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Winged morph of the high arctic aphid Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum (Hemiptera: Aphididae): abundance, reproductive status, and ecological significance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 April 2012

J.-C. Simon ,
J. Bonhomme ,
R.L. Blackman  and
M. Hullé
J.-C. Simon*
Affiliation:
UMR 1099 Biologie des Organismes et des Populations appliquée à la protection des plantes, INRA / Agrocampus Rennes / Université Rennes 1, B.P. 35327, 35653 Le Rheu Cedex, France
J. Bonhomme
Affiliation:
UMR 1099 Biologie des Organismes et des Populations appliquée à la protection des plantes, INRA / Agrocampus Rennes / Université Rennes 1, B.P. 35327, 35653 Le Rheu Cedex, France
R.L. Blackman
Affiliation:
Department of Entomology, Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
M. Hullé
Affiliation:
UMR 1099 Biologie des Organismes et des Populations appliquée à la protection des plantes, INRA / Agrocampus Rennes / Université Rennes 1, B.P. 35327, 35653 Le Rheu Cedex, France
*
1Corresponding author (e-mail: jean-christophe.simon@rennes.inra.fr).
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Abstract

The aphid Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum Heikinheimo, which is endemic to Svalbard and feeds exclusively on eightpetal mountain-avens, Dryas octopetala L. (Rosaceae), has developed a series of adaptive traits to cope with the harsh conditions of the High Arctic. Prior to this study, only a single specimen of the winged morph of A. svalbardicum had been found, suggesting extremely low dispersal potential. In 2006 we collected many winged females in several places at Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen. Although winged individuals were generally found in high-density populations, no significant relationship existed between aphid abundance and wing development. We discuss whether this sudden increase in winged-morph production by A. svalbardicum is related to a warmer than usual summer in Svalbard.

Résumé

Le puceron Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum Heikinheimo, espèce endémique du Svalbard ayant Dryas octopetala L. (Rosaceae) pour plante-hôte exclusive, a développé une série d’adaptations pour survivre aux conditions particulièrement rudes de l’arctique. Avant cette étude, le morphe ailé d’A. svalbardicum n’était connu que d’un seul spécimen, suggérant des capacités de dispersion très limitées chez cette espèce. En 2006, nous avons échantillonné des quantités importantes de ce morphe ailé dans plusieurs sites de la Baie du Roi, au Spitzberg (Svalbard). Même si les morphes ailés ont généralement été trouvés dans des sites présentant de fortes densités de populations, nous n’avons pas mis en évidence une relation nette entre l’abondance des pucerons et le nombre d’ailés. Nous nous interrogeons si cette soudaine augmentation des morphes ailés d’A. svalbardicum ne serait pas due à des températures estivales plus élevées que celles habituellement enregistrées au Svalbard.

Type
Articles
Information
The Canadian Entomologist , Volume 140 , Issue 3 , June 2008 , pp. 385 - 387
Copyright
Copyright © Entomological Society of Canada 2008

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