Adaptive migratory orientation of an invasive pest on a new continent

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Chen, H., Wan, G., Li, J., Ma, Y., Reynolds, D. R., Dreyer, D., Warrant, E. J., Chapman, J. W. and Hu, G. 2023. Adaptive migratory orientation of an invasive pest on a new continent. iScience. 26 (12), p. 108281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.108281

AuthorsChen, H., Wan, G., Li, J., Ma, Y., Reynolds, D. R., Dreyer, D., Warrant, E. J., Chapman, J. W. and Hu, G.
Abstract

Many species of insects undertake long-range, seasonally reversed migrations, displaying sophisticated orientation behaviors to optimize their migratory trajectories. However, when invasive insects arrive in new biogeographical regions, it is unclear if migrants retain (or how quickly they regain) ancestral migratory traits, such as seasonally preferred flight headings. Here we present behavioral evidence that an invasive migratory pest, the fall armyworm moth (Spodoptera frugiperda), a native of the Americas, exhibited locally adaptive migratory orientation less than three years after arriving on a new continent. Specimens collected from China showed flight orientations directed north-northwest in spring and southwest in autumn, and this would promote seasonal forward and return migrations in East Asia. We also show that the driver of the seasonal switch in orientation direction is photoperiod. Our results thus provide a clear example of an invasive insect that has rapidly exhibited adaptive migratory behaviors, either inherited or newly evolved, in a completely alien environment.

KeywordsEcology ; Entomology; Evolutionary biology
Year of Publication2023
JournaliScience
Journal citation26 (12), p. 108281
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.108281
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Publisher's version
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online20 Nov 2023
Publication process dates
Accepted18 Oct 2023
PublisherCell Press

Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/98z4w/adaptive-migratory-orientation-of-an-invasive-pest-on-a-new-continent

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