Genetic divergence among geographical populations of the migratory locust in China

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was used to examine genetic divergence and interrelations of 11 geographical populations of the migratory locust in China, and the role of spatial separation in the population differentiations. AMOVA analysis of genetic variations in all the populations indicated greater within- (79.55%) than among-population variability (20.45%), and that there were significant differentiations among the populations; 11 populations were divided into four regional groups, with significantly greater variability within (82.99%) than among the groups (17.01%), and there existed apparent regional differentiations. Paired comparisons showed significantly greater variability within-than between-groups, indicating significant differentiations between populations of different regional groups. Of all the pairwise comparisons, Hainan and Tibetan groups displayed the greatest differentiation, with the difference between the two groups being seven folds of that between populations within the groups; the least differentiations were exhibited between the groups of Hainan, Xinjiang, and Inner Mongolia, with the differences between groups being only half of the differences between populations within the groups. Mantel tests of the genetic and spatial distances showed that the two matrices were significantly correlated (p<0.01), indicating that the geographical isolation played an important role in the differentiations of the geographical populations of the migratory locusts. Cluster analysis divided all populations into four major groups: Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia group, the Great Plains of North China (the Yellow River and Huai River Plains) group, Hainan group, and Tibet group. Principal component analysis (PCA) supported the division of populations based on the cluster analysis. However, analysis of individuals clustered the locusts into five populations: Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, Hami in Xinjiang, the Great Plains of North China, Hainan, and Tibet. The locust populations in eastern China displayed apparently continous and gradient variations; as such authors consider that there were no necessity and valid reasons for further division of subspecies. The subspecific status for the main geographical populations of the migratory locusts in China was discussed.     

飞蝗热休克蛋白70cDNA片段的克隆和序列分析

采用R-PCR方法对海南、河北和辽宁3个飞蝗(Locusta migratoria L．)种群的热休克蛋白70(HSP70)基因cDNA片段进行克隆。在事先优化的条件下,通过简并性上游引物和下游引物扩增出了河北种群飞蝗HSP70基因的604bp cDNA片段(GenBank登录号为AY299637),推导的氨基酸序列包含201个氨基酸残基。分析表明,由飞蝗该片段推导的氨基酸序列与其他昆虫的同源性较高;3个种群该片段的核苷酸序列相似性更高达98．75％。由此推测,飞蝗种群间抗寒性的差异可能不是HSP70的序列变异引起的,而与HSP70的诱导表达有关。     

HISTORICAL EVIDENCE FOR POPULATION DYNAMICS OF TIBETAN MIGRATORY LOCUST AND THE FORECAST OF ITS OUTBREAK*

Abstract The Tibetan migratory locust (Locusta migratoria tibetensis Chen) is the highest altitude distributed subspecies among the 10 subspecies of migratory locusts. It was discovered and described as new subspecies in 1963. It is mostly distributed above an elevation of 3 000 m, with the highest up to 4 600 m, on the “Roof of the World,” viz. the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in southwestern China. Recent study on the historic literature revealed ancient records of locust plagues caused by Locusta migratoria tibetensis Chen in many regions of Xizang (Tibet). These disasters took place during 124 years stretching from 1828 to 1952. Forty-five places were infested by locust swarms, and from 1846 to 1857 locust disasters occurred sucessively in 12 years, and affected 18 places of Xizang. At the severe disaster regions crops were damaged by locusts in such a degree that there was no harvest at all. At the same time, locust plagues due to another subspecies also occurred in the plains between the Yellow River and Huaihe and Haihe Rivers in East China. The disasters in Xizang were caused by the Tibetan migratory locust, while in Huang-Huai-Hai Plain disasters were due to the Oriental migratory locust Locusta migratoria manilensis (Meyen). This study not only provides the evidence that the Tibetan migratory locust has been existing as a separate subspecies with a long history, but also reveals the relevant years of locust plagues, their regional distribution and intermittent rules of locust plagues. It also offers a scientific basis for forecasting Tibetan migratory locust disasters and related monitoring strategies; as well as understanding the close relationship between the outbreak of the migratory locust and drought.     

