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Palmera-Castrillon K, Junqueira CN, Toci AT, Augusto SC. Complexity of the Male Perfume of Eulaema nigrita from Forest and Woody Physiognomies of the Brazilian Savanna: Is There a Relationship with Body Size and Wing Wear? NEOTROPICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 53:330-341. [PMID: 38228817 DOI: 10.1007/s13744-023-01117-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
Male orchid bees collect volatile and semi-volatile compounds from the environment for storage and accumulation in specialized hind legs. Later, these compounds form a perfume blend used during courtship to lure conspecific females for mating. Male orchid bees perfume has been suggested to play an important role as a sexual signaling trait involved in pre-mating isolation of species, functioning as an indicator of male genetic quality. Eulaema nigrita Lepeletier (Apidae: Euglossini) is a common species in both forested and woody savanna (Cerrado stricto sensu) physiognomies of the Brazilian savanna biome. By identifying the chemical composition of male E. nigrita perfume, we tested for differences in the bouquet chemical profile in populations from remnants of seasonal semideciduous forest and woody savanna. In addition, we assessed the relation between perfume complexity and morphological traits associated with size and age of males. Our analysis showed a low effect of physiognomies on differences in the perfume chemical profile of sampled males. Nevertheless, we observed significant differences in the chemical profile of individuals from two seasonal semideciduous forest remnants, which suggests an environmental effect in individual bouquet. Wing wear measurements were positively related to perfume complexity, consistent with the premise that perfumes from older individuals are indicators of survival capacity in male orchid bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Palmera-Castrillon
- Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Depto de Biologia, Univ de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Aline Theodoro Toci
- Instituto Latino-Americano de Ciências da Vida E da Natureza, Univ Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, Foz Do Iguaçu, Paraná, Brazil
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2
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Henske J, Eltz T. Age-dependent perfume development in male orchid bees, Euglossa imperialis. J Exp Biol 2024; 227:jeb246995. [PMID: 38511547 PMCID: PMC11006377 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.246995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Male neotropical orchid bees concoct complex perfume blends by collecting exogenous volatiles from various sources, including orchids. These perfumes, stored in specialized hind-leg pouches and released during courtship, serve as inter-sexual signals. It has been hypothesized that male perfumes honestly indicate aspects of male fitness. If perfume traits such as quantity or complexity increase over individual lifetime, perfumes could reflect age (survival) and cumulative foraging success of males. We conducted a two-season mark-recapture study with Euglossa imperialis in Costa Rica, monitoring the balance of perfume uptake and expenditure over individual male lifetime. We sealed one hind-leg pouch upon initial capture, 'freezing' the perfume status on one side, and compared it with the other side at recapture to assess changes in perfume traits over time. Additionally, we used a novel method to estimate individual age by combining two parameters of wing degradation. Contrary to predictions, young to intermediate-aged bees had the highest quantities of perfume and the highest diversity of detected compounds. At the same time, the change in perfume between recaptures was positive (increase in amount and complexity) in young bees, whereas it was neutral to negative in older bees. Although these findings do not disprove an indicator function of male perfume, they shift the emphasis to non-cumulative fitness components such as sensory acuteness or cognitive capacity as likely targets of selection. Females preferring strong perfume signals in mates would maximize speed of foraging in offspring rather than their lifetime cumulative yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Henske
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Eltz
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, 44801 Bochum, Germany
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3
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Jarrett BJM, Miller CW. Host Plant Effects on Sexual Selection Dynamics in Phytophagous Insects. ANNUAL REVIEW OF ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 69:41-57. [PMID: 37562047 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-ento-022823-020258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Natural selection is notoriously dynamic in nature, and so, too, is sexual selection. The interactions between phytophagous insects and their host plants have provided valuable insights into the many ways in which ecological factors can influence sexual selection. In this review, we highlight recent discoveries and provide guidance for future work in this area. Importantly, host plants can affect both the agents of sexual selection (e.g., mate choice and male-male competition) and the traits under selection (e.g., ornaments and weapons). Furthermore, in our rapidly changing world, insects now routinely encounter new potential host plants. The process of adaptation to a new host may be hindered or accelerated by sexual selection, and the unexplored evolutionary trajectories that emerge from these dynamics are relevant to pest management and insect conservation strategies. Examining the effects of host plants on sexual selection has the potential to advance our fundamental understanding of sexual conflict, host range evolution, and speciation, with relevance across taxa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin J M Jarrett
- School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, United Kingdom;
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA;
| | - Christine W Miller
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA;
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4
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Ayasse M. Chemical ecology: Male orchid bees attract females with environmental-derived perfumes in courtship display. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R405-R407. [PMID: 37220732 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Are male orchid bees the 'chemical peacocks' of the insect world? A new study on orchid bees shows that perfumes of males do indeed have a comparable function as a peacock's tail to increase male mating success and paternity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manfred Ayasse
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein Allee 11, D-89081 Ulm, Germany.
