Large-Scale Evolutionary Patterns of Host Plant Associations in the Lepidoptera

TY - JOUR

T1 - Large-Scale Evolutionary Patterns of Host Plant Associations in the Lepidoptera

AU - Menken, S.B.J.

AU - Boomsma, J.J.

AU - van Nieukerken, E.J.

PY - 2010/4

Y1 - 2010/4

N2 - We characterized evolutionary patterns of host plant use across about 2500 species of British Lepidoptera, using character optimization and independent phylogenetic contrasts among 95 operational taxa, and evaluated the extent to which caterpillars are monophagous, use woody host plants, and feed concealed. We also analyzed the use of different Angiosperm superorders and related these associations to other key variables. The Nepticulidae, Pterophoridae, and Gracillariidae allowed explicit comparisons between the British fauna and the Lepidoptera worldwide, which indicated that our broad categorizations for Britain are accurate predictors for the global fauna. The first (lower glossatan) radiation of the Lepidoptera started with monophagous, internal feeding on woody Eurosids I. Polyphagy on nonwoody Eurosids I evolved together with the ability to feed externally, but did initially not produce significant radiations. Exposed feeding became associated with radiations in the lower Ditrysia and Apoditrysia and remained correlated with more polyphagy, fewer woody host plants, and increasing use of other Angiosperm superorders. The macrolepidopteran radiation has frequent reversals to monophagy on woody Eurosids I, particularly in taxa that lost concealed feeding. We discuss the general implications of these results and address several key adaptations and constraints that have characterized the major transitions in lepidopteran life histories

AB - We characterized evolutionary patterns of host plant use across about 2500 species of British Lepidoptera, using character optimization and independent phylogenetic contrasts among 95 operational taxa, and evaluated the extent to which caterpillars are monophagous, use woody host plants, and feed concealed. We also analyzed the use of different Angiosperm superorders and related these associations to other key variables. The Nepticulidae, Pterophoridae, and Gracillariidae allowed explicit comparisons between the British fauna and the Lepidoptera worldwide, which indicated that our broad categorizations for Britain are accurate predictors for the global fauna. The first (lower glossatan) radiation of the Lepidoptera started with monophagous, internal feeding on woody Eurosids I. Polyphagy on nonwoody Eurosids I evolved together with the ability to feed externally, but did initially not produce significant radiations. Exposed feeding became associated with radiations in the lower Ditrysia and Apoditrysia and remained correlated with more polyphagy, fewer woody host plants, and increasing use of other Angiosperm superorders. The macrolepidopteran radiation has frequent reversals to monophagy on woody Eurosids I, particularly in taxa that lost concealed feeding. We discuss the general implications of these results and address several key adaptations and constraints that have characterized the major transitions in lepidopteran life histories

KW - Comparative analysis

KW - diet breadth

KW - external feeding

KW - Eurosids I

KW - phytophagous insects

KW - LEAF-MINING MOTHS

KW - HIGHER CLASSIFICATION

KW - ADAPTIVE RADIATION

KW - DIVERSIFICATION

KW - BUTTERFLIES

KW - CATERPILLAR

KW - COEVOLUTION

KW - PHYLOGENY

KW - RATES

U2 - 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00889.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1558-5646.2009.00889.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19895553

SN - 0014-3820

VL - 64

SP - 1098

EP - 1119

JO - Evolution

JF - Evolution

IS - 4

ER -