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Insects
Special Issues
Sexual Communication in An Evolutionary Context
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Sexual Communication in An Evolutionary Context

A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2015) | Viewed by 28412

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Astrid T. Groot

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Science, Mathematics and Computer Science Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, Amsterdam, The Nederlands
Interests: evolutionary chemical ecology; sexual selection; sex pheromones; population genetics; speciation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Even though sexual selection is generally hypothesized to be an important factor in the speciation process, it is still unclear when and how divergence in sexual communication occurs; does it follow ecological adaptation, could it drive ecological adaptation, and/or does divergence in sexual communcation occur pleiotropically with ecological adaptation? When signals are costly, they are likely to be honest and probably at least partly under sexual selection. However, when the predominant role of sexual communication is species recognition, sexual selection is likely less important than natural selection. Sources of variation in the habitat that may affect chemical communication systems include the presence and abundance of species with similar chemical cues, host plants, predators and parasitoids that may home in on the signals, and microbes (pathogens or symbionts). Genetically, when signals and preferences are governed by the same or closely-linked genes, Fisherian runaway selection can easily occur. However, when signals and preferences are governed by independently assorting genes, evolutionary scenarios become more difficult. For this special issue we invite the submission of high quality original research papers and mini-reviews dealing with intra- and interspecific variation in sexual communication in an evolutionary context.

Dr. Astrid T. Groot
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • intra- and interspecific variation in sexual communication;
  • genes underlying sexual signals and preferences;
  • natural selection (species with similar cues, host plants, predators and parasitoids, interactions with microbes);
  • sexual selection ((fe)male choice, intrasex competition);
  • social selection;
  • plasticity in the signal;
  • plasticity in the preference (learning, (de)sensitization);
  • co-evolution of signals and preferences;

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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733 KiB  
Article
Mating Success, Longevity, and Fertility of Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Chrysomelidae: Coleoptera) in Relation to Body Size and Cry3Bb1-Resistant and Cry3Bb1-Susceptible Genotypes
by Bryan Wade French, Leslie Hammack and Douglas W. Tallamy
Insects 2015, 6(4), 943-960; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects6040943 - 10 Nov 2015
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4994
Abstract
Insect resistance to population control methodologies is a widespread problem. The development of effective resistance management programs is often dependent on detailed knowledge regarding the biology of individual species and changes in that biology associated with resistance evolution. This study examined the reproductive [...] Read more.
Insect resistance to population control methodologies is a widespread problem. The development of effective resistance management programs is often dependent on detailed knowledge regarding the biology of individual species and changes in that biology associated with resistance evolution. This study examined the reproductive behavior and biology of western corn rootworm beetles of known body size from lines resistant and susceptible to the Cry3Bb1 protein toxin expressed in transgenic Bacillus thuringiensis maize. In crosses between, and within, the resistant and susceptible genotypes, no differences occurred in mating frequency, copulation duration, courtship duration, or fertility; however, females mated with resistant males showed reduced longevity. Body size did not vary with genotype. Larger males and females were not more likely to mate than smaller males and females, but larger females laid more eggs. Moderately strong, positive correlation occurred between the body sizes of successfully mated males and females; however, weak correlation also existed for pairs that did not mate. Our study provided only limited evidence for fitness costs associated with the Cry3Bb1-resistant genotype that might reduce the persistence in populations of the resistant genotype but provided additional evidence for size-based, assortative mating, which could favor the persistence of resistant genotypes affecting body size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Communication in An Evolutionary Context)
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831 KiB  
Article
Hydrocarbon Patterns and Mating Behaviour in Populations of Drosophila yakuba
by Béatrice Denis, Arnaud Le Rouzic and Claude Wicker-Thomas
Insects 2015, 6(4), 897-911; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects6040897 - 28 Oct 2015
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4442
Abstract
Drosophila yakuba is widespread in Africa. Here we compare the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles and mating behavior of mainland (Kounden, Cameroon) and island (Mayotte, Sao-Tome, Bioko) populations. The strains each had different CHC profiles: Bioko and Kounden were the most similar, while Mayotte [...] Read more.
Drosophila yakuba is widespread in Africa. Here we compare the cuticular hydrocarbon (CHC) profiles and mating behavior of mainland (Kounden, Cameroon) and island (Mayotte, Sao-Tome, Bioko) populations. The strains each had different CHC profiles: Bioko and Kounden were the most similar, while Mayotte and Sao-Tome contained significant amounts of 7-heptacosene. The CHC profile of the Sao-Tome population differed the most, with half the 7-tricosene of the other populations and more 7-heptacosene and 7-nonacosene. We also studied the characteristics of the mating behavior of the four strains: copulation duration was similar but latency times were higher in Mayotte and Sao-Tome populations. We found partial reproductive isolation between populations, especially in male-choice experiments with Sao-Tome females. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Communication in An Evolutionary Context)
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Review

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846 KiB  
Review
Pheromone Autodetection: Evidence and Implications
by Robert Holdcraft, Cesar Rodriguez-Saona and Lukasz L. Stelinski
Insects 2016, 7(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects7020017 - 25 Apr 2016
Cited by 46 | Viewed by 10149
Abstract
Olfactory communication research with insects utilizing sex pheromones has focused on the effects of pheromones on signal receivers. Early pheromone detection studies using the silkworm moth, Bombyx mori L., and Saturniids led to the assumption that emitters, especially females, are unable to detect [...] Read more.
Olfactory communication research with insects utilizing sex pheromones has focused on the effects of pheromones on signal receivers. Early pheromone detection studies using the silkworm moth, Bombyx mori L., and Saturniids led to the assumption that emitters, especially females, are unable to detect their own pheromone. Pheromone anosmia, i.e., the inability of females to detect their conspecific sex pheromone, was often assumed, and initially little attention was paid to female behaviors that may result from autodetection, i.e., the ability of females to detect their sex pheromone. Detection of conspecific pheromone plumes from nearby females may provide information to improve chances of mating success and progeny survival. Since the first documented example in 1972, numerous occurrences of autodetection have been observed and verified in field and laboratory studies. We summarize here a significant portion of research relating to autodetection. Electrophysiological and behavioral investigations, as well as expression patterns of proteins involved in pheromone autodetection are included. We discuss problems inherent in defining a boundary between sex and aggregation pheromones considering the occurrence of autodetection, and summarize hypothesized selection pressures favoring autodetection. Importance of including autodetection studies in future work is emphasized by complications arising from a lack of knowledge combined with expanding the use of pheromones in agriculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Communication in An Evolutionary Context)
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209 KiB  
Review
Insect Cuticular Hydrocarbons as Dynamic Traits in Sexual Communication
by Fiona C. Ingleby
Insects 2015, 6(3), 732-742; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects6030732 - 4 Aug 2015
Cited by 67 | Viewed by 8253
Abstract
Recent research has demonstrated extensive within-species variation in pheromone expression in insect species, contrary to the view that pheromones are largely invariant within species. In fact, many studies on insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) show that pheromones can be highly dynamic traits that can [...] Read more.
Recent research has demonstrated extensive within-species variation in pheromone expression in insect species, contrary to the view that pheromones are largely invariant within species. In fact, many studies on insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) show that pheromones can be highly dynamic traits that can express significant short-term plasticity across both abiotic and social environments. It is likely that this variability in CHC expression contributes to their important role in sexual signaling and mate choice. In this review, I discuss CHC plasticity and how this might influence sexual communication. I also highlight two important avenues for future research: examining plasticity in how individuals respond to CHC signals, and testing how sexual communication varies across abiotic and social environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sexual Communication in An Evolutionary Context)
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