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5
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Henske J, Saleh NW, Chouvenc T, Ramírez SR, Eltz T. Function of environment-derived male perfumes in orchid bees. Curr Biol 2023; 33:2075-2080.e3. [PMID: 37054713 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.03.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
Perfume making in male orchid bees is a unique behavior that has given rise to an entire pollination syndrome in the neotropics.1,2 Male orchid bees concoct and store species-specific perfume mixtures in specialized hind-leg pockets3 using volatiles acquired from multiple environmental sources, including orchid flowers.4,5 However, the function and the ultimate causes of this behavior have remained elusive.2,6 Although previous observations suggested that male perfumes serve as chemical signals, the attractiveness for females has not be shown.7,8 Here, we demonstrate that the possession of perfume increases male mating success and paternity in Euglossa dilemma, a species of orchid bees recently naturalized in Florida. We supplemented males reared from trap-nests with perfume loads harvested from wild conspecifics. In dual-choice experiments, males supplemented with perfumes mated with more females, and sired more offspring, than untreated, equal-aged, control males. Although perfume supplementation had little effect on the intensity of male courtship display, it changed the dynamics of male-male interactions. Our results demonstrate that male-acquired perfumes are sexual signals that stimulate females for mating and suggest that sexual selection is key in shaping the evolution of perfume communication in orchid bees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Henske
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, NRW 44801, Germany.
| | - Nicholas W Saleh
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA
| | - Thomas Chouvenc
- Entomology and Nematology Department, Fort Lauderdale Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Davie, FL 33314, USA
| | - Santiago R Ramírez
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Thomas Eltz
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum, NRW 44801, Germany
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6
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Darragh K, Linden TA, Ramírez SR. Seasonal stability and species specificity of environmentally acquired chemical mating signals in orchid bees. J Evol Biol 2023; 36:675-686. [PMID: 36820763 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
Traits that mediate reproductive isolation between species, such as those involved in mate choice and/or recognition, are predicted to experience stabilizing selection towards the species mean. Male orchid bees collect chemical compounds from many sources, such as plants and fungi, which they use as a perfume signal (pheromone) during courtship display, and are suggested to contribute to reproductive isolation between species. Environmentally acquired signals are more prone to variation as source availability can vary through space and time. If orchid bee perfumes are important for reproductive isolation between species, we expect them to exhibit stable species-specific differences in time and space. Here, we describe phenotypic patterns of inter- and intraspecific variation in the male perfumes of three sympatric species of Euglossa orchid bees across an entire year, investigating both their seasonality and species specificity. Our analysis revealed considerable within-species variation in perfumes. However, species specificity was maintained consistently throughout the year, supporting the idea that these perfumes could play an important role in reproductive isolation and are experiencing stabilizing selection towards a species mean. Our analysis also identified strong correlations in the abundance of some compounds, possibly due to shared collection sources between species. Our study suggests that orchid bee perfumes are robust in the face of environmental changes in resource availability and thus can maintain reproductive isolation between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathy Darragh
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Tess A Linden
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Santiago R Ramírez
