Specificity and communication in interactions maculinea butterflies and their myrmica ant hosts

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Project objective

Research objectives and content The objective of the project is to examine the specificity of host use by parasitic Maculinea butterflies, and to relate this directly to communication between ffie parasites and their Myrmica ant hosts. This system is unique in providing documented geographical variation in host use by what are regarded as a single species of host-specific parasites. Specificity will be examined at both the species and population level. Patterns of specificity will be studied using genetic markers, and their ecological significance tested in laboratory cross-infection experiments. Chemical, and vibrational communication between butterflies and ants will be examined using chromatographic techniques and recording-and-playback experiments respectively. The results will provide information that is vital for the management of these endangered butterflies in Europe, as well as contributing to some current problems in parasite-host evolution. Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact) During the project I will gain experience of population genetic analysis using molecular techniques, as well as use of specialised equipment for examining chemical and vibrational communication. Training in molecular genetic techniques will be particularly useful for my career development, as this is a vital tool for examining evolution which can be applied to many different biological systems.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

• UNIVERSITY OF AARHUS · AARHUS CCoordinatorDenmark
• Not availableCity levelUnited Kingdom

Links

• View on CORDIS