基于细胞色素b基因的中国岩羊不同地理种群遗传差异分析

为了揭示中国岩羊不同地理种群的遗传差异,探讨岩羊亚种分化的分子机制,采用中国岩羊不同地理种群的细胞色素b(Cyt b)基因的全序列,分析了碱基变异情况、遗传距离以及核苷酸序列差异。用最大似然法和贝叶斯法构建分子系统树并对获得的拓扑结构进行分析。结果发现,西藏亚种与四川亚种Cyt b基因平均序列差异为4.2%(±0.007),处于偶蹄目亚种的序列差异范围内,支持了目前对岩羊西藏亚种的分类地位。四川亚种内部各地理种群之间的遗传距离(0.033±0.0 111)与它们分别到西藏种群的遗传距离(0.042±0.007)差异不显著(t=1.824,P=0.084),说明四川亚种内部各地理种群间已经发生较显著的遗传分化。其中,四川、甘肃和青海种群亲缘关系较近,并与四川亚种内部的其它种群已产生了显著的遗传分化。因此认为四川亚种内部各地理种群的种下分化需要深入研究。     

Differences in egg thermotolerance between tropical and temperate populations of the migratory locust Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acridiidae)

The migratory locust Locusta migratoria L., which is widely distributed throughout the world, exhibits within- and between-population variation in cold tolerance. To understand physiological adaptation in populations, we studied the genetic basis of thermotolerance in Hainan (tropical) and Liaoning (temperate) populations and measured expression of Hsp70 and Hsp90 mRNA in both populations at low (0 degrees C) and high temperatures (40 degrees C). Phenotypic variation of thermotolerance is heritable. Heritable characteristics differed among different stages of locust egg development, as well as among different measures of thermotolerance. Nuclear genetic factors, rather than cytoplasmic factors, contribute to differences in cold tolerance between the tropical and temperate populations of the migratory locust; for heat tolerance, maternal effects were involved in three stages of egg development. Expression of Hsp90 mRNA was induced in temperate population after heat shock (40 degrees C x 12h), whereas expression of Hsp70 and 90 was induced in tropical population after cold shock (0 degrees C x 12h). We suggest that thermotolerance of locust eggs has a complex genetic basis and heat shock proteins may be involved in differences of thermotolerance between locust populations.     

中国散居型飞蝗地理种群数量性状变异的分析

本文用模糊聚类分析、系统聚类分析和主成分分析的方法对中国21个散居型飞蝗Locusta migratoria L.Phase Solitaria地理种群的形态测量数据进行了数值分析.这3种分析方法所得的结果是相似的.结果较好地说明了我国21个飞蝗地理种群的地理变异、种群相互关系及亚种的地位.初步确定了我国飞蝗三个亚种的自然地理分界线.陕北的地理种群与陕中、南和华北平原的地理种群非常接近,应认为是东亚飞蝗 L. m. manilensis(Meyen)的一个地理种群.发生基地的散居型飞蝗与一般发生区或扩散区的飞蝗形态特征存在明显差异,作者认为,这是由于发生基地种群密度和生存条件经常处于不稳定状态的结果.主成分分析说明,内蒙古西部的地理种群是介于亚洲飞蝗L. m. migratoria L.和东亚飞蝗L. m. manilensis(Meyen)之间的过渡性种群,但更接近新疆和甘肃的亚洲飞蝗.作者还将E/F、F/C和P/C 3个比值投入运算,这不仅输入了体形的信息,而且也起到给前翅长E、后足股节长F和头宽C加权的作用.作者认为,当在空间和时间上大量连续取样的情况下,飞蝗形态测量学的方法对于确定亚种的地位是比较困难的,这是因为该种固有的多变性和散居型飞蝗在水平和垂直分布上的连续性所造成的.但对于分析地理种群的相互关系方面则显示出优越性.     