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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Brand P, Hinojosa-Díaz IA, Ayala R, Daigle M, Yurrita Obiols CL, Eltz T, Ramírez SR. The evolution of sexual signaling is linked to odorant receptor tuning in perfume-collecting orchid bees. Nat Commun 2020; 11:244. [PMID: 31932598 PMCID: PMC6957680 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-14162-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual signaling is an important reproductive barrier known to evolve early during the formation of new species, but the genetic mechanisms that facilitate the divergence of sexual signals remain elusive. Here we isolate a gene linked to the rapid evolution of a signaling trait in a pair of nascent neotropical orchid bee lineages, Euglossa dilemma and E. viridissima. Male orchid bees acquire chemical compounds from their environment to concoct species-specific perfumes to later expose during courtship. We find that the two lineages acquire chemically distinct perfumes and are reproductively isolated despite low levels of genome-wide differentiation. Remarkably, variation in perfume chemistry coincides with rapid divergence in few odorant receptor (OR) genes. Using functional assays, we demonstrate that the derived variant of Or41 in E. dilemma is specific towards its species-specific major perfume compound, whereas the ancestral variant in E. viridissima is broadly tuned to multiple odorants. Our results show that OR evolution likely played a role in the divergence of sexual communication in natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Brand
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, Center for Population Biology, University of California, 1 Shields Avenue, 95616, Davis, California, USA.
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology and Behavior, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, 10065, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Ismael A Hinojosa-Díaz
- Departamento de Zoología, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Tercer Circuito s/n Ciudad Universitaria Delegación Coyoacán, Apartado Postal 70-153, Ciudad de México, 04510, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Ayala
- Estación de Biología Chamela, Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Apartado Postal 21, San Patricio, Jalisco, 48980, Mexico
| | - Michael Daigle
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, Center for Population Biology, University of California, 1 Shields Avenue, 95616, Davis, California, USA
| | - Carmen L Yurrita Obiols
- Centro de Estudios Conservacionistas, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, Avenida La Reforma, 0-63, Guatemala, 01000, Guatemala
| | - Thomas Eltz
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Santiago R Ramírez
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, Center for Population Biology, University of California, 1 Shields Avenue, 95616, Davis, California, USA.
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8
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Stored perfume dynamics and consequences for signal development in male orchid bees. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2019; 205:311-320. [PMID: 30725162 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-019-01319-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Male orchid bees (Euglossini) collect volatiles from their environment to concoct species-specific "perfumes", which are later emitted at mating sites. Intensity, complexity or composition of perfumes may encode age (survival) of a male, but how the individual perfume develops over time needs to be clarified. We investigated chemical changes during storage in leg pockets. We injected a mixture of eight perfume compounds into pockets of Euglossa imperialis and only the two most volatile compounds decreased over 12 days. Using a different approach we found significant shifts in quantities of naturally occurring perfume compounds of Euglossa championi over 10 days, with the strongest decreases (up to 70% peak area) in highly volatile minor compounds, e.g. monoterpenes, and noteworthy increases (up to 40%) in some sesquiterpenoids. Corresponding shifts were observed in legs of dried bees, suggesting that no metabolic activity is required for the observed changes to occur. Our results confirm that male orchid bees are generally good at preserving collected perfumes. However, subtle shifts towards heavier compounds in blends may occur over the lifetime of individual bees, e.g. due to evaporation or in-pocket chemical reaction, with old males acquiring a more pronounced base note in their seasoned perfumes.
