Phylogeography of Synergus umbraculus
Informations
- Funding country
Hungary- Acronym
- -
- Start date
- 2/1/2005
- End date
- 12/31/2007
- Budget
- 26,019 EUR
Fundings
| Name | Role | Start | End | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thematic Programme | Grant | 2/1/2005 | 12/31/2007 | 26,019 EUR |
Abstract
Gall wasps are important model systems in many subject areas ranging from ecology to the evolutionary biology. A number of species within Cyinipidae have lost the ability to induce galls themselves but instead develop inside the galls of other cynipids. This almost unknown group includes our study species, Synergus umbraculus (Cynipidae: Synergini). This species is specialized to oak hosts and shows high level of genetic differentiation. We have much more information about their wasp hosts including their phylogeography in Western Palearctic. Galls represent discrete microhabitats that support relatively closed communities of specialist inhabitants. However, the stability of these communities is not known. Large scale structure of modern populations may be explained by their history. Alternatively, high level of variability may rise simply from life history. For example, among host genetic differentiation is a well known phenomenon in many parasitic taxa.