Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 2 of 2
Full-Text Articles in Biodiversity
Characterizing Mekk1: Candidate Behavioural Isolation Gene, Caryn Dooner
Characterizing Mekk1: Candidate Behavioural Isolation Gene, Caryn Dooner
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Behavioural isolation can occur due to divergence in aspects of courtship and mating, and can contribute to reproductive isolation. The purpose of this study is to determine how a gene, Mekk1, contributes to female rejection behaviour between D. melanogaster and D. simulans. Unique polymorphisms were identified within D. simulans Mekk1 that could contribute to behaviour, most of which are non-coding. Both transcripts of Mekk1 appear to be expressed at similar levels in D. simulans and D. melanogaster. These data also indicate that Mekk1 may be expressed in a specific region of the brain called the mushroom body, …
Evolutionary Genetic Aspects Of Host Association In Generalist Ectoparasites, Benoit Talbot
Evolutionary Genetic Aspects Of Host Association In Generalist Ectoparasites, Benoit Talbot
Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository
Despite the use of the host for dispersal by most parasite species, the extremely loose relationship typical between highly mobile hosts and generalist ectoparasites may lead to very different gene flow patterns between the two, leading in turn to different spatial genetic structure, and potentially different demographic history. I examined how similar gene flow patterns are between Cimex adjunctus, a generalist ectoparasite of bats present throughout North America, and two of its key bat hosts. I first analyzed the continent-scale genetic structure and demographic history of C. adjunctus and compared it to that of two of its hosts, the …