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Evolutionary dynamics of specialisation in herbivorous stick insects
Chloé Larose1, Sergio Rasmann2, Tanja Schwander1
1Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Ecology Letters
|December 21, 2018
Summary
Stick insects can adapt to new host plants, expanding their potential diets while often remaining specialized in practice. This research reveals key evolutionary dynamics in herbivore host range.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Ecology
- Insect behavior
Background:
- Herbivorous insects exhibit remarkable mega-diversity, driven by host plant adaptation.
- Understanding host plant shifts is crucial for deciphering insect evolutionary dynamics.
Discussion:
- Stick insects retain ancestral host use after shifting to novel hosts, expanding fundamental feeding niches.
- Ecological specialization often accompanies fundamental niche expansion, limiting realized niches.
- Host plant specialization is not solely constrained by plant chemistry, even with challenging conifer hosts.
Key Insights:
- Host plant shifts lead to fundamental feeding niche expansion but not necessarily realized niche expansion.
- Generalist fundamental niches can evolve alongside specialist realized niches, even on chemically challenging hosts.
- Plant chemistry does not appear to be the sole driver of host plant specialization.
Outlook:
- Further research can explore the genetic basis of host plant adaptation in insects.
- Investigating the interplay between fundamental and realized niches can illuminate speciation processes.
- Comparative studies across diverse herbivore taxa will enhance understanding of evolutionary dynamics.
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