Effects of host plant quality on the transcriptional signatures of flight in migratory butterflies

Migratory insects surpass migratory terrestrial vertebrates in biomass and play essential roles in global ecosystems and agroecosystems serving as pollinators, biological control, or food and nutrient sources. They can also have detrimental effects as vectors of plant and animal diseases or as ecological pests. It is therefore essential for food, ecological, and human security to forecast insect migratory behavior, particularly as migratory patterns change worldwide with anthropogenic activities and climate change. Human societies in semi-arid regions heavily rely on insect migration services but increased drought has led to decreasing host plant quality. How this decrease in host plant quality is altering the migratory behavior of insects remains unknown but could have major consequences to ecosystems and agroecosystems. Here, we will investigate the effects of decreasing host plant quality on the larval performance, flight capacity, and gene expression profiles of active flight in the migratory butterfly, Vanessa cardui. The results of this study have broad reaching relevance to agricultural, human and ecological security.

Faculty Supervisor:

Clement Bataille

Student:

Partner:

Uppsala Universitet

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Ottawa

Program: