Process and genetic mechanisms for rapid evolution of an introduced insect to adapt to the colonized environment

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24580084
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Applied entomology
• Research Institution: National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences
• Principal Investigator: TANAKA KOICHI 独立行政法人農業環境技術研究所, その他部局等, 上席研究員 (00354077)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MURATA Kouhei 東海大学, 農学部, 准教授 (90279381)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 外来昆虫 / 進化 / 気候適応 / 光周性 / 休眠 / 遺伝変異

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To understand process and genetic mechanisms underlying adaptive evolution of the ragweed beetle Ophraella communa which was recently introduced into Japan this study investigated its photoperiodic response controlling diapause to adapt local climate in the colonized regions. It revealed that this trait shifted in a short period and differed along geographic gradients, i.e. latitude and elevation. In addition, there is large genetic variation in this trait, which indicates that this variation is one of factors causing rapid evolution of this beetle after colonization into Japan.

Free Research Field

農学