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9
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Giangarelli DC, Sofia SH. Foraging patterns and artificial fragrance choices of male orchid bees in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. J NAT HIST 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/00222933.2018.1545950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Silvia Helena Sofia
- Laboratório de Genética e Ecologia Animal, Departamento de Biologia Geral, CCB, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
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10
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6-(4-Methylpent-3-en-1-yl)naphthalene-1,4-dione, a behaviorally active semivolatile in tibial perfumes of orchid bees. CHEMOECOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00049-018-0264-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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11
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Yohe LR, Brand P. Evolutionary ecology of chemosensation and its role in sensory drive. Curr Zool 2018; 64:525-533. [PMID: 30108633 PMCID: PMC6084603 DOI: 10.1093/cz/zoy048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
All behaviors of an organism are rooted in sensory processing of signals from its environment, and natural selection shapes sensory adaptations to ensure successful detection of cues that maximize fitness. Sensory drive, or divergent selection for efficient signal transmission among heterogeneous environments, has been a useful hypothesis for describing sensory adaptations, but its current scope has primarily focused on visual and acoustic sensory modalities. Chemosensation, the most widespread sensory modality in animals that includes the senses of smell and taste, is characterized by rapid evolution and has been linked to sensory adaptations to new environments in numerous lineages. Yet, olfaction and gustation have been largely underappreciated in light of the sensory drive hypothesis. Here, we examine why chemosensory systems have been overlooked and discuss the potential of chemosensation to shed new insight on the sensory drive hypothesis and vice versa. We provide suggestions for developing a framework to better incorporate studies of chemosensory adaptation that have the potential to shape a more complete, coherent, and holistic interpretation of the sensory drive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurel R Yohe
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Geology & Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Philipp Brand
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
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Brand P, Ramírez SR. The Evolutionary Dynamics of the Odorant Receptor Gene Family in Corbiculate Bees. Genome Biol Evol 2018; 9:2023-2036. [PMID: 28854688 PMCID: PMC5597890 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evx149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Insects rely on chemical information to locate food, choose mates, and detect potential predators. It has been hypothesized that adaptive changes in the olfactory system facilitated the diversification of numerous insect lineages. For instance, evolutionary changes of Odorant Receptor (OR) genes often occur in parallel with modifications in life history strategies. Corbiculate bees display a diverse array of behaviors that are controlled through olfaction, including varying degrees of social organization, and manifold associations with floral resources. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms driving the evolution of the OR gene family in corbiculate bees in comparison to other chemosensory gene families. Our results indicate that the genomic organization of the OR gene family has remained highly conserved for ∼80 Myr, despite exhibiting major changes in repertoire size among bee lineages. Moreover, the evolution of OR genes appears to be driven mostly by lineage-specific gene duplications in few genomic regions that harbor large numbers of OR genes. A selection analysis revealed that OR genes evolve under positive selection, with the strongest signals detected in recently duplicated copies. Our results indicate that chromosomal translocations had a minimal impact on OR evolution, and instead local molecular mechanisms appear to be main drivers of OR repertoire size. Our results provide empirical support to the longstanding hypothesis that positive selection shaped the diversification of the OR gene family. Together, our results shed new light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the evolution of olfaction in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Brand
- Department for Evolution and Ecology, Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis.,Population Biology Graduate Group, Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis
| | - Santiago R Ramírez
- Department for Evolution and Ecology, Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis
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13
