Ambulatory dispersal in Tetranychus urticae: an artificial selection experiment on propensity to disperse yields no response.

ABSTRACT: Dispersal to new hosts is an important process for an invasive herbivore, such as the two-spotted spider mite. A recent study, using artificial selection experiments, has suggested that genetic variation and genetic trade-offs are present for propensity to disperse in this species. However, due to the experimental setup alternative explanations for the response to selection could not be ruled out. Using an altered setup, we investigated whether the propensity for ambulatory dispersal differs genetically between individuals and whether genetic correlations with life-history traits exist. Upward and downward selection on propensity to leave the colony was performed for seven generations in four replicate artificial selection experiments and the results were compared to control lines. No cons

SUBMITTER: Tien NS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3040828 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature