The evolution of novel host use is unlikely to be constrained by trade‐offs or a lack of genetic variation

• DOI: 10.1111/mec.13199
• Publication Date: 2015-04-16T06:09:03Z
• Authors: Zachariah Gompert; Joshua P. Jahner; Cynthia F. Scholl; Joseph S. Wilson; Lauren K. Lucas; Victor Soria‐Carr...; James A. Fordyce; Chris C. Nice; C. Alex Buerkle; Matthew L. Forister
• Keywords: Genetic architecture; Local adaptation; Ecological genetics; Variation (astronomy); Trade-off

The genetic and ecological factors that shape the evolution of animal diets remain poorly understood. For herbivorous insects, expectation has been trade-offs exist, such adaptation to one host plant reduces performance on other potential hosts. We investigated architecture alternative use by rearing individual Lycaeides melissa butterflies from two wild populations in a crossed design hosts (one native introduced) analysing basis differences using genomic approaches. Survival during experiment was highest when butterfly larvae were reared their natal plant, consistent with local adaptation. However, cross-host correlations among families (within populations) not different zero. found L. possess variation for larval had polygenic basis. documented very few variants would inherently constrain diet breadth preventing optimization across Instead, most affected little no effect host. In total, these results suggest are primary cause dietary specialization butterflies.