A Genomic Perspective on the Generation and Maintenance of Genetic Diversity in Herbivorous Insects

Understanding the processes that generate and maintain genetic variation within populations is a central goal in evolutionary biology. Theory predicts that some of this variation is maintained as a consequence of adapting to variable habitats. Studies in herbivorous insects have played a key role in...

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Published inAnnual review of ecology, evolution, and systematics Vol. 47; no. 1; pp. 165 - 187
Main Authors Gloss, Andrew D, Groen, Simon C, Whiteman, Noah K
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Annual Reviews 01.11.2016
Annual Reviews, Inc
Subjects
Adaptation
Biodiversity
Evolutionary biology
evolutionary genomics
experimental evolution
Genetic diversity
genetic variation
Genomics
Herbivores
Insects
local adaptation
plant-herbivore interactions
population genomics
Genetic Variation
Experimental Evolution
Population Genomics
Plant-Herbivore Interactions
Evolutionary Genomics
Local Adaptation
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Summary:Understanding the processes that generate and maintain genetic variation within populations is a central goal in evolutionary biology. Theory predicts that some of this variation is maintained as a consequence of adapting to variable habitats. Studies in herbivorous insects have played a key role in confirming this prediction. Here, we highlight theoretical and conceptual models for the maintenance of genetic diversity in herbivorous insects, empirical genomic studies testing these models, and pressing questions within the realm of evolutionary and functional genomic studies. To address key gaps, we propose an integrative approach combining population genomic scans for adaptation, genome-wide characterization of targets of selection through experimental manipulations, mapping the genetic architecture of traits influencing fitness, and functional studies. We also stress the importance of studying the maintenance of genetic variation across biological scales-from variation within populations to divergence among populations-to form a comprehensive view of adaptation in herbivorous insects.
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Present address: Department of Biology and Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University, New York, New York
ISSN:1543-592X
1545-2069
DOI:10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-121415-032220