Post-glacial colonization of the Fennoscandian coast by a plant parasitic insect with an unusual life history.

ABSTRACT: Species that exhibit very peculiar ecological traits combined with limited dispersal ability pose a challenge to our understanding of ecological and evolutionary mechanisms. This is especially true when they have managed to spread over long distances, overcome physical barriers, and colonize large areas. Climate and landscape changes, trophic web relations, as well as life history all interact to shape migration routes and present-day species distributions and their population genetic structures. Here we analyzed the post-glacial colonization of northern Europe by the gall midge Contarinia vincetoxici, which is a monophagous parasite on the perennial herb White swallowwort (Vincetoxicum hirundinaria). This insect not only has a narrow feeding niche but also limited dispersal

SUBMITTER: Solbreck C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10111174 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature