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Chen H, Wan G, Li J, Ma Y, Reynolds DR, Dreyer D, Warrant EJ, Chapman JW, Hu G. Adaptive migratory orientation of an invasive pest on a new continent. iScience 2023; 26:108281. [PMID: 38187194 PMCID: PMC10767162 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Many species of insects undertake long-range, seasonally reversed migrations, displaying sophisticated orientation behaviors to optimize their migratory trajectories. However, when invasive insects arrive in new biogeographical regions, it is unclear if migrants retain (or how quickly they regain) ancestral migratory traits, such as seasonally preferred flight headings. Here we present behavioral evidence that an invasive migratory pest, the fall armyworm moth (Spodoptera frugiperda), a native of the Americas, exhibited locally adaptive migratory orientation less than three years after arriving on a new continent. Specimens collected from China showed flight orientations directed north-northwest in spring and southwest in autumn, and this would promote seasonal forward and return migrations in East Asia. We also show that the driver of the seasonal switch in orientation direction is photoperiod. Our results thus provide a clear example of an invasive insect that has rapidly exhibited adaptive migratory behaviors, either inherited or newly evolved, in a completely alien environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Key Laboratory of Bio-interactions and Crop Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Guijun Wan
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Key Laboratory of Bio-interactions and Crop Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jianchun Li
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Key Laboratory of Bio-interactions and Crop Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yibo Ma
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Key Laboratory of Bio-interactions and Crop Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Don R. Reynolds
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Greenwich, Chatham ME4 4TB, UK
- Rothamsted Research, Harpenden AL5 2JQ, UK
| | - David Dreyer
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Eric J. Warrant
- Lund Vision Group, Department of Biology, Lund University, Sölvegatan 35, 22362 Lund, Sweden
| | - Jason W. Chapman
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, Cornwall TR10 9FE, UK
| | - Gao Hu
- Department of Entomology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- National Key Laboratory of Bio-interactions and Crop Health, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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2
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Sappington TW, Spencer JL. Movement Ecology of Adult Western Corn Rootworm: Implications for Management. INSECTS 2023; 14:922. [PMID: 38132596 PMCID: PMC10744206 DOI: 10.3390/insects14120922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Movement of adult western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, is of fundamental importance to this species' population dynamics, ecology, evolution, and interactions with its environment, including cultivated cornfields. Realistic parameterization of dispersal components of models is needed to predict rates of range expansion, development, and spread of resistance to control measures and improve pest and resistance management strategies. However, a coherent understanding of western corn rootworm movement ecology has remained elusive because of conflicting evidence for both short- and long-distance lifetime dispersal, a type of dilemma observed in many species called Reid's paradox. Attempts to resolve this paradox using population genetic strategies to estimate rates of gene flow over space likewise imply greater dispersal distances than direct observations of short-range movement suggest, a dilemma called Slatkin's paradox. Based on the wide-array of available evidence, we present a conceptual model of adult western corn rootworm movement ecology under the premise it is a partially migratory species. We propose that rootworm populations consist of two behavioral phenotypes, resident and migrant. Both engage in local, appetitive flights, but only the migrant phenotype also makes non-appetitive migratory flights, resulting in observed patterns of bimodal dispersal distances and resolution of Reid's and Slatkin's paradoxes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W. Sappington
- Corn Insects and Crop Genetics Research Unit, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Joseph L. Spencer
- Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
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3
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Beetz MJ, El Jundi B. The neurobiology of the Monarch butterfly compass. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 60:101109. [PMID: 37660836 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) have become a superb model system to unravel how the tiny insect brain controls an impressive navigation behavior, such as long-distance migration. Moreover, the ability to compare the neural substrate between migratory and nonmigratory Monarch butterflies provides us with an attractive model to specifically study how the insect brain is adapted for migration. We here review our current progress on the neural substrate of spatial orientation in Monarch butterflies and how their spectacular annual migration might be controlled by their brain. We also discuss open research questions, the answers to which will provide important missing pieces to obtain a full picture of insect migration - from the perception of orientation cues to the neural control of migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Jerome Beetz
- Zoology II, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Basil El Jundi
- Animal Physiology, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
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4
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Green Ii DA. Tracking technologies: advances driving new insights into monarch migration. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 60:101111. [PMID: 37678709 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the rules of how monarch butterflies complete their annual North American migration will be clarified by studying them within a movement ecology framework. Insect movement ecology is growing at a rapid pace due to the development of novel monitoring systems that allow ever-smaller animals to be tracked at higher spatiotemporal resolution for longer periods of time. New innovations in tracking hardware and associated software, including miniaturization, energy autonomy, data management, and wireless communication, are reducing the size and increasing the capability of next-generation tracking technologies, bringing the goal of tracking monarchs over their entire migration closer within reach. These tools are beginning to be leveraged to provide insight into different aspects of monarch biology and ecology, and to contribute to a growing capacity to understand insect movement ecology more broadly and its impact on human life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delbert A Green Ii
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, 1105 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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5
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Anttonen T, Burghi T, Duvall L, Fernandez MP, Gutierrez G, Kermen F, Merlin C, Michaiel A. Neurobiology and Changing Ecosystems: Mechanisms Underlying Responses to Human-Generated Environmental Impacts. J Neurosci 2023; 43:7530-7537. [PMID: 37940589 PMCID: PMC10634574 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1431-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Human generated environmental change profoundly affects organisms that reside across diverse ecosystems. Although nervous systems evolved to flexibly sense, respond, and adapt to environmental change, it is unclear whether the rapid rate of environmental change outpaces the adaptive capacity of complex nervous systems. Here, we explore neural systems mediating responses to, or impacted by, changing environments, such as those induced by global heating, sensory pollution, and changing habitation zones. We focus on rising temperature and accelerated changes in environments that impact sensory experience as examples of perturbations that directly or indirectly impact neural function, respectively. We also explore a mechanism involved in cross-species interactions that arises from changing habitation zones. We demonstrate that anthropogenic influences on neurons, circuits, and behaviors are widespread across taxa and require further scientific investigation to understand principles underlying neural resilience to accelerating environmental change.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Neural systems evolved over hundreds of millions of years to allow organisms to sense and respond to their environments - to be receptive and responsive, yet flexible. Recent rapid, human-generated environmental changes are testing the limits of the adaptive capacity of neural systems. This presents an opportunity and an urgency to understand how neurobiological processes, including molecular, cellular, and circuit-level mechanisms, are vulnerable or resilient to changing environmental conditions. We showcase examples that range from molecular to circuit to behavioral levels of analysis across several model species, framing a broad neuroscientific approach to explore topics of neural adaptation, plasticity, and resilience. We believe this emerging scientific area is of great societal and scientific importance and will provide a unique opportunity to reexamine our understanding of neural adaptation and the mechanisms underlying neural resilience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommi Anttonen
- Institute of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark DK-5230
| | - Thiago Burghi
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom CB2 1PZ
| | - Laura Duvall
- Department of Biological Sciences, Columbia University, New York City, New York 10027
| | - Maria P Fernandez
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College, New York City, New York 10027
| | - Gabrielle Gutierrez
- Department of Neuroscience and Behavior, Barnard College, New York City, New York 10027
| | - Florence Kermen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark DK-1165
| | - Christine Merlin
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
| | - Angie Michaiel
- Department of Life Sciences, The Kavli Foundation, Los Angeles, California 90230
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6
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Freedman MG, Kronforst MR. Migration genetics take flight: genetic and genomic insights into monarch butterfly migration. CURRENT OPINION IN INSECT SCIENCE 2023; 59:101079. [PMID: 37385346 PMCID: PMC10592233 DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
Monarch butterflies have emerged as a model system in migration genetics. Despite inherent challenges associated with studying the integrative phenotypes that characterize migration, recent research has highlighted genes and transcriptional networks underlying aspects of the monarch's migratory syndrome. Circadian clock genes and the vitamin A synthesis pathway regulate reproductive diapause initiation, while diapause termination appears to involve calcium and insulin signaling. Comparative approaches have highlighted genes that distinguish migratory and nonmigratory monarch populations, as well as genes associated with natural variation in propensity to initiate diapause. Population genetic techniques demonstrate that seasonal migration can collapse patterns of spatial structure at continental scales, whereas loss of migration can drive differentiation between even nearby populations. Finally, population genetics can be applied to reconstruct the monarch's evolutionary history and search for contemporary demographic changes, which can provide relevant context for understanding recently observed declines in overwintering North American monarch numbers.
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7
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Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhao J, He J, Xuanyuan Z, Pan W, Sword GA, Chen F, Wan G. Probing Transcriptional Crosstalk between Cryptochromes and Iron-sulfur Cluster Assembly 1 ( MagR) in the Magnetoresponse of a Migratory Insect. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11101. [PMID: 37446278 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Many organisms can sense and respond to magnetic fields (MFs), with migratory species in particular utilizing geomagnetic field information for long-distance migration. Cryptochrome proteins (Crys) along with a highly conserved Iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein (i.e., MagR) have garnered significant attention for their involvement in magnetoresponse (including magnetoreception). However, in vivo investigations of potential transcriptional crosstalk between Crys and MagR genes have been limited. The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, is a major migratory pest insect and an emerging model for studying MF intensity-related magnetoresponse. Here, we explored in vivo transcriptional crosstalk between Crys (Cry1 and Cry2) and MagR in N. lugens. The expression of Crys and MagR were found to be sensitive to MF intensity changes as small as several micro-teslas. Knocking down MagR expression led to a significant downregulation of Cry1, but not Cry2. The knockdown of either Cry1 or Cry2 individually did not significantly affect MagR expression. However, their double knockdown resulted in significant upregulation of MagR. Our findings clearly indicate transcriptional crosstalk between MagR and Crys known to be involved in magnetoresponse. This work advances the understanding of magnetoresponse signaling and represents a key initial step towards elucidating the functional consequences of these novel in vivo interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuning Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jingyu Zhao
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jinglan He
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zongjin Xuanyuan
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Weidong Pan
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Bioelectromagnetics, Institute of Electrical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Gregory A Sword
- Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Fajun Chen
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Guijun Wan
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops in East China, College of Plant Protection, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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8
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Kendrick MR, McCord JW. Overwintering and breeding patterns of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in coastal plain habitats of the southeastern USA. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10438. [PMID: 37369690 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37225-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding variability in species' traits can inform our understanding of their ecology and aid in the development of management and conservation strategies. Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) are native to the western hemisphere and are well-known for their long-distance migrations but have experienced significant population declines in recent decades. Here we use a 5-year capture-mark-recapture dataset to compare monarch distributions, mating activity, and larval host plant use between two coastal plain habitats in South Carolina, USA. We observed seasonally specific habitat use, with maritime habitats serving as overwintering areas while nearby inland swamps support significant breeding in spring, summer, and fall seasons due to an abundance of aquatic milkweed (Asclepias perennis). We also observed mating activity by fall migrating monarchs and their use of swallow-wort (Pattalias palustre) in the spring as an important larval host plant in maritime habitats. This phenology and habitat use of monarchs diverges from established paradigms and suggest that a distinct population segment of monarchs may exist, with significance for understanding the conservation status of monarch butterflies and associated habitats in eastern North America. Further research should explore how monarchs along the Atlantic coast of North America relate to other eastern monarch populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Kendrick
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Research Institute, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, 29422, USA.
| | - John W McCord
- South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, Marine Resources Research Institute, 217 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, 29422, USA
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9
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Tanaka T, Ueda R, Sato T. Seasonal ecosystem linkages contribute to the maintenance of migratory polymorphism in a salmonid population. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230126. [PMID: 36946118 PMCID: PMC10031421 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The influence of resource subsidies on animal growth, survival and reproduction is well understood, but their ultimate effects on life history have been less explored. Some wild species have a partially migratory life history, wherein migration is dictated based upon threshold traits regulated in part by the seasonal availability of resources. We conducted a large-scale field manipulation experiment where we provided a terrestrial invertebrate subsidy to red-spotted masu salmon. Individuals in stream reaches that received a subsidy had, on average, a 53% increase in growth rate relative to those in control reaches. This increased growth resulted in a greater proportion of individuals reaching the threshold body size and smolting in the autumn. Consequently, 19-55% of females in subsidized reaches became migratory, whereas 0-14% became migratory in the control reaches. Our findings highlight seasonal ecosystem linkage as a key ecosystem property for maintaining migratory polymorphism in partially migratory animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Tanaka
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Rui Ueda
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Takuya Sato
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
- Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Hirano 2-509-3, Otsu, Shiga 520-2113, Japan
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10
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McCulloch GA, Waters JM. Rapid adaptation in a fast-changing world: Emerging insights from insect genomics. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2023; 29:943-954. [PMID: 36333958 PMCID: PMC10100130 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Many researchers have questioned the ability of biota to adapt to rapid anthropogenic environmental shifts. Here, we synthesize emerging genomic evidence for rapid insect evolution in response to human pressure. These new data reveal diverse genomic mechanisms (single locus, polygenic, structural shifts; introgression) underpinning rapid adaptive responses to a variety of anthropogenic selective pressures. While the effects of some human impacts (e.g. pollution; pesticides) have been previously documented, here we highlight startling new evidence for rapid evolutionary responses to additional anthropogenic processes such as deforestation. These recent findings indicate that diverse insect assemblages can indeed respond dynamically to major anthropogenic evolutionary challenges. Our synthesis also emphasizes the critical roles of genomic architecture, standing variation and gene flow in maintaining future adaptive potential. Broadly, it is clear that genomic approaches are essential for predicting, monitoring and responding to ongoing anthropogenic biodiversity shifts in a fast-changing world.
