944 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2017.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Lepidoptera herbivores deposit copious amounts of saliva when feeding. Their saliva is produced by the paired mandibular and labial glands and evidence indicates that it may play an important role in allowing an herbivore to establish on its host plant. Genomic studies of Lepidoptera saliva are beginning to reveal the role of saliva in herbivory. Molecules involved in digestion, detoxification, immunity, defense against plant secondary chemicals, chemoreception and so on have been identified using high throughput genomic tools. These genomic tools have also revealed changes that occur in Lepidoptera saliva when caterpillars feed on different host plants. However, there are other factors either biotic or abiotic (e.g., larval stage, larval health, temperature, water stress, etc.) that might also affect its composition. Though further functional and ecological studies are still necessary to fully understand the role of Lepidoptera saliva on herbivory, here we review current trends.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Loren J Rivera-Vega
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - Flor E Acevedo
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - Gary W Felton
- Department of Entomology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Lehnert MS, Bennett A, Reiter KE, Gerard PD, Wei QH, Byler M, Yan H, Lee WK. Mouthpart conduit sizes of fluid-feeding insects determine the ability to feed from pores. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 284:rspb.2016.2026. [PMID: 28053058 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.2026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fluid-feeding insects, such as butterflies, moths and flies (20% of all animal species), are faced with the common selection pressure of having to remove and feed on trace amounts of fluids from porous surfaces. Insects able to acquire fluids that are confined to pores during drought conditions would have an adaptive advantage and increased fitness over other individuals. Here, we performed feeding trials using solutions with magnetic nanoparticles to show that butterflies and flies have mouthparts adapted to pull liquids from porous surfaces using capillary action as the governing principle. In addition, the ability to feed on the liquids collected from pores depends on a relationship between the diameter of the mouthpart conduits and substrate pore size diameter; insects with mouthpart conduit diameters larger than the pores cannot successfully feed, thus there is a limiting substrate pore size from which each species can acquire liquids for fluid uptake. Given that natural selection independently favoured mouthpart architectures that support these methods of fluid uptake (Diptera and Lepidoptera share a common ancestor 280 Ma that had chewing mouthparts), we suggest that the convergence of this mechanism advocates this as an optimal strategy for pulling trace amounts of fluids from porous surfaces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Lehnert
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
| | - Andrew Bennett
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
| | - Kristen E Reiter
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
| | - Patrick D Gerard
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Qi-Huo Wei
- Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Miranda Byler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kent State University at Stark, North Canton, OH 44720, USA
| | - Huan Yan
- Liquid Crystal Institute, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Wah-Keat Lee
- Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY 11973, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhu J, Iovinella I, Dani FR, Liu YL, Huang LQ, Liu Y, Wang CZ, Pelosi P, Wang G. Conserved chemosensory proteins in the proboscis and eyes of Lepidoptera. Int J Biol Sci 2016; 12:1394-1404. [PMID: 27877091 PMCID: PMC5118785 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.16517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Odorant-binding proteins (OBPs) and chemosensory proteins (CSPs) are endowed with several different functions besides being carriers for pheromones and odorants. Based on a previous report of a CSP acting as surfactant in the proboscis of the moth Helicoverpa armigera, we revealed the presence of orthologue proteins in two other moths Plutella xylostella and Chilo suppressalis, as well as two butterflies Papilio machaon and Pieris rapae, using immunodetection and proteomic analysis. The unusual conservation of these proteins across large phylogenetic distances indicated a common specific function for these CSPs. This fact prompted us to search for other functions of these proteins and discovered that CSPs are abundantly expressed in the eyes of H. armigera and possibly involved as carriers for carotenoids and visual pigments. This hypothesis is supported by ligand-binding experiments and docking simulations with retinol and β-carotene. This last orange pigment, occurring in many fruits and vegetables, is an antioxidant and the precursor of visual pigments. We propose that structurally related CSPs solubilise nutritionally important carotenoids in the proboscis, while they act as carriers of both β-carotene and its derived products 3-hydroxyretinol and 3-hydroxyretinal in the eye. The use of soluble olfactory proteins, such as CSPs, as carriers for visual pigments in insects, here reported for the first time, parallels the function of retinol-binding protein in vertebrates, a lipocalin structurally related to vertebrate odorant-binding proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Immacolata Iovinella
