E&E Seminar Series: “Plasticity and the origin of signal-preference divergence: case studies with Enchenopa treehoppers (Hemiptera: Membracidae)” by Rafa Rodriguez (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
November 9, 2021
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Join us for an E&E Seminar featuring Rafa Rodriguez (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
Host: Alex Shingleton
Abstract: Social interactions involve give-and-takes of influence and stimulation with key evolutionary consequences. Understanding these consequences requires integrating Darwin’s insight that social interactions are strong causes of selection with West-Eberhard’s insight that plasticity is an important cause of trait variation. Plasticity may often be important in evolution, as it can influence many individuals at a time and exposes hidden genetic variation to selection. Causes of plasticity such as social interactions may create or enhance signal-preference differences, promoting speciation. For example, theory predicts that social plasticity may generate phenotypic signal-preference co-divergence that causes assortative mating and promotes divergent evolution, even without direct genetic componets of variation that can respond to selection initially. I will survey a series of studies with Enchenopa treehoppers—insects that communicate with plant-borne vibrational signals as juveniles and adults—to explore the patterns of variation and potential evolutionary consequences that arise from various instances of social plasticity. I discuss the Darwinian/West-Eberhardian view of divergence as a powerful explanation for observed patterns of rapid speciation and evolution.
Date posted
Aug 10, 2021
Date updated
Oct 28, 2021