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11
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Parlin AF, Stratton SM, Guerra PA. Oriented migratory flight at night: Consequences of nighttime light pollution for monarch butterflies. iScience 2022; 25:104310. [PMID: 35573206 PMCID: PMC9097705 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.104310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
We show that light trespass—a form of nighttime light pollution (NLP)—elicits normal daytime clock-mediated migratory behavior in fall monarch butterflies during their night-cycle. In controlled indoor flight simulator studies isolating the role of NLP on the expression of oriented migratory flight using a time-compensated sun compass,a full-spectrum light source consistent with lights used outdoors at night by the public,triggered proper fall directional flight at night in monarchs. Monarchs remained quiescent when initially placed in the flight simulator in the dark, but flight was immediately triggered when our light source was turned on. This nighttime behavior was identical to that seen in outdoor free-flying fall conspecifics during the day. The light source provided directional cues equivalent to those provided by the sun and could either phase-advance or phase-delay monarchs. Our study highlights the negative consequences of NLP on diurnal animals, especially those that rely on clock-mediated behavior. Nighttime light pollution can disturb diurnal migratory monarch butterflies Exposure to this pollution induces abnormal activity in normally quiescent monarchs This pollution acts as sensory noise that perturbs the circadian clock of monarchs Conservation should consider susceptibility of habitat to nighttime light pollution
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam F. Parlin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Rieveschl Hall, 318 College Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
| | - Samuel M. Stratton
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Rieveschl Hall, 318 College Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Biological Sciences Building, 1105 N University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Patrick A. Guerra
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Rieveschl Hall, 318 College Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA
- Corresponding author
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12
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Pocius VM, Majewska AA, Freedman MG. The Role of Experiments in Monarch Butterfly Conservation: A Review of Recent Studies and Approaches. ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 115:10-24. [PMID: 35069967 PMCID: PMC8764570 DOI: 10.1093/aesa/saab036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) (Lepidoptera Danaidae Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus)) are an iconic species of conservation concern due to declines in the overwintering colonies over the past twenty years. Because of this downward trend in overwintering numbers in both California and Mexico, monarchs are currently considered 'warranted-but-precluded' for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Monarchs have a fascinating life history and have become a model system in chemical ecology, migration biology, and host-parasite interactions, but many aspects of monarch biology important for informing conservation practices remain unresolved. In this review, we focus on recent advances using experimental and genetic approaches that inform monarch conservation. In particular, we emphasize three areas of broad importance, which could have an immediate impact on monarch conservation efforts: 1) breeding habitat and host plant use, 2) natural enemies and exotic caterpillar food plants, and 3) the utility of genetic and genomic approaches for understanding monarch biology and informing ongoing conservation efforts. We also suggest future studies in these areas that could improve our understanding of monarch behavior and conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria M Pocius
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA
| | | | - Micah G Freedman
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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13
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Brady D, Saviane A, Cappellozza S, Sandrelli F. The Circadian Clock in Lepidoptera. Front Physiol 2021; 12:776826. [PMID: 34867483 PMCID: PMC8635995 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.776826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
With approximately 160,000 identified species of butterflies and moths, Lepidoptera are among the most species-rich and diverse insect orders. Lepidopteran insects have fundamental ecosystem functions as pollinators and valuable food sources for countless animals. Furthermore, Lepidoptera have a significant impact on the economy and global food security because many species in their larval stage are harmful pests of staple food crops. Moreover, domesticated species such as the silkworm Bombyx mori produce silk and silk byproducts that are utilized by the luxury textile, biomedical, and cosmetics sectors. Several Lepidoptera have been fundamental as model organisms for basic biological research, from formal genetics to evolutionary studies. Regarding chronobiology, in the 1970s, Truman's seminal transplantation experiments on different lepidopteran species were the first to show that the circadian clock resides in the brain. With the implementation of molecular genetics, subsequent studies identified key differences in core components of the molecular circadian clock of Lepidoptera compared to the dipteran Drosophila melanogaster, the dominant insect species in chronobiological research. More recently, studies on the butterfly Danaus plexippus