Differences in memory dynamics between two closely related parasitoid wasp species

Bleeker, M.A.K.; Smid, Hans M.; Steidle, Johannes L. M.; Kruidhof, H.M.; Loon, Joop J. A. van; Vet, Louise E. M.

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.09.016

Cited by 65 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 38 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Also, C. rubecula can learn associatively to respond to certain plant odors either after an oviposition experience or by simply having contact with host products. However, unlike the situation in the closely related parasitoid species Cotesia glomerata, learning in C. rubecula results in an increased behavioral response towards the learned odor but does not shift an innate preference towards another odor (Bleeker et al 2006;Smid 2006). This is confirmed by results of our study because introducing the parasitoids into the wind tunnel on a hostdamaged leaf, alternating between a wild-type and a transgenic leaf, did not bias the subsequent choice to the leaf type they previously experienced.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…This is confirmed by results of our study because introducing the parasitoids into the wind tunnel on a hostdamaged leaf, alternating between a wild-type and a transgenic leaf, did not bias the subsequent choice to the leaf type they previously experienced. Moreover, giving C. rubecula females an oviposition experience in the presence of the odor of one of the two plant types would likely not result in a preference for that learned odor (Bleeker et al 2006;Smid 2006). P. rapae females laid significantly fewer eggs on mechanically damaged 35S:ESP plants than on mechanically damaged Col-0 wild-type plants.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…tested parasitoid was introduced on an 35S:ESP leaf from which the caterpillars and their products had been carefully removed as well. This increases the general behavioral response of the parasitoids to plant cues but likely does not induce a shift of preference (Kaiser and Cardé 1992;Bleeker et al 2006;Smid 2006). Wasps were allowed to walk onto the leaves themselves.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Formation of Simple Nitriles upon Glucosinolate Hydrolysis Affects Direct and Indirect Defense Against the Specialist Herbivore, Pieris rapae

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The glucosinolate-myrosinase system, found in plants of the order Brassicales, has long been considered an effective defense system against herbivores. The defensive potential of glucosinolates is mainly due to the products formed after myrosinase-catalyzed hydrolysis upon tissue damage. The most prominent hydrolysis products, the isothiocyanates, are toxic to a wide range of organisms, including herbivorous lepidopterans. In contrast, little is known about the biological activities of alternative hydrolysis products such as simple nitriles and epithionitriles that are formed at the expense of isothiocyanates in the presence of epithiospecifier proteins (ESPs). Here, we used transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae) plants overexpressing ESP (35S:ESP plants) to investigate the effects of simple nitriles on direct and indirect defense against the specialist cabbage white butterfly Pieris rapae L. (Lepidoptera, Pieridae). In the 35S:ESP plants, glucosinolates are hydrolyzed mainly to simple nitriles upon tissue disruption, while isothiocyanates are the predominant hydrolysis products in Columbia-0 (Col-0) wild-type plants. The parasitoid Cotesia rubecula (Hymenoptera, Braconidae), a specialist on P. rapae larvae, was significantly more attracted to P. rapaeinfested 35S:ESP plants than to P. rapae-infested Col-0 wild-type plants in a wind tunnel setup. Furthermore, female P. rapae butterflies laid more eggs on Col-0 wild-type plants than on 35S:ESP plants when the plants had been damaged previously. However, when given a choice to feed on 35S: ESP or Col-0 plants, caterpillars did not discriminate between the two genotypes. Growth rate and developmental time were not significantly different between caterpillars that were reared on 35S:ESP or Col-0 plants. Thus, the production of simple nitriles instead of isothiocyanates, as catalyzed by ESP, can promote both direct and indirect defense against the specialist herbivore P. rapae.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Formation of Simple Nitriles upon Glucosinolate Hydrolysis Affects Direct and Indirect Defense Against the Specialist Herbivore, Pieris rapae

