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Wednesday, November 13, 2024

People made a decision, the insect changed color

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Human activity has a direct impact on the evolution of insects. Scientists from New Zealand described a case of body color change in stoneflies living in deforested areas. As the researchers explained, the lightening tendencies were observed in independent populations.

Ecosystems are not static – the mutual relationships between animals, plants, microbes and elements of inanimate nature often change to a greater or lesser extent. The stimulus behind these changes may be natural phenomena, but also human activity. One such case was described in the journal “Science”.

Unnecessary adaptation

Scientists looked at two species of New Zealand stoneflies, winged insects that inhabit forest areas. One of them Austro-pearl cyreneproduces strong toxins and announces it to potential predators through color – the bodies of these insects are black and yellow, somewhat reminiscent of the colors of wasps. This feature was imitated by non-toxic insects from Zelandoperla fenestratathat inhabited the same habitats.

The situation has changed in deforested areas. In these regions the population Austro-pearl completely disappeared (these insects cannot live outside the forest), leaving only more tolerant insects Zelandoperla. However, the animals looked completely different than their forest cousins ​​- their bodies were light brown.

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“In forested regions, they have developed warning colors to deceive predators,” explained study co-author Jonathan Waters from the University of Otago. – However, human-caused deforestation has removed poisonous species from an ecosystem. The imitating insects abandoned their previous strategy because there was nothing to imitate and instead gradually developed other colors.

Comparison of the color of the tested forks. From top: Austroperla cyrene, Zelandoperla fenestrata from forest areas, Zelandoperla fenestrata from deforested areasGraham McCulloch, Jon Waters

Many disconnected populations

The researchers noted that the changes affected many independent populations Zelandoperla fenestrataliving in unconnected regions. Although they were not identical, similar trends were observed in all observed groups of insects. In addition, individuals living in forest areas remained black and yellow.

Graham McCulloch from the University of Otago added that while humans are disrupting ecological interactions between species that have evolved over millions of years, some animals are resilient enough to overcome it.

“Our study is important because it shows that at least some native species can adapt to environmental changes caused by humans,” he explained.

Moths and controversies

The first studies on the impact of human activity on the natural selection of animals date back to the 19th century, when a growing population of dark moths of the speciesBiston betularia) – they usually have beige wings with a camouflaging pattern. The mutation, which once put insects in a losing position, turned out to be salvation for animals living in areas polluted as a result of the industrial revolution – birch bark there was covered with a layer of dark ashes, and black wings made it easier for insects to camouflage themselves.

The first in-depth study of the effects of habitat pollution on the colors of the moths inhabiting it was conducted in the 1950s by zoologist Bernard Kettlewell. Over time, this experiment became the subject of scientific disputes and was criticized due to ambiguous research methods. Researchers admit, however, that despite factual errors, it is an example of human influence on the evolution of other species.

University of Otago, The Conversation, University of Cambridge

Main photo source: Graham McCulloch, Jon Waters



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