have been fundamental in characterizing the interplay between the circadian clock and navigation during the seasonal migration of this species. Moreover, the advent of Next Generation Omic technologies has resulted in the production of many publicly available datasets regarding circadian clocks in pest and beneficial Lepidoptera. This review presents an updated overview of the molecular and anatomical organization of the circadian clock in Lepidoptera. We report different behavioral circadian rhythms currently identified, focusing on the importance of the circadian clock in controlling developmental, mating and migration phenotypes. We then describe the ecological importance of circadian clocks detailing the complex interplay between the feeding behavior of these organisms and plants. Finally, we discuss how the characterization of these features could be useful in both pest control, and in optimizing rearing of beneficial Lepidoptera.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Brady
- Department of Biology, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessio Saviane
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Padova, Italy
| | - Silvia Cappellozza
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, Research Centre for Agriculture and Environment (CREA-AA), Padova, Italy
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14
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Fudickar AM, Jahn AE, Ketterson ED. Animal Migration: An Overview of One of Nature's Great Spectacles. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ECOLOGY, EVOLUTION, AND SYSTEMATICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-012021-031035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The twenty-first century has witnessed an explosion in research on animal migration, in large part due to a technological revolution in tracking and remote-sensing technologies, along with advances in genomics and integrative biology. We now have access to unprecedented amounts of data on when, where, and how animals migrate across various continents and oceans. Among the important advancements, recent studies have uncovered a surprising level of variation in migratory trajectories at the species and population levels with implications for both speciation and the conservation of migratory populations. At the organismal level, studies linking molecular and physiological mechanisms to traits that support migration have revealed a remarkable amount of seasonal flexibility in many migratory animals. Advancements in the theory for why animals migrate have resulted in promising new directions for empirical studies. We provide an overview of the current state of knowledge and promising future avenues of study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam M. Fudickar
- Environmental Resilience Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA;, ,
| | - Alex E. Jahn
- Environmental Resilience Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA;, ,
| | - Ellen D. Ketterson
- Environmental Resilience Institute, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA;, ,
- Department of Biology, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, USA
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15
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Cai YD, Chiu JC. Timeless in animal circadian clocks and beyond. FEBS J 2021; 289:6559-6575. [PMID: 34699674 PMCID: PMC9038958 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Revised: 10/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
TIMELESS (TIM) was first identified as a molecular cog in the Drosophila circadian clock. Almost three decades of investigations have resulted in an insightful model describing the critical role of Drosophila TIM (dTIM) in circadian timekeeping in insects, including its function in mediating light entrainment and temperature compensation of the molecular clock. Furthermore, exciting discoveries on its sequence polymorphism and thermosensitive alternative RNA splicing have also established its role in regulating seasonal biology. Although mammalian TIM (mTIM), its mammalian paralog, was first identified as a potential circadian clock component in 1990s due to sequence similarity to dTIM, its role in clock regulation has been more controversial. Mammalian TIM has now been characterized as a DNA replication fork component and has been shown to promote fork progression and participate in cell cycle checkpoint signaling in response to DNA damage. Despite defective circadian rhythms displayed by mtim mutants, it remains controversial whether the regulation of circadian clocks by mTIM is direct, especially given the interconnection between the cell cycle and circadian clocks. In this review, we provide a historical perspective on the identification of animal tim genes, summarize the roles of TIM proteins in biological timing and genomic stability, and draw parallels between dTIM and mTIM despite apparent functional divergence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao D Cai
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, CA, USA
| | - Joanna C Chiu
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of California Davis, CA, USA
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16
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Harringmeyer OS, Woolfolk ML, Hoekstra HE. Fishing for the genetic basis of migratory behavior. Cell 2021; 184:303-305. [PMID: 33482098 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
For many species, migrating at just the right time is essential for both survival and reproduction. A new study in salmon localizes a small genomic region associated with migration timing, which in turn affects other physiological traits, suggesting that a seemingly complex suite of migration traits is linked by one "simple" phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia S Harringmeyer
- Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Maya L Woolfolk
- Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Hopi E Hoekstra
- Department of Organismic & Evolutionary Biology, Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Museum of Comparative Zoology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
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17
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Abstract
AbstractUnderstanding the genetic architecture of complex trait adaptation in natural populations requires the continued development of tractable models that explicitly confront organismal and environmental complexity. A decade of high-throughput sequencing-based investigations into the genomic basis of migration points to an integrative framework that incorporates quantitative genetics, evolutionary developmental biology, phenotypic plasticity, and epigenetics to explain migration evolution. In this perspective, I argue that the transcontinental migration of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) can serve as a compelling system to study the mechanism of evolutionary lability of a complex trait. Monarchs show significant phenotypic and genotypic diversity across their global range, with phenotypic switching that allows for explicit study of evolutionary lability. A developmental approach for elucidating how migratory traits are generated and functionally integrated will be important for understanding the evolution of monarch migration traits. I propose a plasticity threshold model to describe migration lability, and I describe novel functional techniques that will help resolve open questions and model assumptions. I conclude by considering the relationships between adaptive genetic architecture, anthropogenic climate change, and conservation management practice and the timeliness of the monarch migration model to illuminate these connections given the rapid decline of the North American migration.
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18
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Nguyen TAT, Beetz MJ, Merlin C, el Jundi B. Sun compass neurons are tuned to migratory orientation in monarch butterflies. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20202988. [PMID: 33622121 PMCID: PMC7935079 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Every autumn, monarch butterflies migrate from North America to their overwintering sites in Central Mexico. To maintain their southward direction, these butterflies rely on celestial cues as orientation references. The position of the sun combined with additional skylight cues are integrated in the central complex, a region in the butterfly's brain that acts as an internal compass. However, the central complex does not solely guide the butterflies on their migration but also helps monarchs in their non-migratory form manoeuvre on foraging trips through their habitat. By comparing the activity of input neurons of the central complex between migratory and non-migratory butterflies, we investigated how a different lifestyle affects the coding of orientation information in the brain. During recording, we presented the animals with different simulated celestial cues and found that the encoding of the sun was narrower in migratory compared to non-migratory butterflies. This feature might reflect the need of the migratory monarchs to rely on a precise sun compass to keep their direction during their journey. Taken together, our study sheds light on the neural coding of celestial cues and provides insights into how a compass is adapted in migratory animals to successfully steer them to their destination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - M. Jerome Beetz
- University of Wuerzburg, Biocenter, Zoology II, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Christine Merlin
- Department of Biology and Center for Biological Clocks Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Basil el Jundi
- University of Wuerzburg, Biocenter, Zoology II, Würzburg, Germany
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19
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Guerra PA. The Monarch Butterfly as a Model for Understanding the Role of Environmental Sensory Cues in Long-Distance Migratory Phenomena. Front Behav Neurosci 2020; 14:600737. [PMID: 33343312 PMCID: PMC7744611 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2020.600737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The awe-inspiring annual migration of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) is an iconic example of long-distance migratory phenomena in which environmental sensory cues help drive successful migration. In this mini-review article, I begin by describing how studies on monarch migration can provide us with generalizable information on how sensory cues can mediate key aspects of animal movement. I describe how environmental sensory cues can trigger the development and progression of the monarch migration, as well as inform sensory-based movement mechanisms in order to travel to and reach their goal destination, despite monarchs being on their maiden voyage. I also describe how sensory cues can trigger season-appropriate changes in migratory direction during the annual cycle. I conclude this mini-review article by discussing how contemporary environmental challenges threaten the persistence of the monarch migration. Environmental challenges such as climate change and shifting land use can significantly alter the sensory environments that monarchs migrate through, as well as degrade or eliminate the sources of sensory cues that are necessary for successful migration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A. Guerra
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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