Molecular detection of trophic links in a complex insect host–parasitoid food web

0362832 - BC 2012 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Hrček, Jan - Miller, S. E. - Quicke, D. L. J. - Smith, M. A.
Molecular detection of trophic links in a complex insect host–parasitoid food web.
Molecular Ecology Resources. Roč. 11, č. 5 (2011), s. 786-794. ISSN 1755-098X. E-ISSN 1755-0998
R&D Projects: GA ČR GD206/08/H044; GA ČR GA206/09/0115; GA ČR GAP505/10/0673; GA MŠMT LC06073; GA MŠMT ME09082
Grant - others:Grant Agency of the University of South Bohemia(CZ) GAJU 136/2010/P; Government of Canada(CA) 2008-0GI-ICI-03; US National Science Foundation(US) DEB 0841885; US National Science Foundation(US) DEB 0816749; US National Science Foundation(US) DEB 0515678
Institutional research plan: CEZ:AV0Z50070508
Keywords : cytochrome oxidase I * Diptera * Hymenoptera
Subject RIV: EH - Ecology, Behaviour
Impact factor: 3.062, year: 2011

We present a general method for molecular detection of host–parasitoid links applied to a complex caterpillar–parasitoid food web from tropical rainforest of Papua New Guinea. Our analysis affirmed 93 hitherto unknown trophic links between 37 host species from a wide range of Lepidoptera families and 46 parasitoid species from Hymenoptera and Diptera by identifying DNA sequences for both the host and the parasitoid involved in the interaction. Molecular detection proved especially useful in cases where distinguishing host species in caterpillar stage was difficult morphologically, or when the caterpillar died during rearing. Using the molecular approach outlined here leads to better understanding of parasitoid host specificity, opens new possibilities for rapid surveys of food web structure and allows inference of species associations not already anticipated.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0199029