Inferring ancient Agave cultivation practices from contemporary genetic patterns

Several Agave species have played an important ethnobotanical role since prehistory in Mesoamerica and semiarid areas to the north, including central Arizona. We examined genetic variation in relict Agave parryi populations northeast of the Mogollon Rim in Arizona, remnants from anthropogenic manipulation over 600 years ago. We used both allozymes and microsatellites to compare genetic variability and structure in anthropogenically manipulated populations with putative wild populations, to assess whether they were actively cultivated or the result of inadvertent manipulation, and to determine probable source locations for anthropogenic populations. Wild populations were more genetically diverse than anthropogenic populations, with greater expected heterozygosity, polymorphic loci, effective number of alleles and allelic richness. Anthropogenic populations exhibited many traits indicative of past active cultivation: fixed heterozygosity for several loci in all populations (nonexistent in wild populations); fewer multilocus genotypes, which differed by fewer alleles; and greater differentiation among populations than was characteristic of wild populations. Furthermore, manipulated populations date from a period when changes in the cultural context may have favoured active cultivation near dwellings. Patterns of genetic similarity among populations suggest a complex anthropogenic history. Anthropogenic populations were not simply derived from the closest wild A. parryi stock; instead they evidently came from more distant, often more diverse, wild populations, perhaps obtained through trade networks in existence at the time of cultivation.     

绿缘扁角叶甲生活史、交配及繁殖的观察

【目的】探明绿缘扁角叶甲Platycorynus parryi Baly年生活史、交配及繁殖情况。【方法】越冬代成虫在室内自然条件下连续繁殖,及在不同温度下,详细观察记录了成虫的交配、繁殖力和寿命。【结果】绿缘扁角叶甲是络石Trachelospermum jasminoides的重要害虫,以老熟幼虫在3~5 cm深的土层中越冬,在江西南昌一年发生1代。越冬幼虫于次年4月中旬开始陆续化蛹,4月下旬成虫开始羽化。自然条件下各虫态发育历期:卵期(11.81±0.17)d,幼虫期300~330 d,蛹期(13.62±0.13)d,成虫寿命(47.99±0.65)d。成虫羽化3~4 d后开始交配,日平均交配(3.55±0.11)次,交配持续时间最短5 min,最长可达140 min,平均交配持续时间(28.11±0.89)min,日龄大的成虫交配持续时间显著短于日龄小的成虫;相邻两次交配之间的间隔时间最短3 min,最长426 min,平均交配间隔时间(74.75±3.19)min,日龄大的成虫交配间隔时间显著短于日龄小的成虫。交配后2~3 d开始产卵,平均每雌产卵量为169粒。在22、25和28℃条件下,温度对雌虫寿命具有显著影响,随着温度升高,雌虫寿命显著缩短,而雄虫寿命和每雌产卵量却差异不显著。【结论】绿缘扁角叶甲在江西南昌一年发生1代,以老熟幼虫在土中越冬,成虫可进行多次交配,成虫日龄对其交配行为有显著影响,温度对该虫的繁殖力无显著影响。