中国新疆柳叶藓科、青藓科和灰藓科植物区系研究

通过对新疆柳叶藓科(Amblystegiaceae)、青藓科(Brachytheciaceae)和灰藓科(Hypnaceae)植物标本的野外采集和室内鉴定,报道了中国新疆地区柳叶藓科15属33种,青藓科12属51种,灰藓科11属30种,共计38属114种。其中,中国青藓科新记录种2种,新疆新记录4属37种。优势属10个,且以青藓属(Brachythecium BrushSchimp.)为代表的北温带成分为主;单种属19个,体现了新疆藓类植物区系的古老性和多样性。新疆3科藓类植物区系成分可划分为9种类型,其中北温带成分居主导地位,占中国新疆3科藓类植物总种数的52.08%,东亚成分次之,占25.01%,热带成分甚微。对中国新疆与中国内蒙古、中国西藏以及俄罗斯、蒙古、哈萨克斯坦、巴基斯坦和印度7个邻近地区的区系比较发现,印度物种丰富度最高,俄罗斯和中国新疆次之;中国新疆与中国内蒙古、俄罗斯在物种组成上相似度最高。地理成分区系谱及聚类分析结果表明,中国新疆与中国内蒙古地区的植物区系关系最为接近,而且与俄罗斯密切相关。     

新疆典型蝗虫适生区分布预测

新疆草原面积广阔,农牧业地位突出,蝗灾对当地经济、生态威胁很大,近年新疆极端天气日渐频发,蝗灾监测与防治任务艰巨。以意大利蝗、西伯利亚蝗和亚洲飞蝗为代表的蝗虫数据为基础,综合考虑对蝗虫各生命周期有重要影响的环境因素,运用BIOCLIM模型、领域模型（DOMAIN）、马氏距离模型（MAHAL）、广义线性模型（GLM）、随机森林模型（RF）、提升回归树模型（BRT）、支持向量机模型（SVM）、最大熵模型（MaxEnt）等八种经典物种分布模型及集成模型对新疆典型蝗虫适生区展开了预测。结果表明：（1）不同模型对新疆典型蝗虫适生区预测存在差异,其中DOMAIN最差（曲线下面积（AUC）=0.688,真实技巧统计（TSS）=0.301）,而提升回归树（BRT）最佳（AUC=0.920,TSS=0.910）,基于BRT、SVM和MaxEnt 3个集成模型预测的新疆蝗虫适生区可靠性更高;（2）新疆典型蝗虫不同等级适生区面积约56.844万km²,占新疆总面积的36%,其中高适生区面积16.568万km²;（3）新疆典型蝗虫适生区主要集中于北疆阿勒泰、塔城地区,此外东部哈密地区及南疆绿洲边缘地带亦有分布。研究可为新疆草原工作部门推进蝗虫监测防治工作提供支持。     

Multiple origins of Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae) in the Japanese Archipelago and the presence of two major clades in the world: evidence from a molecular approach

Phylogenetic relationships among migratory locust (Locusta migratoria) populations in different climatic regions were analysed by sequencing four mitochondrial DNA regions, with special reference to the origin of Japanese populations. The populations are clearly separated into two clades: one consists of individuals from temperate and cold‐temperate areas of Japan and the Chinese continent, and the other comprises those from subtropical islands of Japan, Hainan Island in China, Timol Leste, Australia, Ethiopia, France, and some individuals from Tsushima Island and Honshu of Japan. The divergence time between the two clades is estimated to be 0.86–1.89 Mya. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Japanese L. migratoria populations were composed of individuals of six different origins: (1) Hokkaido populations possibly from the Russian continent; (2) Honshu–Kyushu populations from the Chinese continent; (3) Southwest Island populations from Hainan Island or adjacent areas; (4) Ogasawara populations that might have originated from Micronesia; (5) part of the Tsushima population that originated from somewhere in the Asian tropics; and (6) a possible relict population of ancient southern haplotypes that exists in western areas of northern Honshu. The Tsugaru Straits and Tokara Straits have acted as effective geographical barriers, as in other organisms, isolating locust populations for a few thousand years. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2010, 99 , 570–581.     

Remote sensing monitoring upon the grass production in China

Using MODIS remote sensing data and ground truth data, a thorough investigation was conducted to monitor the productivity of grasslands in China for the year 2005. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was first computed from the MODIS data. Then the data from the NDVI images were used to correlate with the grass yield data from the ground sampling campaigns. Six regional models were accordingly established from the correlation for estimation of grass production in the six main types of steppe in China. The main results from the estimation could be summarized as follows: (1) High grass productivity in 2005 was obtained in the following 3 regions: the grassland covering Hulunbuir, Xilinhaote, and the western Daxing'anling, the region including the eastern Qinghai, the northwestern Sichuan and the mid-southern Gansu, and the northwestern Xinjiang region. (2) Total hay output from the grasslands in China amounted to 294213.86 thousand tons in 2005 with an average yield of 829.67 kg/hm2. (3) The following 7 provinces were the largest grass producers in China: Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Tibet, Heilongjiang and Gansu. For example, Inner Mongolia produced 60370.82 thousand tons of hay in 2005, and hence became the No. 1 grass producer of China. (4) Among the steppe types, the following 5 had the largest grass production: Alpine meadow, Temperate steppe, Low-land meadow, Temperate meadow steppe and Montane meadow with total production accounting for 62.2% in China. (5) Grass production of the entire China in August 2005 remained at the same level as that in August 2004. However, the situations of major grassland provinces were different: grass production in both Qinghai and Gansu in 2005 increased to 9.02% and 3.63%, respectively, when compared with that in 2004. The grass production in Inner Mongolia decreased by 3%, while the production in Tibet, Xinjiang and Sichuan remains unchanged when compared with that in 2004. These results were very important for grassland administration, pasture grazing and grassland ecosystem studies in China.     

中国西北地区天然胡杨群体遗传多样性及核心保护单元的构建

胡杨(Populus euphratica)是极端干旱荒漠区的珍稀乔木树种。为了确定天然胡杨群体遗传多样性保护单元并挖掘优异的种质资源, 本研究以中国西北地区新疆、青海、甘肃、宁夏、内蒙古的58个天然胡杨群体为研究对象, 利用120个位点的SNPs标记对这些胡杨群体进行群体遗传结构和遗传多样性分析, 并根据不同群体间Nei’s遗传相似度, 采用逐步聚类优先取样法对初始群体、遗传多样性保护单元和剩余群体进行t检验。群体结构和主成分分析表明, 胡杨群体可分为新疆南疆(SX)、新疆北疆(NX)、青海(QH)和混合群(甘肃、宁夏和内蒙古混合群, GNM) 4个分支, 遗传多样性分析表明新疆南疆(SX)遗传多样性高于其他群体。分子方差分析(AMOVA)表明天然胡杨群体的遗传变异主要分布在各个群体内。构建了天然胡杨群体一级核心保护单元3个群体(CU3), 二级核心保护单元33个群体(CU33)。南疆存在较多优异抗逆的天然胡杨古树资源, 南疆分布区的平均遗传多样性水平最高。综上所述, 南疆地区胡杨古树遗传多样性整体高于北疆及疆外地区, 结合新疆地区干旱严重指数等生境信息, 建议加大对南疆胡杨古树群体的保护力度, 重视北疆胡杨林的更新换代。     

警惕沙漠蝗的猖獗发生

沙漠蝗在史前期就是北非、西亚和印度等热带荒漠地区的河谷与绿洲上的农业大害虫。我国云南和西藏自治区的聂拉木均有沙漠蝗的分布记载 ,虽尚未发生灾害 ,但是沙漠蝗猖獗发生的最大扩散区已达我国云南接壤的缅甸和西藏接壤的尼泊尔、印度。故我国的西藏自治区和云南省的有关边防及农业植物保护机构应予以高度重视并加强监测和预警 ,谨防沙漠蝗的发生危害     

中国白星花金龟地理变异的几何形态学分析及其新疆种群的入侵来源推断

【目的】定量比较中国及周边国家地区白星花金龟 Protaetia (Liocola) brevitarsis 不同地理种群的形态差异,重点探索新疆种群与其他地区种群间的形态差异,为植物保护和生产活动提供指导,丰富微进化理论。【方法】基于几何形态学的主成分分析（principal component analysis, PCA）和典型变量分析（canonical variate analysis, CVA）方法,对国内外30个地区共700头白星花金龟的鞘翅和前胸背板进行分析比较,研究白星花金龟不同地理种群的形态变异。【结果】白星花金龟前胸背板和鞘翅形态变异主成分分析中,新疆标本都明显聚在一起,但同时与新疆周边省份标本有部分重叠,与远离新疆省市有少部分重叠。新疆标本和南方地区种群标本明显分离。在各地区种群形态差异显著性检验中,基于马氏距离（Mahalanobis distance）和普氏距离（Procrustes distance）分析显示,新疆白星花金龟与远离新疆地区标本的前胸背板和鞘翅在马氏距离和普氏距离上均为显著性差异,而与其他地区标本的前胸背板和鞘翅的差异上,并非总是显著性差异。【结论】证实了前胸背板和鞘翅上的白斑可以作为白星花金龟地理种群变异的评价指标。就新疆白星花金龟而言,地理距离在一定程度上与形态距离相吻合。我们推测新疆白星花金龟是通过青海省北部以外的宁夏、内蒙古和甘肃三省入侵到新疆自治区,或者与上述三省该害虫的入侵来源一致。本研究所呈现的研究方式,在丰富微进化理论方面具有广阔的前景,且有望丰富分子生态地理学的研究内涵。     

Composition and emission dynamics of migratory locust volatiles in response to changes in developmental stages and population density

Chemical communication plays an important role in density‐dependent phase change in locusts. However, the volatile components and emission patterns of the migratory locust, Locusta migratoria, are largely unknown. In this study, we identified the chemical compositions and emission dynamics of locust volatiles from the body and feces and associated them with developmental stages, sexes and phase changes. The migratory locust shares a number of volatile components with the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria), but the emission dynamics of the two locust species are significantly different. The body odors of the gregarious nymphs in the migratory locust consisted of phenylacetonitrile (PAN), benzaldehyde, guaiacol, phenol, aliphatic acids and 2,3‐butanediol, and PAN was the dominant volatile. Volatiles from the fecal pellets of the nymphs primarily consist of guaiacol and phenol. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed significant differences in the volatile profiles between gregarious and solitary locusts. PAN and 4‐vinylanisole concentrations were significantly higher in gregarious individuals than in solitary locusts. Gregarious mature males released significantly higher amounts of PAN and 4‐vinylanisole during adulthood than mature females and immature adults of both sexes. Furthermore, PAN and 4‐vinylanisole were completely lost in gregarious nymphs during the solitarization process, but were obtained by solitary nymphs during gregarization. The amounts of benzaldehyde, guaiacol and phenol only unidirectionally decreased from solitary to crowded treatment. Aliphatic aldehydes (C7 to C10), which were previously reported as locust volatiles, are now identified as environmental contaminants. Therefore, our results illustrate the precise odor profiles of migratory locusts during developmental stages, sexes and phase change. However, the function and role of PAN and other aromatic compounds during phase transition need further investigation.     

