dc.contributor.author |
Malod, Kevin
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Archer, C. Ruth
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Karsten, Minette
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Cruywagen, Ruben
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Howard, Alexandra
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Nicolson, Sue W.
|
|
dc.contributor.author |
Weldon, Christopher William
|
|
dc.date.accessioned |
2021-04-08T10:37:00Z |
|
dc.date.available |
2021-04-08T10:37:00Z |
|
dc.date.issued |
2020-03-27 |
|
dc.description.abstract |
In herbivorous insects, the degree of host specialisation may be one ecological factor that shapes
lifespan. Because host specialists can only exploit a limited number of plants, their lifecycle should be
synchronised with host phenology to allow reproduction when suitable hosts are available. For species
not undergoing diapause or dormancy, one strategy to achieve this could be evolving long lifespans.
From a physiological perspective, oxidative stress could explain how lifespan is related to degree of host
specialisation. Oxidative stress caused by Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) might help underpin ageing
(the Free Radical Theory of Aging (FRTA)) and mediate differences in lifespan. Here, we investigated
how lifespan is shaped by the degree of host specialisation, phylogeny, oxidative damage accumulation
and antioxidant protection in eight species of true fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). We found that
lifespan was not constrained by species relatedness or oxidative damage (arguing against the FRTA);
nevertheless, average lifespan was positively associated with antioxidant protection. There was no
lifespan difference between generalist and specialist species, but most of the tephritids studied had
long lifespans in comparison with other dipterans. Long lifespan may be a trait under selection in fruitfeeding
insects that do not use diapause. |
en_ZA |
dc.description.department |
Zoology and Entomology |
en_ZA |
dc.description.librarian |
am2021 |
en_ZA |
dc.description.sponsorship |
We thank Dr. Esther du Rand for assistance in designing the protocol for biochemical assays, Dr. Herman
Bosman and Dr. Costas Zachariades who helped to find fruit, and Nina Parry and Petrus Roets for contributing
to experiment maintenance. Wade Barkhuizen provided field assistance. K.M. was supported by a National
Research Foundation grantholder-linked doctoral bursary associated with a Competitive Programme for Rated
Researchers grant awarded to C.W.W., C.R.A. and S.W.N. (No:93686). |
en_ZA |
dc.description.uri |
http://www.nature.com/srep |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.citation |
Malod, K, Archer, CR & Karsten, M 2020, 'Exploring the role of host
specialisation and oxidative stress
in interspecific lifespan variation in
subtropical tephritid flies', Scientific Reports, vol. 10, no. 5601, pp. 1-11. |
en_ZA |
dc.identifier.issn |
2045-2322 (online) |
|
dc.identifier.other |
10.1038/s41598-020-62538-2 |
|
dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/79353 |
|
dc.language.iso |
en |
en_ZA |
dc.publisher |
Nature Publishing Group |
en_ZA |
dc.rights |
© The Author(s) 2020. Open Access. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
License. |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Oxidative stress |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Lifespan |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Free radical theory of aging (FRTA) |
en_ZA |
dc.subject |
Subtropical tephritid flies |
en_ZA |
dc.title |
Exploring the role of host specialisation and oxidative stress in interspecific lifespan variation in subtropical tephritid flies |
en_ZA |
dc.type |
Article |
en_ZA |