Phenotypic Plasticity of Insects: Mechanisms and Consequences

by Douglas Whitman (Editor)

Overview

This book explores the profound importance of phenotypic plasticity as a central organizing theme for understanding biology. Chapters take a broad, integrative approach to explain how physical and biological environmental stimuli (temperature, photoperiod, nutrition, population density, predator presence, etc.), influence insect biochemical, physiological, learning, and developmental processes, altering phenotype, which then influences performance, ecology, life-history, survival, fitness, and subsequent evolution. Topics include endocrinology, development, body size, allometry, polyphenism, reproduction, reproductive and life-history tradeoffs, alternative mating and life-history strategies, density-dependent prophylaxis, physiological adaptation, acclimation, homeostasis, heat-shock proteins, learning, adaptive anti-predator behavior, and evolution of phenotypic plasticity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578084234
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	01/01/2009
Pages:	904
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.80(d)

Table of Contents

Preface v

1 What is Phenotypic Plasticity and Why is it Important? Douglas W. Whitman Anurag A. Agrawal 1

2 Phenotypic Plasticity and the Semantics of Polyphenism: a Historical Review and Current Perspectives Michael Canfield Erick Greene 65

3 Phenotypic Plasticity and the Origins of Diversity: A Case Study on Horned Beetles Armin P. Moczek 81

4 Developmental Flexibility, Phenotypic Plasticity, and Host Plants: A Case Study with Nemoria Caterpillars Erick Greene Michael Canfield Adam Ehmer 135

5 Phase Polyphenism in Locusts: Mechanisms, Population Consequences, Adaptive Significance and Evolution Stephen J. Simpson Gregory A. Sword 147

6 Density-Dependent Prophylaxis in Insects Kenneth Wilson Sheena C. Cotter 191

7 Natural Enemy-induced Plasticity in Plants and Animals Douglas W. Whitman Leon Blaustein 233

8 Behavioral Plasticity to Risk of Predation: Oviposition Site Selection by a Mosquito in Response to its Predators Leon Blaustein Douglas W. Whitman 317

9 Polyphenisms in Lepidoptera: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Studies of Evolution and Development P.M. Brakefield W.A. Frankino 337

10 Causes and Consequences of Phenotypic Plasticity in Body Size: The Case of the Yellow Dung Fly Scathophaga stercoraria (Diptera: Scathophagidae) Wolf U. Blanckenhorn 369

11 She Shapes Events as they Come: Plasticity in Female Insect Reproduction Jason Hodin 423

12 Temperature Dependence of Development Rate, Growth Rate and Size: From Biophysics to Adaptation Gerdien de Jong Tom M. van der Have 523

13 The Developmental-Physiological Basis of Phenotypic Plasticity H. Frederik Nijhout Goggy Davidowitz 589

14 Wing Polymorphism in Gryllus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae): Proximate Endocrine, Energetic and Biochemical Mechanisms Underlying Morph Specialization for Flight vs. Reproduction Anthony J. Zera 609

15 Evolution of Homeostatic Physiological Systems H. Arthur Woods 655

16 Acclimation Douglas W. Whitman 675

17 Heat Shock Proteins and their Role in Generating, Maintaining and Even Preventing Alternative Insect Phenotypes Jason B. Williams Stephen P. Roberts Michelle M. Elekonich 741

18 Learned Host Preferences Andrew B. Barron 767

19 Adaptive Maternal Effects: A Case Study of Egg Size Plasticity in a Seed-Feeding Beetle Charles W. Fox Mary Ellen Czesak 781

20 On the Origins of Insect Hormone Signaling Jason Hodin 817

21 Phenotypic Plasticity and Evolvability: An Empirical Test with Experimental Evolution Henrique Teotónio Michael R. Rose Stephen R. Proulx 841

Glossary 45

Genus Index 865

Insect Family Index 869

Subject Index 873