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China; Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze), Italy
| | - Francesca Romana Dani
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (Firenze), Italy
| | - Yu-Ling Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Ling-Qiao Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Yang Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Chen-Zhu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Integrated Management of Pest Insects and Rodents, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China
| | - Paolo Pelosi
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Guirong Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Smith G, Macias-Muñoz A, Briscoe AD. Gene Duplication and Gene Expression Changes Play a Role in the Evolution of Candidate Pollen Feeding Genes in Heliconius Butterflies. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:2581-96. [PMID: 27553646 PMCID: PMC5010911 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Heliconius possess a unique ability among butterflies to feed on pollen. Pollen feeding significantly extends their lifespan, and is thought to have been important to the diversification of the genus. We used RNA sequencing to examine feeding-related gene expression in the mouthparts of four species of Heliconius and one nonpollen feeding species, Eueides isabella. We hypothesized that genes involved in morphology and protein metabolism might be upregulated in Heliconius because they have longer proboscides than Eueides, and because pollen contains more protein than nectar. Using de novo transcriptome assemblies, we tested these hypotheses by comparing gene expression in mouthparts against antennae and legs. We first looked for genes upregulated in mouthparts across all five species and discovered several hundred genes, many of which had functional annotations involving metabolism of proteins (cocoonase), lipids, and carbohydrates. We then looked specifically within Heliconius where we found eleven common upregulated genes with roles in morphology (CPR cuticle proteins), behavior (takeout-like), and metabolism (luciferase-like). Closer examination of these candidates revealed that cocoonase underwent several duplications along the lineage leading to heliconiine butterflies, including two Heliconius-specific duplications. Luciferase-like genes also underwent duplication within lepidopterans, and upregulation in Heliconius mouthparts. Reverse-transcription PCR confirmed that three cocoonases, a peptidase, and one luciferase-like gene are expressed in the proboscis with little to no expression in labial palps and salivary glands. Our results suggest pollen feeding, like other dietary specializations, was likely facilitated by adaptive expansions of preexisting genes—and that the butterfly proboscis is involved in digestive enzyme production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gilbert Smith
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Aide Macias-Muñoz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Adriana D Briscoe
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA BEACON Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ravenscraft A, Boggs CL. Nutrient acquisition across a dietary shift: fruit feeding butterflies crave amino acids, nectivores seek salt. Oecologia 2015; 181:1-12. [PMID: 26267402 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-015-3403-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 07/15/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Evolutionary dietary shifts have major ecological consequences. One likely consequence is a change in nutrient limitation-some nutrients become more abundant in the diet, others become more scarce. Individuals' behavior should change accordingly to match this new limitation regime: they should seek out nutrients that are deficient in the new diet. We investigated the relationship between diet and responses to nutrients using adult Costa Rican butterflies with contrasting feeding habits, testing the hypothesis that animals will respond more positively to nutrients that are scarcer in their diets. Via literature searches and our own data, we showed that nitrogen and sodium are both at lower concentration in nectar than in fruit. We therefore assessed butterflies' acceptance of sodium and four nitrogenous compounds that ranged in complexity from inorganic nitrogen (ammonium chloride) to protein (albumin). We captured wild butterflies, offered them aqueous solutions of each substance, and recorded whether they accepted (drank) or rejected each substance. Support for our hypothesis was mixed. Across the sexes, frugivores were four times more likely to accept amino acids (hydrolyzed casein) than nectivores, in opposition to expectation. In males, nectivores accepted sodium almost three times more frequently than frugivores, supporting expectations. Together, these results suggest that in butterflies, becoming frugivorous is associated with an increased receptivity to amino acids and decreased receptivity to sodium. Nectivory and frugivory are widespread feeding strategies in organisms as diverse as insects, birds, and bats; our results suggest that these feeding strategies may put different pressures on how animals fulfill their nutritional requirements.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Carol L Boggs
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Harpel D, Cullen DA, Ott SR, Jiggins CD, Walters JR. Pollen feeding proteomics: Salivary proteins of the passion flower butterfly, Heliconius melpomene. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2015; 63:7-13. [PMID: 25958827 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2015.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Revised: 03/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
While most adult Lepidoptera use flower nectar as their primary food source, butterflies in the genus Heliconius have evolved the novel ability to acquire amino acids from consuming pollen. Heliconius butterflies collect pollen on their proboscis, moisten the pollen with saliva, and use a combination of mechanical disruption and chemical degradation to release free amino acids that are subsequently re-ingested in the saliva. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms of this complex pollen feeding adaptation. Here we report an initial shotgun proteomic analysis of saliva from Heliconius melpomene. Results from liquid-chromatography tandem mass-spectrometry confidently identified 31 salivary proteins, most of which contained predicted signal peptides, consistent with extracellular secretion. Further bioinformatic annotation of these salivary proteins indicated the presence of four distinct functional classes: proteolysis (10 proteins), carbohydrate hydrolysis (5), immunity (6), and "housekeeping" (4). Additionally, six proteins could not be functionally annotated beyond containing a predicted signal sequence. The presence of several salivary proteases is consistent with previous demonstrations that Heliconius saliva has proteolytic capacity. It is likely that these proteins play a key role in generating free amino acids during pollen digestion. The identification of proteins functioning in carbohydrate hydrolysis is consistent with Heliconius butterflies consuming nectar, like other lepidopterans, as well as pollen. Immune-related proteins in saliva are also expected, given that ingestion of pathogens is a likely route to infection. The few "housekeeping" proteins are likely not true salivary proteins and reflect a modest level of contamination that occurred during saliva collection. Among the unannotated proteins were two sets of paralogs, each seemingly the result of a relatively recent tandem duplication. These results offer a first glimpse into the molecular foundation of Heliconius pollen feeding and provide a substantial advance towards comprehensively understanding this striking evolutionary novelty.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Desiree Harpel
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66046, USA
| | - Darron A Cullen
- Zoological Institute, KU Leuven, Naamsestraat 59, Box 2465, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Swidbert R Ott
- Department of Biology, University of Leicester, Adrian Building, University Road, Leicester LE1 7RH, UK
| | - Chris D Jiggins
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UK
| | - James R Walters
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66046, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Stafford-Banks CA, Rotenberg D, Johnson BR, Whitfield AE, Ullman DE. Analysis of the salivary gland transcriptome of Frankliniella occidentalis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e94447. [PMID: 24736614 PMCID: PMC3988053 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2013] [Accepted: 03/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Saliva is known to play a crucial role in insect feeding behavior and virus transmission. Currently, little is known about the salivary glands and saliva of thrips, despite the fact that Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (the western flower thrips) is a serious pest due to its destructive feeding, wide host range, and transmission of tospoviruses. As a first step towards characterizing thrips salivary gland functions, we sequenced the transcriptome of the primary salivary glands of F. occidentalis using short read sequencing (Illumina) technology. A de novo-assembled transcriptome revealed 31,392 high quality contigs with an average size of 605 bp. A total of 12,166 contigs had significant BLASTx or tBLASTx hits (E≤1.0E-6) to known proteins, whereas a high percentage (61.24%) of contigs had no apparent protein or nucleotide hits. Comparison of the F. occidentalis salivary gland transcriptome (sialotranscriptome) against a published F. occidentalis full body transcriptome assembled from Roche-454 reads revealed several contigs with putative annotations associated with salivary gland functions. KEGG pathway analysis of the sialotranscriptome revealed that the majority (18 out of the top 20 predicted KEGG pathways) of the salivary gland contig sequences match proteins involved in metabolism. We identified several genes likely to be involved in detoxification and inhibition of plant defense responses including aldehyde dehydrogenase, metalloprotease, glucose oxidase, glucose dehydrogenase, and regucalcin. We also identified several genes that may play a role in the extra-oral digestion of plant structural tissues including β-glucosidase and pectin lyase; and the extra-oral digestion of sugars, including α-amylase, maltase, sucrase, and α-glucosidase. This is the first analysis of a sialotranscriptome for any Thysanopteran species and it provides a foundational tool to further our understanding of how thrips interact with their plant hosts and the viruses they transmit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Candice A. Stafford-Banks
