Abstract

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) form the boundary between insects and their environments and often act as essential cues for species, mate, and kin recognition. This complex polygenic trait can be highly variable both among and within species, but the causes of this variation, especially the genetic basis, are largely unknown. In this study, we investigated phenotypic and genetic variation of CHCs in the seaweed fly, Coelopa frigida, and found that composition was affected by both genetic (sex and population) and environmental (larval diet) factors. We subsequently conducted behavioral trials that show CHCs are likely used as a sexual signal. We identified general shifts in CHC chemistry as well as individual compounds and found that the methylated compounds, mean chain length, proportion of alkenes, and normalized total CHCs differed between sexes and populations. We combined these data with whole genome resequencing data to examine the genetic underpinnings of these differences. We identified 11 genes related to CHC synthesis and found population‐level outlier SNPs in 5 that are concordant with phenotypic differences. Together these results reveal that the CHC composition of C. frigida is dynamic, strongly affected by the larval environment, and likely under natural and sexual selection.

Highlights

  • In insects, cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are a primary adaptation to life on land because they protect against desiccation (Wigglesworth 1945; Blomquist and Bagnères2010)

  • We investigated phenotypic and genetic variation of CHCs in the seaweed fly, C. frigida, and found that composition was affected by both genetic and environmental factors

  • We identified 11 genes related to CHC synthesis and found population level outlier SNPs in 5 that are concordant with phenotypic differences

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are a primary adaptation to life on land because they protect against desiccation (Wigglesworth 1945; Blomquist and Bagnères2010). Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are a primary adaptation to life on land because they protect against desiccation In many solitary and social insects, cuticular hydrocarbons are used as one of the primary cues to recognize, and possibly discriminate between species, sexes, and among kin Renobales et al 1986; Blomquist et al 1994; Juarez et al 1996; Chung et al 2014) Elongases further lengthen these fatty acyl-CoAs and double bonds or triple bonds are added by desaturases (Howard and Blomquist 2005; Blomquist and Bagnères 2010)

Methods
Results
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call