DOI
10.1111/jbi.14005
Abstract
Aim
Invasive species are ideal systems for testing geographical differences in performance traits and measuring evolutionary responses as a species spreads across divergent climates and habitats. The European gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Erebidae), is a generalist forest defoliator introduced to Medford, Massachusetts, USA in 1869. The invasion front extends from Minnesota to North Carolina and the ability of this species to adapt to local climate may contribute to its continuing spread. We evaluated the performance of populations along the climatic gradient of the invasion front to test for a relationship between climate and ecologically important performance traits.
Location
Eastern United States of America
Taxon
Lymantria dispar dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Erebidae)
Methods
Insects from 14 populations across the US invasion front and interior of the invasive range were reared from hatch to adult emergence in six constant temperature treatments. The responses of survival, pupal mass and larval development time were analysed as a function of source climate (annual mean normal temperature), rearing temperature and their interaction using multiple polynomial regression.
Results
With the exception of female development time, there were no significant interactions between source climate and rearing temperature, indicating little divergence in the shape of thermal reaction norms among populations. Source population and rearing temperature were significant predictors of survival and pupal mass. Independent of rearing temperature, populations from warmer climates had lower survival than those from colder climates, but attained larger body size despite similar development times. Larval development time was dependent on rearing temperature, but there were not consistent relationships with source climate.
Main Conclusions
Thermal adaptation can be an important factor shaping the spread of invasive species, particularly in the context of climate change. Our results suggest that L. d. dispar is highly plastic, but has undergone climate-related adaptation in thermal performance and life-history traits as it spread across North America.
Document Type
Post-print Article
Publication Date
11-8-2020
Publisher Statement
Copyright © 2020, Journal of Biogeography.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14005
The definitive version is available at: Wiley Online Library.
Recommended Citation
Thompson, Lily M., Sean D. Powers, Ashley Appolon, Petra Hafker, Lelia Milner, Dylan Parry, Salvatore J. Agosta, and Kristine L. Grayson. “Climate-Related Geographical Variation in Performance Traits across the Invasion Front of a Widespread Non-Native Insect.” Journal of Biogeography, Online First (November 8, 2020). https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.14005.