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of California Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Dorith Rotenberg
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Brian R. Johnson
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Anna E. Whitfield
- Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Diane E. Ullman
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis Davis, California, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Chen H, Zhu YC, Whitworth RJ, Reese JC, Chen MS. Serine and cysteine protease-like genes in the genome of a gall midge and their interactions with host plant genotypes. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2013; 43:701-711. [PMID: 23727407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2013.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Revised: 05/03/2013] [Accepted: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Proteases play important roles in a wide range of physiological processes in organisms. For plant-feeding insects, digestive proteases are targets for engineering protease inhibitors for pest control. In this study, we identified 105 putative serine- and cysteine-protease genes from the genome of the gall midge Mayetiola destructor (commonly known as Hessian fly), a destructive pest of wheat. Among the genes, 31 encode putative trypsins, 18 encode putative chymotrypsins, seven encode putative cysteine proteases, and the remaining may encode either other proteases or protease homologues. Developmental stage- and tissue-specific expression profiles of the genes encoding putative trypsins, chymotrypsins, and cysteine proteases were determined by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. Comparative analyses of stage- and tissue-specific expression patterns suggested that several genes are likely to encode digestive proteases in the M. destructor larval gut, including genes encoding putative trypsins MDP3, MDP5, MDP9, MDP24, MDP48, MDP51, MDP57, MDP61, MDP71, and MDP90; genes encoding putative chymotrypsins MDP1, MDP7, MDP8, MDP18, MDP19, and MDP20; and genes encoding putative cysteine proteases MDP95 and MDP104. The expression of some protease genes was affected by plant genotypes. Genes encoding trypsins MDP3, MDP9, and MPD23, chymotrypsins MDP20 and MDP21, and cysteine proteases MDP99 and MDP104 were upregulated in M. destructor larvae feeding in resistant plants, whereas genes encoding trypsins MDP12, MDP24, and MDP33, and chymotrypsins mdp8, mdp15, and mdp16 were downregulated in M. destructor larvae feeding in resistant plants. This study provides a foundation for further comparative studies on proteases in different insects, and further characterization of M. destructor digestive proteases and their interactions with host plants, as well as potential targets for transgenic wheat plants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hang Chen
- Department of Entomology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Luo S, Li Y, Chen S, Zhang D, Renner SS. Gelechiidae moths are capable of chemically dissolving the pollen of their host plants: first documented sporopollenin breakdown by an animal. PLoS One 2011; 6:e19219. [PMID: 21552530 PMCID: PMC3084278 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0019219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2011] [Accepted: 03/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many insects feed on pollen surface lipids and contents accessible through the germination pores. Pollen walls, however, are not broken down because they consist of sporopollenin and are highly resistant to physical and enzymatic damage. Here we report that certain Microlepidoptera chemically dissolve pollen grains with exudates from their mouthparts. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Field observations and experiments in tropical China revealed that two species of Deltophora (Gelechioidea) are the exclusive pollinators of two species of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) on which their larvae develop and from which the adults take pollen and nectar. DNA sequences placed the moths and plants phylogenetically and confirmed that larvae were those of the pollinating moths; molecular clock dating suggests that the moth clade is younger than the plant clade. Captive moths with pollen on their mouthparts after 2-3 days of starvation no longer carried intact grains, and SEM photographs showed exine fragments on their proboscises. GC-MS revealed cis-β-ocimene as the dominant volatile in leaves and flowers, but GC-MS analyses of proboscis extracts failed to reveal an obvious sporopollenin-dissolving compound. A candidate is ethanolamine, which occurs in insect hemolymphs and is used to dissolve sporopollenin by palynologists. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE This is the first report of any insect and indeed any animal chemically dissolving pollen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shixiao Luo
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yongquan Li
