Phenotypic and nuclear variation of mitochondrial defined Pityogenes chalcographus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) entities
Abstract
Since the 1970ies, the spruce bark beetle Pityogenes chalcographus poses a unique case in European forest entomology as populations were classified into two major geographic groups (Central and Northern Europe) revealing crossing incompatibility. Recently, the genetic divergence of these two groups was confirmed by analyzing mitochondrial markers. Further, four other mitochondrial entities within European P. chalcographus populations were found – three closely related ones situated in the Apennines and one located in the Dinaric Alps. For these entities no information on their phenotypes exists. In the proposed project, the first objective will be to elucidate the semiochemical system of the mitochondrial defined P. chalcographus entities. The enantiomeric forms of chalcogran and the geometric isomers of methyl decadienoate will be analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. The quantitative variation of the pheromone components and their ratios from different attack phases, considering also body weight and fat content of the individuals, will be considered. The second objective involves use of the mitochondrial defined P. chalcographus entities for crossing and mate choice experiments in order to quantify the strength of prezygotic and postzygotic incompatibility. Crossings will be performed until the F2 as this will give insight into whether the hybrid generation (F2) is viable or whether hybrid breakdown can be observed. The third objective will be the analysis of the European populations by AFLP to obtain an insight into the nuclear genome. This project will enable syntheses of evolutionary forces that cause phenotypic divergence and speciation in P. chalcographus.
keywords Molecular Ecology Phylogeography Scolytinae Chemical Ecology Behavioural Ecology
Publikationen
Project staff
Christian Stauffer
Ao.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Christian Stauffer
christian.stauffer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91631
Project Leader
01.05.2009 - 30.04.2013
Hannes Schuler
DDipl.Ing. Dr. Hannes Schuler
hannes.schuler@boku.ac.at
Project Staff
01.05.2009 - 30.04.2013
BOKU partners
External partners
NAGREF-Forest Research Institute
Dr. Dimitrios N. Avtzis
partner
Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Alnarp, Division of Chemical Ecology, Department of Crop Protection Biology
Prof. Dr. Fredrik Schlyter
partner