Herbivorous amphipods and algae interactions: does the identity of the host algae influences on the populations genetic structure?

• Grant number: 14/15614-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2015
• End date: February 29, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology
• Agreement: Coordination of Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES)
• Principal Investigator: Fosca Pedini Pereira Leite
• Grantee: Pedro Augusto da Silva Peres
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Mesoherbivorous have a strict relationship with macroalgae because they use them as shelter and food. Macroalgae have different chemical compounds in their composition and this may influence on the production of pheromones by the small herbivorous that eat them, like amphipods. Therefore, host macroalgae choice by herbivorous amphipods may have severe consequences in finding a sexual partner, reproduction and may affect the genetic variability of populations. Considering that amphipods can be locally adapted to their hosts, and rapid shift in food preference on few generations, these herbivorous are an adequate model to test the effect of the host in the genetic structure of their populations. However, there are no studies on how the different host choices by amphipods may influence genetic aspects in small scales. In this research, I'm going to use the herbivorous amphipod Cymadusa filosa as a model to survey the genetic diversity of individuals associated with macroalgae hosts Sargassum, Dictyota and Padina, that frequently occurs in sympatry on rocky shores and have different chemical compounds on their composition. I'm going to investigate how the genetic diversity is partionated among different populations that inhabit different macroalgae and test the hypothesis that the populations associated with each algae are actually different subpopulations. This research will provide new insights on how macroalgae can influence on the evolution of small herbivorous. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PERES, PEDRO A. S.; AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; LEITE, FOSCA P. P.. Development and characterization of novel microsatellite loci for the amphipod Cymadusa filosa. MARINE BIODIVERSITY, v. 48, n. 3, p. 1683-1686, SEP 2018. (14/15614-7)

PERES, PEDRO A.; AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; ANDRADE, SONIA C. S.; LEITE, FOSCA P. P.. Is there host-associated differentiation in marine herbivorous amphipods?. Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, v. 126, n. 4, p. 885-898, APR 2019. (14/23141-1, 14/15614-7)

PERES, PEDRO A.; FERREIRA, ANA PAULA; MACHADO, GLAUCO B. O.; AZEVEDO-SILVA, MARIANNE; SIQUEIRA, SILVANA G. L.; LEITE, FOSCA P. P.. Sex-biased dispersal depends on the spatial scale in a tube-building amphipod. MARINE ECOLOGY-PROGRESS SERIES, v. 658, p. 135-148, JAN 21 2021. (17/16645-1, 14/15614-7, 18/10313-0, 14/23141-1, 17/18291-2)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PERES, Pedro Augusto da Silva. Herbivorous amphipods and algae interactions: does the host macroalgae identity influences on genetic and morphological diversity of herbivore populations?. 2016. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Instituto de Biologia Campinas, SP.