Remote sensing monitoring upon the grass production in China

Using MODIS remote sensing data and ground truth data, a thorough investigation was conducted to monitor the productivity of grasslands in China for the year 2005. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was first computed from the MODIS data. Then the data from the NDVI images were used to correlate with the grass yield data from the ground sampling campaigns. Six regional models were accordingly established from the correlation for estimation of grass production in the six main types of steppe in China. The main results from the estimation could be summarized as follows: (1) High grass productivity in 2005 was obtained in the following 3 regions: the grassland covering Hulunbuir, Xilinhaote, and the western Daxing'anling, the region including the eastern Qinghai, the northwestern Sichuan and the mid-southern Gansu, and the northwestern Xinjiang region. (2) Total hay output from the grasslands in China amounted to 294213.86 thousand tons in 2005 with an average yield of 829.67 kg/hm2. (3) The following 7 provinces were the largest grass producers in China: Inner Mongolia, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Sichuan, Tibet, Heilongjiang and Gansu. For example, Inner Mongolia produced 60370.82 thousand tons of hay in 2005, and hence became the No. 1 grass producer of China. (4) Among the steppe types, the following 5 had the largest grass production: Alpine meadow, Temperate steppe, Low-land meadow, Temperate meadow steppe and Montane meadow with total production accounting for 62.2% in China. (5) Grass production of the entire China in August 2005 remained at the same level as that in August 2004. However, the situations of major grassland provinces were different: grass production in both Qinghai and Gansu in 2005 increased to 9.02% and 3.63%, respectively, when compared with that in 2004. The grass production in Inner Mongolia decreased by 3%, while the production in Tibet, Xinjiang and Sichuan remains unchanged when compared with that in 2004. These results were very important for grassland administration, pasture grazing and grassland ecosystem studies in China.     

中国草原产草量遥感监测

根据MODIS遥感数据和同期地面调查数据,对我国2005年草原产草量进行了系统估算。用MODIS数据计算全国草原的归一化植被指数NDVI,针对6个不同类型草原区建立了NDVI和地面样方的产草量之间的关系模型,用这些模型推算全国草原产草量分布。结论如下：（1）2005年我国草原有3个牧草高产中心,分别位于东北呼伦贝尔草原、锡林浩特草原和大兴安岭西麓;青海东部、四川西北部和甘肃中南部以及新疆西北部;（2）2005年全国草原干草总产量达到29421．39万t,平均单产达到829．67kg／hm^2干草;（3）2005年干草产量位列前7位的省区依次是内蒙古、青海、新疆、四川、西藏、黑龙江和甘肃;例如,内蒙古因草原面积大而成为我国第一大草原牧草生产省,2005年有6037．08万t干草;（4）总产草量位于前5位的草地类型依次为高寒草甸类、温性草原类、低地草甸类、温性草甸草原类与山地草甸类;（5）2005年8月份全国草原产草量与2004年同期相比总体持平;各草原大省的变化情况分别为：青海、甘肃2省区的草产量略有增加,青海增加了9．02％、甘肃增加了3．63％;内蒙古减少约3％;西藏、新疆和四川3省区基本与2004年同期持平。研究结果对我国草原监理、草原畜牧业发展和草地生态系统研究具有较大的参考价值。     

基于线粒体细胞色素b基因的中国大沙鼠系统地理格局

通过内蒙、新疆、甘肃的41个大沙鼠样品和1个伊朗撒拉克大沙鼠的mtDNA Cytb基因全序列的遗传分析,对我国大沙鼠(Rhombomys opimus)的分子系统地理学进行了初步探讨。结果表明,我国41个大沙鼠样品的Cytb基因包含了50个核苷酸变异位点(占全序列的4.39%),其中转换48个,颠换2个,共定义23个单倍型。在四个地理种群中,内蒙古中部半荒漠区和阿拉善荒漠区的单倍型多样性最高,甘新荒漠区的单倍型多样性最低;北疆荒漠区的核苷酸多样性最高,内蒙古中部半荒漠区的核苷酸多样性最低。分子变异分析(AMOVA)表明,种群间的遗传变异占51.68%,种群内的遗传变异占48.32%。FST统计结果表明,除内蒙古中部半荒漠区与阿拉善荒漠区地理种群之间差异显著外(P<0.05),其它地理种群间的差异均极显著(P<0.01)。基于单倍型的系统树显示,42只大沙鼠形成三支。其中,伊朗撒拉克地区大沙鼠和中国地区大沙鼠之间的亲缘关系比中国两支大沙鼠之间的亲缘关系远;分析表明,中国分布的大沙鼠两支之间分歧时间估计在0.093Ma前。嵌套支分析表明,大沙鼠历史种群曾发生过异域片段化、受阻碍基因流和持续种群扩张事件。种群扩张分析提示大沙鼠在0.0119Ma前曾经历过一次种群扩张事件,种群可能受到末次冰期波动的影响。     