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Mitko L, Weber MG, Ramirez SR, Hedenström E, Wcislo WT, Eltz T. Olfactory specialization for perfume collection in male orchid bees. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 219:1467-75. [PMID: 27207952 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.136754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Insects rely on the olfactory system to detect a vast diversity of airborne molecules in their environment. Highly sensitive olfactory tuning is expected to evolve when detection of a particular chemical with great precision is required in the context of foraging and/or finding mates. Male neotropical orchid bees (Euglossini) collect odoriferous substances from multiple sources, store them in specialized tibial pouches and later expose them at display sites, presumably as mating signals to females. Previous analysis of tibial compounds among sympatric species revealed substantial chemical disparity in chemical composition among lineages with outstanding divergence between closely related species. Here, we tested whether specific perfume phenotypes coevolve with matching olfactory adaptations in male orchid bees to facilitate the location and harvest of species-specific perfume compounds. We conducted electroantennographic (EAG) measurements on males of 15 sympatric species in the genus Euglossa that were stimulated with 18 compounds present in variable proportions in male hind tibiae. Antennal response profiles were species-specific across all 15 species, but there was no conspicuous differentiation between closely related species. Instead, we found that the observed variation in EAG activity follows a Brownian motion model of trait evolution, where the probability of differentiation increases proportionally with lineage divergence time. However, we identified strong antennal responses for some chemicals that are present as major compounds in the perfume of the same species, thus suggesting that sensory specialization has occurred within multiple lineages. This sensory specialization was particularly apparent for semi-volatile molecules ('base note' compounds), thus supporting the idea that such compounds play an important role in chemical signaling of euglossine bees. Overall, our study found no close correspondence between antennal responses and behavioral preferences/tibial contents, but confirms the utility of EAG profiling for discovering certain behaviorally active compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Mitko
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
| | - Marjorie G Weber
- The Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Santiago R Ramirez
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Erik Hedenström
- Chemistry, Department of Natural Sciences, Engineering and Mathematics, Mid Sweden University, Sundsvall SE-851 70, Sweden
| | - William T Wcislo
- Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Apartado 0843-03092, Balboa, Ancon, Republic of Panama
| | - Thomas Eltz
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Bochum 44780, Germany
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15
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Weber MG, Mitko L, Eltz T, Ramírez SR. Macroevolution of perfume signalling in orchid bees. Ecol Lett 2016; 19:1314-1323. [PMID: 27581155 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 07/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Theory predicts that both stabilising selection and diversifying selection jointly contribute to the evolution of sexual signalling traits by (1) maintaining the integrity of communication signals within species and (2) promoting the diversification of traits among lineages. However, for many important signalling traits, little is known about whether these dynamics translate into predictable macroevolutionary signatures. Here, we test for macroevolutionary patterns consistent with sexual signalling theory in the perfume signals of neotropical orchid bees, a group well studied for their chemical sexual communication. Our results revealed both high species-specificity and elevated rates of evolution in perfume signals compared to nonsignalling traits. Perfume complexity was correlated with the number of congeners in a species' range, suggesting that perfume evolution may be tied to the remarkably high number of orchid bee species coexisting together in some neotropical communities. Finally, sister-pair comparisons were consistent with both rapid divergence at speciation and character displacement upon secondary contact. Together, our results provide new insight into the macroevolution of sexual signalling in insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marjorie G Weber
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
| | - Lukasz Mitko
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Thomas Eltz
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, University of Bochum, 44780, Bochum, Germany
| | - Santiago R Ramírez
- Center for Population Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA. .,Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA.
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16
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Hetherington-Rauth MC, Ramírez SR. Evolution and diversity of floral scent chemistry in the euglossine bee-pollinated orchid genus Gongora. ANNALS OF BOTANY 2016; 118:135-48. [PMID: 27240855 PMCID: PMC4934395 DOI: 10.1093/aob/mcw072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/16/2016] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED • BACKGROUND AND AIMS Animal-pollinated angiosperms have evolved a variety of signalling mechanisms to attract pollinators. Floral scent is a key component of pollinator attraction, and its chemistry modulates both pollinator behaviour and the formation of plant-pollinator networks. The neotropical orchid genus Gongora exhibits specialized pollinator associations with male orchid bees (Euglossini). Male bees visit orchid flowers to collect volatile chemical compounds that they store in hind-leg pouches to use subsequently during courtship display. Hence, Gongora floral scent compounds simultaneously serve as signalling molecules and pollinator rewards. Furthermore, because floral scent acts as the predominant reproductive isolating barrier among lineages, it has been hypothesized that chemical traits are highly species specific. A comparative analysis of intra- and inter-specific variation of floral scent chemistry was conducted to investigate the evolutionary patterns across the genus. • METHODS Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to analyse the floral scent of 78 individuals