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Aphid male wing polymorphisms are transient and have evolved repeatedly
Omid Saleh Ziabari1, Binshuang Li1, Nate B Hardy2
1Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, United States.
Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution
|February 11, 2023
Summary
Transient male wing polymorphisms in aphids, though rare, evolve repeatedly. This may be facilitated by asexual female wing plasticity, potentially increasing speciation rates in this insect group.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Genetics
- Insect science
Background:
- Polymorphic phenotypes are crucial for understanding genetic variation.
- Persistent polymorphisms are well-studied for their role in speciation.
- Transient polymorphisms and their macroevolutionary impacts are less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate male wing polymorphisms in aphids.
- Determine the evolutionary history and frequency of these transient polymorphisms.
- Explore factors influencing the evolution of male wing states and their impact on diversification.
Main Methods:
- Phylogenetic analysis of aphid species.
- Reconstruction of wing state evolution across the phylogeny.
- Correlation analysis with host plant traits and speciation rates.
Main Results:
- Male wing polymorphisms are transient, found in ~4% of species, but evolved repeatedly.
- Asexual female wing plasticity may facilitate the repeated evolution of male polymorphisms.
- Male wingedness correlates with host plant alternation and breadth, and polymorphisms may increase speciation rates.
Conclusions:
- Transient polymorphisms, like male wing states in aphids, can significantly impact species diversification.
- Aphid wing evolution provides insights into the macroevolutionary role of even short-lived genetic variations.
- Understanding transient polymorphisms is key to a complete picture of evolutionary diversification.
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