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Wax, sex and the origin of species: Dual roles of insect cuticular hydrocarbons in adaptation and mating
Author(s) -
Chung Henry,
Carroll Sean B.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
bioessays
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.175
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1521-1878
pISSN - 0265-9247
DOI - 10.1002/bies.201500014
Subject(s) - reproductive isolation , biology , insect , mating , ecological speciation , adaptation (eye) , evolutionary biology , desiccation , ecology , arthropod , genetic algorithm , sexual selection , gene , genetics , gene flow , population , demography , neuroscience , sociology , genetic variation
Evolutionary changes in traits that affect both ecological divergence and mating signals could lead to reproductive isolation and the formation of new species. Insect cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) are potential examples of such dual traits. They form a waxy layer on the cuticle of the insect to maintain water balance and prevent desiccation, while also acting as signaling molecules in mate recognition and chemical communication. Because the synthesis of these hydrocarbons in insect oenocytes occurs through a common biochemical pathway, natural or sexual selection on one role may affect the other. In this review, we explore how ecological divergence in insect CHCs can lead to divergence in mating signals and reproductive isolation. We suggest that the evolution of insect CHCs may be ripe models for understanding ecological speciation.