belonging to 28 different species of Gongora from two of the three major lineages sampled across the neotropical region. Multidimensional scaling and indicator value analyses were implemented to investigate the patterns of chemical diversity within and among taxonomic groups at various geographic scales. Additionally, pollinator observations were conducted on a sympatric community of Gongora orchids exhibiting distinct floral scent phenotypes. • KEY RESULTS A total of 83 floral volatiles, mainly terpenes and aromatic compounds, were detected. Many of the identified compounds are common across diverse angiosperm families (e.g. cineole, eugenol, β-ocimene, β-pinene and terpinen-4-ol), while others are relatively rare outside euglossine bee-pollinated orchid lineages. Additionally, 29 volatiles were identified that are known to attract and elicit collection behaviour in male bees. Floral scent traits were less variable within species than between species, and the analysis revealed exceptional levels of cryptic diversity. Gongora species were divided into 15 fragrance groups based on shared compounds. Fragrance groups indicate that floral scent variation is not predicted by taxonomic rank or biogeographic region. • CONCLUSIONS Gongora orchids emit a diverse array of scent molecules that are largely species specific, and closely related taxa exhibit qualitatively and quantitatively divergent chemical profiles. It is shown that within a community, Gongora scent chemotypes are correlated with near non-overlapping bee pollinator assemblies. The results lend support to the hypothesis that floral scent traits regulate the architecture of bee pollinator associations. Thus, Gongora provides unique opportunities to examine the interplay between floral traits and pollinator specialization in plant-pollinator mutualisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly C Hetherington-Rauth
- Biology Department, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Santiago R Ramírez
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Brand P, Ramírez SR, Leese F, Quezada-Euan JJG, Tollrian R, Eltz T. Rapid evolution of chemosensory receptor genes in a pair of sibling species of orchid bees (Apidae: Euglossini). BMC Evol Biol 2015; 15:176. [PMID: 26314297 PMCID: PMC4552289 DOI: 10.1186/s12862-015-0451-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Insects rely more on chemical signals (semiochemicals) than on any other sensory modality to find, identify, and choose mates. In most insects, pheromone production is typically regulated through biosynthetic pathways, whereas pheromone sensory detection is controlled by the olfactory system. Orchid bees are exceptional in that their semiochemicals are not produced metabolically, but instead male bees collect odoriferous compounds (perfumes) from the environment and store them in specialized hind-leg pockets to subsequently expose during courtship display. Thus, the olfactory sensory system of orchid bees simultaneously controls male perfume traits (sender components) and female preferences (receiver components). This functional linkage increases the opportunities for parallel evolution of male traits and female preferences, particularly in response to genetic changes of chemosensory detection (e.g. Odorant Receptor genes). To identify whether shifts in pheromone composition among related lineages of orchid bees are associated with divergence in chemosensory genes of the olfactory periphery, we searched for patterns of divergent selection across the antennal transcriptomes of two recently diverged sibling species Euglossa dilemma and E. viridissima. Results We identified 3185 orthologous genes including 94 chemosensory loci from five different gene families (Odorant Receptors, Ionotropic Receptors, Gustatory Receptors, Odorant Binding Proteins, and Chemosensory Proteins). Our results revealed that orthologs with signatures of divergent selection between E. dilemma and E. viridissima were significantly enriched for chemosensory genes. Notably, elevated signals of divergent selection were almost exclusively observed among chemosensory receptors (i.e. Odorant Receptors). Conclusions Our results suggest that rapid changes in the chemosensory gene family occurred among closely related species of orchid bees. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that strong divergent selection acting on chemosensory receptor genes plays an important role in the evolution and diversification of insect pheromone systems. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12862-015-0451-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Brand
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, D-44801, Bochum, Germany. .,Department for Evolution and Ecology, Center for Population Biology, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, 95616, Davis, USA.
| | - Santiago R Ramírez
- Department for Evolution and Ecology, Center for Population Biology, University of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, 95616, Davis, USA.
| | - Florian Leese
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, D-44801, Bochum, Germany. .,Present address: Faculty of Biology, Aquatic Ecosystems Research, University of Duisburg and Essen, Universitätsstrasse 5, D-45141, Essen, Germany.
| | | | - Ralph Tollrian
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, D-44801, Bochum, Germany.
| | - Thomas Eltz
- Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity, Ruhr University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, D-44801, Bochum, Germany.
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Eltz T, Bause C, Hund K, Quezada-Euan JJG, Pokorny T. Correlates of perfume load in male orchid bees. CHEMOECOLOGY 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00049-015-0190-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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