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dianxiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Resource Conservation and Sustainable Utilization, South China Botanical Garden, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Hikl AL, Krenn HW. Pollen processing behavior of Heliconius butterflies: a derived grooming behavior. JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE (ONLINE) 2011; 11:99. [PMID: 22208893 PMCID: PMC3281465 DOI: 10.1673/031.011.9901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2010] [Accepted: 01/21/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Pollen feeding behaviors Heliconius and Laparus (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) represent a key innovation that has shaped other life history traits of these neotropical butterflies. Although all flower visiting Lepidoptera regularly come in contact with pollen, only Heliconius and Laparus butterflies actively collect pollen with the proboscis and subsequently take up nutrients from the pollen grains. This study focused on the behavior of pollen processing and compared the movement patterns with proboscis grooming behavior in various nymphalid butterflies using video analysis. The proboscis movements of pollen processing behavior consisted of a lengthy series of repeated coiling and uncoiling movements in a loosely coiled proboscis position combined with up and down movements and the release of saliva. The proboscis-grooming behavior was triggered by contamination of the proboscis in both pollen feeding and non-pollen feeding nymphalid butterflies. Proboscis grooming movements included interrupted series of coiling and uncoiling movements, characteristic sideways movements, proboscis lifting, and occasionally full extension of the proboscis. Discharge of saliva was more pronounced in pollen feeding species than in non-pollen feeding butterfly species. We conclude that the pollen processing behavior of Heliconius and Laparus is a modified proboscis grooming behavior that originally served to clean the proboscis after contamination with particles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna-Laetitia Hikl
- University of Vienna, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Harald W. Krenn
- University of Vienna, Department of Evolutionary Biology, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Guirimand G, Courdavault V, Lanoue A, Mahroug S, Guihur A, Blanc N, Giglioli-Guivarc'h N, St-Pierre B, Burlat V. Strictosidine activation in Apocynaceae: towards a "nuclear time bomb"? BMC PLANT BIOLOGY 2010; 10:182. [PMID: 20723215 PMCID: PMC3095312 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2229-10-182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2010] [Accepted: 08/19/2010] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The first two enzymatic steps of monoterpene indole alkaloid (MIA) biosynthetic pathway are catalysed by strictosidine synthase (STR) that condensates tryptamine and secologanin to form strictosidine and by strictosidine beta-D-glucosidase (SGD) that subsequently hydrolyses the glucose moiety of strictosidine. The resulting unstable aglycon is rapidly converted into a highly reactive dialdehyde, from which more than 2,000 MIAs are derived. Many studies were conducted to elucidate the biosynthesis and regulation of pharmacologically valuable MIAs such as vinblastine and vincristine in Catharanthus roseus or ajmaline in Rauvolfia serpentina. However, very few reports focused on the MIA physiological functions. RESULTS In this study we showed that a strictosidine pool existed in planta and that the strictosidine deglucosylation product(s) was (were) specifically responsible for in vitro protein cross-linking and precipitation suggesting a potential role for strictosidine activation in plant defence. The spatial feasibility of such an activation process was evaluated in planta. On the one hand, in situ hybridisation studies showed that CrSTR and CrSGD were coexpressed in the epidermal first barrier of C. roseus aerial organs. However, a combination of GFP-imaging, bimolecular fluorescence complementation and electromobility shift-zymogram experiments revealed that STR from both C. roseus and R. serpentina were localised to the vacuole whereas SGD from both species were shown to accumulate as highly stable supramolecular aggregates within the nucleus. Deletion and fusion studies allowed us to identify and to demonstrate the functionality of CrSTR and CrSGD targeting sequences. CONCLUSIONS A spatial model was drawn to explain the role of the subcellular sequestration of STR and SGD to control the MIA metabolic flux under normal physiological conditions. The model also illustrates the possible mechanism of massive activation of the strictosidine vacuolar pool upon enzyme-substrate reunion occurring during potential herbivore feeding constituting a so-called "nuclear time bomb" in reference to the "mustard oil bomb" commonly used to describe the myrosinase-glucosinolate defence system in Brassicaceae.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Grégory Guirimand
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, EA 2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales"; IFR 135 "Imagerie fonctionnelle" 37200, Tours, France
| | - Vincent Courdavault
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, EA 2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales"; IFR 135 "Imagerie fonctionnelle" 37200, Tours, France
| | - Arnaud Lanoue
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, EA 2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales"; IFR 135 "Imagerie fonctionnelle" 37200, Tours, France
| | - Samira Mahroug
