Phenotype Matching in Yuccas & Yucca Moths: Is it Coevolution?

Phenotype Matching in Yuccas & Yucca Moths: Is it Coevolution?

Phenotype Matching in Yuccas & Yucca Moths: Is it Coevolution?

http://www.willamette.edu/~csmith/ChrisSmith.htmhttp://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115956&org=NSF

http://www.willamette.edu/~csmith/Smith.MOJAScience-Newsletter-4-2010.pdfhttp://www.lvrj.com/news/joshua-tree-yucca-moth-evolution-fascinates-researchers-119987234.html

Darwin and Coevolution Angraecum sesquipedale

Nectar spur




“ In Madagascar there must be moths with proboscises capable of extension to a length of between ten and eleven inches!”

-Darwin, 1862

On the Various Contrivances by which British and Foreign Orchids are Fertilised by Insects




Xanthopan morganii praedictahttp://www.willamette.edu/~csmith/ChrisSmith.htm

http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=115956&org=NSFhttp://www.willamette.edu/~csmith/Smith.MOJAScience-Newsletter-4-2010.pdf

http://www.lvrj.com/news/joshua-tree-yucca-moth-evolution-fascinates-researchers-119987234.html

Measuring reciprocal natural selection in the Joshua tree - Yucca Moth Mutualism



•Yucca moths (Tegeticula spp) pollinate the flowers, and oviposit into ovules.

Natural History of the Yucca - Yucca Moth Mutualism



•Yucca moths (Tegeticula spp) pollinate the flowers, and oviposit into ovules.

•Larvae feed inside fruit and eat a portion of the seeds.

Photo: Olle Pellmyr




•Unique / unusual morphological features associated with the interaction.

•Female moths have uniquely-derived ‘tentacle’ mouthparts for carrying pollen.

(Pellmyr and Krenn, 2002)





•Terminal abdominal segments modified to form a blade-like ovipositor.

(Klots, 1970)


Schematic of the yucca-moth abdomen




•During oviposition the moth cuts into the flower, and lays her eggs in contact with the ovules.


Oviposition behavior in T. syntheticahttp://www.willamette.edu/~csmith/ChrisSmith.htm



•Moth ovipositors vary significantly between species.

(Pellmyr, 1999)

Macroevolutionary Pattern: Phenotype Matching

Variation in ovipositorshttp://www.willamette.edu/~csmith/ChrisSmith.htm



•Moth ovipositors vary significantly between species.

•Across Species, Length of Moth Ovipositors is Correlated with Ovary Thickness at the Point of Oviposition.

Macroevolutionary Pattern: Phenotype Matching

Matching in Yuccas & Yucca Mothshttp://www.willamette.edu/~csmith/ChrisSmith.htm



SCRP Students

1. Field Research: Spring Break and Early Summer

2. Ecological Experiments: How do differences in ovipositor length effect fitness.

3. Genetic and genomic tools: What genes control floral morphology? Are they under selection?



Learn More


http://www.willamette.edu/~csmith/Smith.MOJAScience-Newsletter-4-2010.pdfhttp://www.lvrj.com/news/joshua-tree-yucca-moth-evolution-fascinates-researchers-

119987234.html

Documents

Phenotype Matching in Yuccas & Yucca Moths: Is it Coevolution?