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Recent research unveiled remarkable natural variation in learning rate and in the dynamics of memory formation between closely related parasitoid wasp species [9][10][11][12][13]. These studies suggested that this variation reflects adaptations to species-specific ecological constraints.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Natural variation in learning rate and memory dynamics in parasitoid wasps: opportunities for converging ecology and neuroscience

et al. 2010

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Although the neural and genetic pathways underlying learning and memory formation seem strikingly similar among species of distant animal phyla, several more subtle inter-and intraspecific differences become evident from studies on model organisms. The true significance of such variation can only be understood when integrating this with information on the ecological relevance. Here, we argue that parasitoid wasps provide an excellent opportunity for multi-disciplinary studies that integrate ultimate and proximate approaches. These insects display interspecific variation in learning rate and memory dynamics that reflects natural variation in a daunting foraging task that largely determines their fitness: finding the inconspicuous hosts to which they will assign their offspring to develop. We review bioassays used for oviposition learning, the ecological factors that are considered to underlie the observed differences in learning rate and memory dynamics, and the opportunities for convergence of ecology and neuroscience that are offered by using parasitoid wasps as model species. We advocate that variation in learning and memory traits has evolved to suit an insect's lifestyle within its ecological niche.

show abstract

“…Thus, the formation of protein synthesis-dependent LTM in the parasitic wasp L. distinguendus is faster than in the honeybee, Drosophila, and other animals, e.g., mouse (Scharf et al 2002). A recent study demonstrates memory lasting for 5 d after one single training in another parasitic wasp also, Cotesia glomerata (Bleeker et al 2006). Thus, a natural memory-enhancing process occurs in L. distinguendus and possibly other parasitic wasps.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory induced by one single associative training trial in the parasitic waspLariophagus distinguendus

Collatz¹,

Müller²,

Steidle³

2006

Learn. Mem.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory in Apis mellifera and Drosophila melanogaster is formed after multiple trainings that are spaced in time. The parasitic wasp Lariophagus distinguendus remarkably differs from these species. It significantly responds to the artificial odor furfurylheptanoate (FFH) in olfactometer experiments, when this odor was presented during one single training trial, consisting of one sequence of host recognition behavior on a wheat grain infested by its hosts. Feeding wasps with actinomycin D erases the learned response 24 h after the training, demonstrating that protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory has been formed in L. distinguendus already after one single training.Parasitic wasps are hymenopterous insects, which develop on or in the body of other animals, mostly insects, thereby killing their hosts (Lafferty and Kuris 2002). Many species use chemical cues, associated with the host or the hosts' food plant to locate and recognize hosts for oviposition. Especially in generalist parasitoid species, these cues are often highly variable and not predictable (Vet et al. 1995), which prevents their innate use and favors the ability to learn. In fact, many parasitic wasps learn associatively to respond to stimuli they have perceived in the presence of hosts or food (Turlings et al. 1993;Vet et al. 1995). A recent review revealed that the learning of host-associated chemicals has been demonstrated for over 30 parasitic wasp species (Steidle and van Loon 2003).Despite the abundance of publications on learning in parasitic wasps, few attempts have been made to compare learning in parasitic wasps with current knowledge about the model insects for memory structure and learning, Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera, Drosophilidae) and Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) (e.g., Kaiser et al. 2003;Takasu and Lewis 2003). Specifically, there are no conclusive studies on the memory structure in parasitic wasps. In honeybees, different phases of memory are known, including two sequential forms of long-term memory. The early form (early long-term memory, eLTM) at the range of 24-48 h after the training is translation dependent, whereas the later form (late long-term memory, lLTM) starts after about 48 h, depends on transcription (Menzel 1999;Müller 2002), and requires several spaced training events . Likewise, in Drosophila, two forms of longer-lasting memories exist, so-called amnesia-resistant memory (ARM) and long-term memory (LTM), differing in duration and dependence on protein synthesis (Tully et al. 1994).To study protein-dependent long-term memory in parasitic wasps in more detail, the present study was carried out with the pteromalid wasp Lariophagus distinguendus Förster as a model organism. This species is an ectoparasitoid of immature stages of the granary weevil Sitophilus granarius L. living in wheat grains (Steidle and Schöller 1997). A recent study has shown that the ability of these wasps to associate the artificial odorous compound furfurylheptanoate (FFH) with hos...

show abstract

Differences in memory dynamics between two closely related parasitoid wasp species

Cited by 65 publications

References 38 publications

Formation of Simple Nitriles upon Glucosinolate Hydrolysis Affects Direct and Indirect Defense Against the Specialist Herbivore, Pieris rapae

Formation of Simple Nitriles upon Glucosinolate Hydrolysis Affects Direct and Indirect Defense Against the Specialist Herbivore, Pieris rapae

Natural variation in learning rate and memory dynamics in parasitoid wasps: opportunities for converging ecology and neuroscience

Protein synthesis-dependent long-term memory induced by one single associative training trial in the parasitic waspLariophagus distinguendus

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About