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, EA 2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales"; IFR 135 "Imagerie fonctionnelle" 37200, Tours, France
- Laboratoire Biodiversité Végétale, Conservation et Valorisation, Faculté des Sciences, Université Djillali Liabés, Sidi Bel Abbes, Algérie
| | - Anthony Guihur
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, EA 2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales"; IFR 135 "Imagerie fonctionnelle" 37200, Tours, France
| | - Nathalie Blanc
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, EA 2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales"; IFR 135 "Imagerie fonctionnelle" 37200, Tours, France
| | - Nathalie Giglioli-Guivarc'h
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, EA 2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales"; IFR 135 "Imagerie fonctionnelle" 37200, Tours, France
| | - Benoit St-Pierre
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, EA 2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales"; IFR 135 "Imagerie fonctionnelle" 37200, Tours, France
| | - Vincent Burlat
- Université François Rabelais de Tours, EA 2106 "Biomolécules et Biotechnologies Végétales"; IFR 135 "Imagerie fonctionnelle" 37200, Tours, France
- Université de Toulouse; UPS; UMR 5546, Surfaces Cellulaires et Signalisation chez les Végétaux; BP 42617, F-31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France
- CNRS; UMR 5546; BP 42617, F-31326, Castanet-Tolosan, France
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Krenn HW. Feeding mechanisms of adult Lepidoptera: structure, function, and evolution of the mouthparts. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2010; 55:307-27. [PMID: 19961330 PMCID: PMC4040413 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-112408-085338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The form and function of the mouthparts in adult Lepidoptera and their feeding behavior are reviewed from evolutionary and ecological points of view. The formation of the suctorial proboscis encompasses a fluid-tight food tube, special linking structures, modified sensory equipment, and novel intrinsic musculature. The evolution of these functionally important traits can be reconstructed within the Lepidoptera. The proboscis movements are explained by a hydraulic mechanism for uncoiling, whereas recoiling is governed by the intrinsic proboscis musculature and the cuticular elasticity. Fluid uptake is accomplished by the action of the cranial sucking pump, which enables uptake of a wide range of fluid quantities from different food sources. Nectar-feeding species exhibit stereotypical proboscis movements during flower handling. Behavioral modifications and derived proboscis morphology are often associated with specialized feeding preferences or an obligatory switch to alternative food sources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harald W Krenn
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Krenn HW, Eberhard MJB, Eberhard SH, Hikl AL, Huber W, Gilbert LE. Mechanical damage to pollen aids nutrient acquisition in Heliconius butterflies (Nymphalidae). ARTHROPOD-PLANT INTERACTIONS 2009; 3:203-208. [PMID: 24900162 PMCID: PMC4040415 DOI: 10.1007/s11829-009-9074-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Neotropical Heliconius and Laparus butterflies actively collect pollen onto the proboscis and extract nutrients from it. This study investigates the impact of the processing behaviour on the condition of the pollen grains. Pollen samples (n = 72) were collected from proboscides of various Heliconius species and Laparus doris in surrounding habitats of the Tropical Research Station La Gamba (Costa Rica). Examination using a light microscope revealed that pollen loads contained 74.88 ± 53.67% of damaged Psychotria pollen, 72.04 ± 23.4% of damaged Psiguria/Gurania pollen, and 21.35 ± 14.5% of damaged Lantana pollen (numbers represent median ± first quartile). Damaged pollen grains showed deformed contours, inhomogeneous and/or leaking contents, or they were empty. Experiments with Heliconius and Laparus doris from a natural population in Costa Rica demonstrated that 200 min of pollen processing behaviour significantly increased the percentage of damaged pollen of Psychotria compared to pollen from anthers (P = 0.015, Z = -2.44, Mann-Whitney U-test). Examination of pollen loads from green house reared Heliconius butterflies resulted in significantly greater amounts of damaged Psiguria pollen after 200 min of processing behaviour compared to pollen from flowers (P < 0.001, Z = -4.583, Mann-Whitney U-test). These results indicate that pollen processing functions as extra oral digestion whereby pollen grains are ruptured to make the content available for ingestion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harald W Krenn
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Monika J B Eberhard
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Stefan H Eberhard
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna-Laetitia Hikl
- Department of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Werner Huber
- Department of Palynology and Structural Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria
| | - Lawrence E Gilbert
- Brackenridge Field Laboratory and Section of Integrative Biology, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
EBERHARD STEFANH, NEMESCHKAL HANSL, KRENN HARALDW. Biometrical evidence for adaptations of the salivary glands to pollen feeding in Heliconius butterflies (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2009.01243.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
|
19
|
Molleman F, Ding J, Wang JL, Zwaan BJ, Carey JR, Brakefield PM. Adult diet affects lifespan and reproduction of the fruit-feeding butterfly Charaxes fulvescens. ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA 2008; 129:54-65. [PMID: 19774093 PMCID: PMC2747111 DOI: 10.1111/j.1570-7458.2008.00752.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Fruit-feeding butterflies are among the longest lived Lepidoptera. While the use of pollen-derived amino acids by Heliconius butterflies has been interpreted as important for the evolution of extended lifespans, very little is known about the life-history consequences of frugivory. This issue is addressed by investigating effects of four adult diets (sugar, sugar with amino acids, banana, and moistened banana) on lifespan and reproduction in the fruit-feeding butterfly Charaxes fulvescens Aurivillius (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae). Female butterflies were collected from Kibale National Park, Uganda, and kept individually in cages near their natural habitat and data were collected on lifespan, oviposition, and hatching of eggs. Lifespan in captivity was longer for the sugar and the amino acid cohort, than for the banana cohorts. The longitudinal pattern of oviposition was erratic, with many days without oviposition and few periods with high numbers of eggs laid. Butterflies typically did not lay eggs during their 1st week in captivity and the length of the period between capture and first reproduction was significantly shorter for butterflies fed moistened banana. The length of the reproduction period (first reproduction-last reproduction in captivity) and the reproduction rate (total number of eggs/length of the reproduction period) did not differ significantly between the diet treatments. Those fed with amino acid and moistened banana had significantly higher egg hatchability than those fed with sugar and banana. We found no evidence for a lifespan cost of reproduction. Our results show that (1) female C. fulvescens can use amino acids in their diet for laying fertile eggs, (2) more wing-wear does correlate with lower survival in captivity (indicating aging in the wild), but not with intensity of reproduction (providing no evidence for reproductive aging), and (3) fruit-feeding butterflies may be dietary restricted in the field.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Freerk Molleman
- Department of Entomology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jimin Ding
- Department of Statistics, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Department of Mathematics, Washington University, Cupples I, Room 112A, Campus Box 1146, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Jane-Ling Wang
- Department of Statistics, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Bas J. Zwaan
- Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - James R. Carey
- Department of Entomology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Paul M. Brakefield
- Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, PO Box 9516, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Molleman F, Ding J, Wang JL, Brakefield PM, Carey JR, Zwaan BJ. Amino acid sources in the adult diet do not affect life span and fecundity in the fruit-feeding butterfly Bicyclus anynana. ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2008; 33:429-438. [PMID: 19081752 PMCID: PMC2600556 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2311.2008.00986.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
1. In tropical forests, the adults of many butterfly species feed on fruits rather than nectar from flowers and have long life spans. Rotting fruit and nectar differ from each other in many respects, including sources of amino acids and microbial life. If amino acids in the adult diet can be used for reproduction, this may have facilitated the evolution of extended life spans in this guild.2. This issue was addressed by investigating effects of banana, yeast, and amino acids in the adult diet of the fruit-feeding butterfly Bicyclus anynana (Lepidoptera) on longevity and female reproductive output in two experiments.3. Results showed that in the fruit-feeding butterfly B. anynana: (i) banana juice, but not sliced banana or added amino acids extend life span compared with a sugar solution of similar composition; (ii) compared with this sugar solution, other cohorts (banana juice-amino acid enriched) did not have significantly higher reproductive outputs; (iii) yeast does not represent a valuable source of nutrients; (iv) caloric restriction may cause decreased life span and rate of reproduction; and (v) increased rates of reproduction have a life span cost.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Freerk Molleman
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, California, U.S.A
- Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Jimin Ding
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Davis, California, U.S.A
- Department of Mathematics, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A
| | - Jane-Ling Wang
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Davis, California, U.S.A
| | - Paul M. Brakefield
- Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - James R. Carey
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Davis, California, U.S.A
| | - Bas J. Zwaan
- Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|