Abstract
Locusts are grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) that are characterised by their capacity for extreme population density-dependent polyphenism, transforming between a cryptic solitarious phase that avoids other locusts, and a swarming gregarious phase that aggregates and undergoes collective migration. The two phases differ in many aspects of behaviour, physiology and ecology, making locusts a useful model through which to investigate the phenotypic interface of molecular processes and environmental cues. This review summarises recent progress in understanding the mechanisms and consequences of locust phase change, from differential gene expression and epigenetic regulation through to neuronal plasticity and altered behaviour. The impact of techniques such as RNA interference and the sequencing of the first locust genome are discussed, and we consider the evidence from comparative analyses between related locust species for the possible evolution of locust-like phenotypic plasticity. Collective movement, and new ways of measuring the behaviour of both migrating bands in the field and individuals in the laboratory, are analysed. We also examine the environmental factors that affect phase change, along with the wider impact of land use and management strategies that may unwittingly create environments conducive to outbreaks. Finally, we consider the human costs of locust swarming behaviour, and use combined social, economic and environmental approaches to suggest potential ways forward for locust monitoring and management.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Journal | Advances in Insect Physiology |
| DOIs | |
| State | Accepted/In press - 2017 |
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Keywords
- Behaviour
- Biogenic amine
- Collective movement
- Environmental stimuli
- Epigenetics
- Human-locust interactions
- Locust phase polyphenism
- Locusta
- Phenotypic plasticity
- Schistocerca
Cite this
From Molecules to Management : Mechanisms and Consequences of Locust Phase Polyphenism. / Cullen, Darron A.; Cease, Arianne J.; Latchininsky, Alexandre V.; Ayali, Amir; Berry, Kevin; Buhl, Jerome; De Keyser, Rien; Foquet, Bert; Hadrich, Joleen C.; Matheson, Tom; Ott, Swidbert R.; Poot-Pech, Mario A.; Robinson, Brian E.; Smith, Jonathan M.; Song, Hojun; Sword, Gregory A.; Vanden Broeck, Jozef; Verdonck, Rik; Verlinden, Heleen; Rogers, Stephen M.
In: Advances in Insect Physiology, 2017.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - From Molecules to Management
T2 - Mechanisms and Consequences of Locust Phase Polyphenism
AU - Cullen, Darron A.
AU - Cease, Arianne J.
AU - Latchininsky, Alexandre V.
AU - Ayali, Amir
AU - Berry, Kevin
AU - Buhl, Jerome
AU - De Keyser, Rien
AU - Foquet, Bert
AU - Hadrich, Joleen C.
AU - Matheson, Tom
AU - Ott, Swidbert R.
AU - Poot-Pech, Mario A.
AU - Robinson, Brian E.
AU - Smith, Jonathan M.
AU - Song, Hojun
AU - Sword, Gregory A.
AU - Vanden Broeck, Jozef
AU - Verdonck, Rik
AU - Verlinden, Heleen
AU - Rogers, Stephen M.
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - Locusts are grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) that are characterised by their capacity for extreme population density-dependent polyphenism, transforming between a cryptic solitarious phase that avoids other locusts, and a swarming gregarious phase that aggregates and undergoes collective migration. The two phases differ in many aspects of behaviour, physiology and ecology, making locusts a useful model through which to investigate the phenotypic interface of molecular processes and environmental cues. This review summarises recent progress in understanding the mechanisms and consequences of locust phase change, from differential gene expression and epigenetic regulation through to neuronal plasticity and altered behaviour. The impact of techniques such as RNA interference and the sequencing of the first locust genome are discussed, and we consider the evidence from comparative analyses between related locust species for the possible evolution of locust-like phenotypic plasticity. Collective movement, and new ways of measuring the behaviour of both migrating bands in the field and individuals in the laboratory, are analysed. We also examine the environmental factors that affect phase change, along with the wider impact of land use and management strategies that may unwittingly create environments conducive to outbreaks. Finally, we consider the human costs of locust swarming behaviour, and use combined social, economic and environmental approaches to suggest potential ways forward for locust monitoring and management.
AB - Locusts are grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Acrididae) that are characterised by their capacity for extreme population density-dependent polyphenism, transforming between a cryptic solitarious phase that avoids other locusts, and a swarming gregarious phase that aggregates and undergoes collective migration. The two phases differ in many aspects of behaviour, physiology and ecology, making locusts a useful model through which to investigate the phenotypic interface of molecular processes and environmental cues. This review summarises recent progress in understanding the mechanisms and consequences of locust phase change, from differential gene expression and epigenetic regulation through to neuronal plasticity and altered behaviour. The impact of techniques such as RNA interference and the sequencing of the first locust genome are discussed, and we consider the evidence from comparative analyses between related locust species for the possible evolution of locust-like phenotypic plasticity. Collective movement, and new ways of measuring the behaviour of both migrating bands in the field and individuals in the laboratory, are analysed. We also examine the environmental factors that affect phase change, along with the wider impact of land use and management strategies that may unwittingly create environments conducive to outbreaks. Finally, we consider the human costs of locust swarming behaviour, and use combined social, economic and environmental approaches to suggest potential ways forward for locust monitoring and management.
KW - Behaviour
KW - Biogenic amine
KW - Collective movement
KW - Environmental stimuli
KW - Epigenetics
KW - Human-locust interactions
KW - Locust phase polyphenism
KW - Locusta
KW - Phenotypic plasticity
KW - Schistocerca
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85028023077&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85028023077&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/bs.aiip.2017.06.002
DO - 10.1016/bs.aiip.2017.06.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85028023077
JO - Advances in Insect Physiology
JF - Advances in Insect Physiology
SN - 0065-2806
ER -