Phylogenomics of the Choristoneura fumiferana species complex (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

• Author / Creator

  Bird, Heather M

• The phylogenetic relationships of the destructive spruce budworm group of forest pests (Choristoneura fumiferana species complex) have previously been explored using allozymes, microsatellites, mitochondrial genes and a nuclear gene, but remain poorly resolved with conflicting topologies. I used mass sampling of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across their genome in a genotyping-by-sequencing approach. Over 100 000 SNPs with greater than 75% coverage in 99 specimens (ApeKI restriction enzyme digest) or 144 specimens (PstI-MspI digest) resolved C. fumiferana, C. carnana, C. retiniana, and C. pinus as strongly-supported monophyletic species. The most distinct species, C. pinus, yielded 945 autapomorphic SNPs, and was definitively placed as basal to the whole species complex, contrasting with previous mtDNA results. The functions of genes homologous to the sequence surrounding the diagnostic C. pinus SNPs included detoxification, morphological differences, flight, and sensory perception, providing insights into the genetic basis of species differences.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Lepidoptera
  • Phylogenomics
  • Systematics
  • Jack pine budworm
  • Phylogenetics
  • Genotyping by Sequencing
  • Evolution
  • Choristoneura fumiferana
  • Choristoneura pinus
  • Spruce budworm

• Graduation date

  Fall 2013

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R3GM8205P

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.