Social aggregation of adult Schistocerca gregaria and Locusta migratoria migratorioides in relation to the final moult and ageing

Laboratory experiments, were carried out on nymphs and adults of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, and the African migratory locust, Locusta migratoria migratorioides, in view of the field observation that locusts become temporarily less gregarious after the final moult. The experiments showed no reduction in grouping after the final moult but did show a reduction in grouping in mature Schistocerca. There was little change in the numbers of locusts found in small groups but a dramatic reduction in the number found in large groups.     

Molecular phylogeography of the red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations in Xinjiang of China: comparison with other Asian,European, and North American populations

To illustrate phylogeography of red deer (Cervus elaphus) populations of Xinjiang, we determined their mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences, and then investigated geographic variations and phylogenetic relationships between Xinjiang populations and other populations from Asia, Europe, and North America. The C. elaphus mtDNA control region shared different copy numbers of tandem repeats of 38 to 43-bp motifs which clearly distinguished the Western lineage from the Eastern lineage of this species in Eurasia. The western lineage comprised the Tarim populations from southern Xinjiang and the European populations, all of which had four copies of the motifs. By contrast, the Eastern lineage consisted of populations from northern Xinjiang (Tianshan and Altai Mountains), other Asian areas (Alashan, Gansu, Tibet, Mongolia, and northeastern China), and North America, all of which shared six copies of the motifs. MtDNA phylogenetic trees showed that there are two major clusters of haplotypes which referred to the Western and Eastern lineages, and that subgroupings of haplotypes in each cluster were congruent with their geographic distributions. The present study revealed that a boundary separating the Western lineage from the Eastern lineage occurs between Tarim Basin and Tianshan Mountains in Xinjiang. Meanwhile, North American populations were genetically closer to those of northern Xinjiang, northeastern China, and Mongolia, supporting that C. elaphus immigrated from northeastern Eurasia to North America through the glacier-induced land-bridge (Beringia) which had formed between the two continents after Late Pleistocene.     

CSP and takeout genes modulate the switch between attraction and repulsion during behavioral phase change in the migratory locust

Behavioral plasticity is the most striking trait in locust phase transition. However, the genetic basis for behavioral plasticity in locusts is largely unknown. To unravel the molecular mechanisms underlying the behavioral phase change in the migratory locust Locusta migratoria, the gene expression patterns over the time courses of solitarization and gregarization were compared by oligonucleotide microarray analysis. Data analysis revealed that several gene categories relevant to peripheral olfactory perception are strongly regulated in a total of 1,444 differentially expressed genes during both time courses. Among these candidate genes, several CSP (chemosensory protein) genes and one takeout gene, LmigTO1, showed higher expression in gregarious and solitarious locusts, respectively, and displayed opposite expression trends during solitarization and gregarization. qRT-PCR experiments revealed that most CSP members and LmigTO1 exhibited antenna-rich expressions. RNA interference combined with olfactory behavioral experiments confirmed that the CSP gene family and one takeout gene, LmigTO1, are involved in the shift from repulsion to attraction between individuals during gregarization and in the reverse transition during solitarization. These findings suggest that the response to locust-emitted olfactory cues regulated by CSP and takeout genes is involved in the behavioral phase change in the migratory locust and provide a previously undescribed molecular mechanism linked to the formation of locust aggregations.