@article{DiaoMoussetHorsburghetal.2016,
  author    = {Diao, Wenwen and Mousset, Mathilde and Horsburgh, Gavin J. and Vermeulen, Cornelis J. and Johannes, Frank and van de Zande, Louis and Ritchie, Michael G. and Schmitt, Thomas and Beukeboom, Leo W.},
  title     = {Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis of Mating Behavior and Male Sex Pheromones in Nasonia Wasps},
  series = {G3: Genes Genomes Genetics},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {G3: Genes Genomes Genetics},
  number    = {6},
  doi       = {10.1534/g3.116.029074},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-165412},
  pages     = {1549-1562},
  year      = {2016},
  abstract  = {A major focus in speciation genetics is to identify the chromosomal regions and genes that reduce hybridization and gene flow. We investigated the genetic architecture of mating behavior in the parasitoid wasp species pair Nasonia giraulti and Nasonia oneida that exhibit strong prezygotic isolation. Behavioral analysis showed that N. oneida females had consistently higher latency times, and broke off the mating sequence more often in the mounting stage when confronted with N. giraulti males compared with males of their own species. N. oneida males produce a lower quantity of the long-range male sex pheromone (4R,5S)-5-hydroxy-4-decanolide (RS-HDL). Crosses between the two species yielded hybrid males with various pheromone quantities, and these males were used in mating trials with females of either species to measure female mate discrimination rates. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis involving 475 recombinant hybrid males (F2), 2148 reciprocally backcrossed females (F3), and a linkage map of 52 equally spaced neutral single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers plus SNPs in 40 candidate mating behavior genes revealed four QTL for male pheromone amount, depending on partner species. Our results demonstrate that the RS-HDL pheromone plays a role in the mating system of N. giraulti and N. oneida, but also that additional communication cues are involved in mate choice. No QTL were found for female mate discrimination, which points at a polygenic architecture of female choice with strong environmental influences.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{BuellesbachDiaoSchmittetal.2022,
  author    = {Buellesbach, Jan and Diao, Wenwen and Schmitt, Thomas and Beukeboom, Leo W.},
  title     = {Micro-climate correlations and conserved sexual dimorphism of cuticular hydrocarbons in European populations of the jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis},
  series = {Ecological Entomology},
  volume    = {47},
  journal   = {Ecological Entomology},
  number    = {1},
  doi       = {10.1111/een.13089},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-262770},
  pages     = {38 -- 51},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {1. Protection against desiccation and chemical communication are two fundamental functions of cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) in insects. In the parasitoid jewel wasp Nasonia vitripennis (Walker), characterised by a cosmopolitan distribution through largely different environments, CHCs function as universally recognised female sex pheromones. However, CHC uniformity as basis for sexual recognition may conflict with the desiccation protection function, expected to display considerable flexibility through adaptation to different environmental conditions. 2. We compared male and female CHC profiles of N. vitripennis across a wide latitudinal gradient in Europe and correlated their CHC variation with climatic factors associated with desiccation. Additionally, we tested male mate discrimination behaviour between populations to detect potential variations in female sexual attractiveness. 3. Results did not conform to the general expectation that longer, straight-chain CHCs occur in higher proportions in warmer and drier climates. Instead, unexpected environmental correlations of intermediate chain-length CHCs (C31) were found exclusively in females, potentially reflecting the different life histories of the sexes in N. vitripennis. 4. Furthermore, we found no indication of population-specific male mate preference, confirming the stability of female sexual attractiveness, likely conveyed through their CHC profiles. C31 mono- and C33 di-methyl-branched alkanes were consistently and most strongly associated with sexual dimorphism, suggesting their potential role in encoding the female-specific sexual signalling function. 5. Our study sheds light on how both adaptive flexibility and conserved sexual attractiveness can potentially be integrated and encoded in CHC profiles of N. vitripennis females across a wide distribution range in Europe.},
  language  = {en}
}