Abstract
The hypothesis that the morphological, physiological, and behavioral traits comprising the migratory syndrome in insects are genetically correlated through pleiotropic effects of genes controlling the titre of a common hormonal determinant is explored. Evidence that juvenile hormone (JH) influences the component traits of the migratory syndrome is presented, and thus JH is assumed to be the underlying, common determinant. However, readers are cautioned that this does not imply that JH is solely responsible for these traits, nor is this necessary for the arguments presented. For wing dimorphic taxa, the “correlated traits hypothesis” predicts covariance within wing morphs between JH titre and the proportion winged. Four simple genetic models for wing-morph determination are considered: single-locus with short-winged (SW) dominant; single-locus with long-winged (LW) dominant; polygenic, fixed threshold, shifting distribution; and polygenic, shifting threshold, fixed distribution. In each case, wing morphology is assumed to be a threshold trait with the liability being JH titre at some critical stage of development. All models predict covariation between %LW and the mean JH titre of at least one of the wing morphs, but the form and direction of the relationship depends critically on the genetic model used. The results suggest that we should expect the traits associated with the migratory syndrome, and hence the trade-offs associated with the evolution of wing dimorphism, to be correlated with proportion winged and, in this sense, to be frequency-dependent.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Dingle, H. (1985) Migration and life histories. pp. 27–44.In M. A. Rankin (ed.),Migration: mechanisms and adaptive significance. Contributions to Marine Science 27 (suppl.).
Fairbairn, D. J. (1986) Does alary polymorphism imply dispersal polymorphism in the waterstrider,Gerris remigis? Ecol. Entomol.11: 355–368.
Fairbairn, D. J. (1992) The origins of allometry: size and shape polymorphism in the common waterstrider,Gerris remigis Say (Heteroptera, Gerridae).Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 45: 167–186.
Fairbairn, D. J. and T. C. Butler (1990) Correlated traits for migration in the Gerridae (Hemiptera, Heteroptera): A field test.Ecol. Entomol. 15: 131–142.
Fairbairn, D. J. and L. Desranleau (1987) Flight threshold, wing muscle histolysis, and alary polymorphism: correlated traits for dispersal tendency in the Gerridae.Ecol. Entomol. 12: 13–24.
Fairbairn, D. J. and D. A. Roff (1990) Genetic correlations among traits determining migratory tendency in the sand cricket,Gryllus firmus.Evolution 44: 1787–1795.
Falconer, D. S. (1989)Introduction to quantitative genetics, 3rd ed., Longman, New York.
Hardie, J. and A. D. Lees (1985) Endocrine control of polymorphism. pp. 441–491In G. A. Kerkut and L. I. Gilbert (eds.)Comprehensive insect physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. Vol. 8, Endochrinology II. Pergamon Press, Toronto.
Harrison, R. G. (1980) Dispersal polymorphism in insects.Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 11: 95–118.
Kaitala, A. (1988) Wing muscle dimorphism: two reproductive pathways of the waterstriderGerris thoracicus in relation to habitat instability.Oikos 53: 222–228.
Mole, S., and A. J. Zera (1993) Differential allocation of resources underlies the dispersal-reproduction trade-off in the wing-dimorphic cricket,Gryllus rubens.Oecologia 93: 121–127.
Palmer, J. O. (1985) Ecological genetics of wing length, flight propensity and early fecundity in a migratory insect. pp. 663–673.In M. A. Rankin (ed.)Migration: mechanisms and adaptive significance. Contributions to Marine Science,27 (Supplement).
Pener, M. P. (1985) Hormonal effects on flight and migration. pp. 491–550.In G. A. Kerkut and L. I. Gilbert (eds.)Comprehensive insect physiology, biochemistry and pharmacology. Vol. 8, Endochrinology II. Pergamon Press, Toronto.
Rankin, M. A. and M. C. Singer (1984) Insect movement: mechanisms and effects. pp. 185–216.In C. B. Huffaker and R. L. Rabb (eds.),Ecological entomology, John Wiley and Sons, New York.
Roff, D. a. (1986) The evolution of wing dimorphism in insects.Evolution 40: 1009–1020.
Roff, D. A. (1990a) Selection for changes in the incidence of wing dimorphism inGryllus firmus.Heredity 65: 163–168.
Roff, D. A. (1990b) Antagonistic pleiotropy and the evolution of wing dimorphism in the sand cricket,Gryllus firmus.Heredity 65: 169–177.
Roff, D. A. (1994) Evidence that the magnitude of the trade-off in a dichotomous trait is frequency-dependent.Evolution (in press)
Roff, D. A. and D. J. Fairbairn (1991) Wing dimorphisms and the evolution of migratory polymorphisms among the Insecta.Amer. Zool. 31: 243–251.
Southwood, T. R. E. (1961) A hormonal theory of the mechanism of wing polymorphism in Heteroptera.Proc. Roy. Entomol. Soc. Lond. A 36: 63–66.
Srihari, T., Gutman, E. and V. J. A. Novak (1975) Effect of ecdysterone and juvenoid on the developmental involution of flight muscles inAcheta domestica.J. Insect. Physiol. 21: 1–8.
Wagner, D. L. and J. K. Liebherr (1992) Flightlessness in insects.Trends Ecol. Evol. 7: 216–220.
Wigglesworth, V. B. (1961) Insect polymorphism—a tentative synthesis.Symp. Roy. Entomol. Soc. Lond. 1: 103–113.
Yadlowski, D. E. (1994) Juvenile hormone esterase and correlated responses to selection: the physiological basis of wing dimorphism in the sand cricket,Gryllus firmus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae). M. Sc. Thesis, Department of Biology, Concordia University, Montreal.
Zeng, Z. (1988) Long-term correlated response, interpopulation covariation, and interspecific allometry.Evolution 42: 363–374.
Zera, A. J. and M. A. Rankin (1989) Wing dimorphism inGryllus rubens: genetic basis of morph determination and fertility differences between morphs.Oecologia 80: 249–255.
Zera, A. J. and K. Tiebel (1989) Differences in juvenile hormone esterase activity between presumptive macropterous and brachypterousGryllus rubens: implications for the hormonal control of wing polymorphism.J. Insect Physiol. 35: 7–17.
Zera, A. J. and S. S. Tobe (1990) Juvenile hormone-III biosynthesis in presumptive long-winged and short-wingedGryllus rubens: implications for the endocrine regulation of wing dimorphism.J. Insect Physiol. 36: 271–280.
Zera, A. J., Strambi, C., Tiebel, K. C., Strambi, A. and M. A. Rankin (1989) Juvenile hormone and ecdysteroid titres during critical periods of wing morph determination inGryllus rubens.J. Insect Physiol. 35: 501–511.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fairbairn, D.J. Wing dimorphism and the migratory syndrome: Correlated traits for migratory tendency in wing dimorphic insects. Res Popul Ecol 36, 157–163 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02514931
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02514931