沿海拔梯度的表型可塑性影响银胶菊叶甲的取食效率和发育(英文)

【目的】本研究旨在弄清楚生态气候因子是否影响尼泊尔银胶菊Parthenium hysterophorus盛产区中银胶菊叶甲Zygogramma bicolorata成虫后代的形态学测量参数和基础生物学。【方法】 从尼泊尔Kathmandu (24℃, 海拔1 400 m, 温带气候), Chitwan (25℃, 海拔415 m, 热带或亚热带气候)和Mahendranagar (34℃, 海拔229 m, 湿润 亚热带气候)地区采集银胶菊叶甲成虫，在最适室内条件下评估各生态气候区中其F₁代4龄幼虫和雌成虫的取食特征。我们假定在自由取食和最适非生物条件下饲养的后代将不会受到食物和气温的间接影响，不管亲本属于哪一生态气候区，后代利用食物的能力一致。【结果】然而，我们发现，尽管在最适条件下饲养，银胶菊叶甲后代的体型和取食特征与其亲本相似。体型大的亲本(来自Kathmandu地区)，其后代体型也大，但是其食物利用效率比体型小的亲本(来自Chitwan和Mahendranagar地区)所产后代小。这3个生态气候区中，与幼虫相比正在发育的雌成虫均表现出体重增加而食物利用效率降低。【结论】这些发现说明，食物和最适非生物条件的间接影响可能不影响银胶菊叶甲后代的表型可塑性，后代的体型和取食特征与亲本相似。发生的可遗传的变化可能是由于种内的遗传多样性。我们期望这些发现有助于理解气候变化背景下银胶菊叶甲成虫的表型可塑性、分布格局和取食行为。

Phenotypic plasticity along altitudinalgradient affects thefeeding efficiency and development of the partheniumbeetle,Zygogramma bicolorata(Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)(In English)

【Aim】 The present study was designed to find out whether eco-climatic factorsaffect the morphometric parameters and basic biology of the progeny of the partheniumbeetle, Zygogramma bicolorata adults inhabiting the Parthenium hysterophorus abundantregions of Nepal. 【Methods】 Z. bicolorata adults were collected from Kathmandu (24℃, 1400 m above sea level, warm-temperate climate), Chitwan (25℃, 415 m above sea level,upper-tropical/sub-tropical climate) and Mahendranagar (34℃, 229 m above sea level,humid-subtropical climate) regions of Nepal, and the 4th instar larvae and adult femalesof the first generation (F₁) per eco-climatic zone were assessed for their feedingattributes under optimal laboratory conditions. We hypothesized that rearing the progenyunder ad libitum food and optimal abiotic conditions would nullify the indirect effect offood and temperature; and regardless of the eco-climatic regions to which parents belong,the progeny would utilize the food uniformly. 【Results】 We found that despite beingreared under optimal conditions, the progeny of Z. bicolorata displayed body size patternand feeding attributes similar to their parents. Offspring obtained from larger parents(Kathmandu) were large, but had lower food utilization efficiency than the progeny fromsmaller parents (Chitwan and Mahendranagar). Irrespective of the three eco-climaticregions, developing female adults were heavier and had reduced food utilization efficiencythan the larvae. 【Conclusion】 Present findings suggest that immediate effect of food andoptimal abiotic conditions may not affect the phenotypic plasticity of Z. bicolorataprogeny, and the progeny display body size pattern and feeding attributes similar to theparents. Possibly the heritable changes might be owing to genetic diversity within thespecies. We anticipate that such findings may be utilized to understand phenotypicplasticity, distribution pattern and feeding behaviour of Z. bicolorata adults underchanging climate scenario.