Population differences in host plant preference and the importance of yeast and plant substrate to volatile composition. Issue 11 (18th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Date, Priya; Crowley‐Gall, Amber; Diefendorf, Aaron F.; Rollmann, Stephanie M.
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 7:Issue 11(2017:Jun.)
• Page Start: 3815
• Page End: 3825
• Publication Date: 2017-04-18
• Subjects: behavior -- Drosophila -- evolution -- olfaction -- performance -- volatile; Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2993
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

Abstract: Divergent selection between environments can result in changes to the behavior of an organism. In many insects, volatile compounds are a primary means by which host plants are recognized and shifts in plant availability can result in changes to host preference. Both the plant substrate and microorganisms can influence this behavior, and host plant choice can have an impact on the performance of the organism. In Drosophila mojavensis, four geographically isolated populations each use different cacti as feeding and oviposition substrates and identify those cacti by the composition of the volatile odorants emitted. Behavioral tests revealed D. mojavensis populations vary in their degree of preference for their natural host plant. Females from the Mojave population show a marked preference for their host plant, barrel cactus, relative to other cactus choices. When flies were given a choice between cacti that were not their host plant, the preference for barrel and organ pipe cactus relative to agria and prickly pear cactus was overall lower for all populations. Volatile headspace composition is influenced by the cactus substrate, microbial community, and substrate‐by‐microorganism interactions. Differences in viability, developmental time, thorax length, and dry body weight exist among populations and depend on cactus substrate and population‐by‐cactus interactions. However, no clear association between behavioral preference and performance was observed. This study highlights a complex interplay between the insect, host plant, and microbial community and the factors mediating insect host plant preference behavior. Abstract : Our study examines the determinants of insect host preference behavior and the complex interplay between plant, insect, and microbial community as a model for understanding the factors underlying environmentally mediated changes in behavior. Our study shows the importance of considering the microorganism, plant substrate, and substrate–microorganism interactions as contributors to headspace composition and examines preference behavior and the effects of host plant on organism performance.