Intraspecific phytochemical variation shapes community and population structure for specialist caterpillars.
Chemically mediated plant-herbivore interactions contribute to the diversity of terrestrial communities and the diversification of plants and insects. While our understanding of the processes affecting community structure and evolutionary diversification has grown, few studies have investigated how trait variation shapes genetic and species diversity simultaneously in a tropical ecosystem. We investigated secondary metabolite variation among subpopulations of a single plant species, Piper kelleyi (Piperaceae), using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to understand associations between plant phytochemistry and host-specialized caterpillars in the genus Eois (Geometridae: Larentiinae) and associated parasitoid wasps and flies. In addition, we used a genotyping-by-sequencing approach to examine the genetic structure of one abundant caterpillar species, Eois encina, in relation to host phytochemical variation. We found substantive concentration differences among three major secondary metabolites, and these differences in chemistry predicted caterpillar and parasitoid community structure among host plant populations. Furthermore, E. encina populations located at high elevations were genetically different from other populations. They fed on plants containing high concentrations of prenylated benzoic acid. Thus, phytochemistry potentially shapes caterpillar and wasp community composition and geographic variation in species interactions, both of which can contribute to diversification of plants and insects.
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Andrea E
0000-0003-3286-5642
AE
Glassmire
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.|Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Christopher S
CS
Jeffrey
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Matthew L
ML
Forister
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Thomas L
TL
Parchman
Department of Biology, Texas State University, 601 University Dr., San Marcos, TX, 78666, USA.
Chris C
CC
Nice
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Joshua P
JP
Jahner
Department of Biology, Utah State University Tooele, 1021 W Vine St, Toole, UT, 84074, USA.
Joseph S
JS
Wilson
Department of Biology, Colorado Mesa University, 1100 N. Ave, Grand Junction, CO, 81501, USA.|Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales del Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad Ecuador, Rumipamba 341 y Av. Shyris., Quito, Ecuador.
Thomas R
TR
Walla
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Lora A
LA
Richards
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Angela M
AM
Smilanich
Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Michael D
MD
Leonard
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Colin R
CR
Morrison
Yanayacu Biological Station, Cosanga, Napo Province, Ecuador.
Wilmer
W
Simbaña
Yanayacu Biological Station, Cosanga, Napo Province, Ecuador.
Luis A
LA
Salagaje
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.|Department of Chemistry, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Craig D
CD
Dodson
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.
Jim S
JS
Miller
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cincinnati, 318 College Dr, Cincinnati, OH, 45221, USA.
Eric J
EJ
Tepe
Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales del Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad Ecuador, Rumipamba 341 y Av. Shyris., Quito, Ecuador.
Santiago
S
Villamarin-Cortez
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, 1664 N. Virginia St, Reno, NV, 89557, USA.|Museo Ecuatoriano de Ciencias Naturales del Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad Ecuador, Rumipamba 341 y Av. Shyris., Quito, Ecuador.
Lee A
LA
Dyer
D000818:Animals; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007915:Lepidoptera / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D010271:Parasites / Q000502:physiology; D064209:Phytochemicals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D026321:Piperaceae / Q000469:parasitology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D013045:Species Specificity
D064209:Phytochemicals
Eois; Piper; chemical interactions; community structure; multi-trophic; phytochemical variation; population diversification