Symbiosis Theft and Sharing in the Northwoods
What is Symbiosis? living together A close living relationship between two different types of organisms At least one member of the pair benefits. The other member might be: Benefitted: mutualism Relatively unaffected: commensalism Injured: parasitism
Goldenrod Galls: A Parade of Parasites
Eurosta solidaginis (Gall Fly)
Eurytoma gigantea (Parasitic wasp #2)
Mordellistena unicolor (beetle predator)
Chickadees and Downies
Measuring with Calipers
Measuring with Calipers USE millimeters (mm) (NOT inches) the plant must expend energy in producing gall tissue, it would be to the plant's advantage to keep the galls small. Hence, plants genetically able to inhibit gall size would be more successful.
Different gall sizes result from genotypic variation in the gall fly and/or the goldenrod plant.
What are genes? A gene is the basic physical and functional unit of heredity. Genes, which are made up of DNA, act as instructions to make molecules called proteins.
What factors could result in the formation of different size goldenrod galls? From the GOLDENROD s perspective: Plant genes might be able to keep the galls small. The plant must expend energy in producing gall tissue, it would be to the plant's advantage to keep the galls small. Hence, plants genetically able to inhibit gall size would be more successful.
What factors could result in the formation of different size goldenrod galls? From the FLY s perspective: Genes could encode for the ability to produce a more or less powerful growth-stimulating chemical which it secretes into the plant. Different flies could make different size galls. Later-starting flies make smaller galls.
Natural Selection The process in nature whereby organisms who are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring, and therefore, are able to transmit and perpetuate their genes to succeeding generations. The theory of its action was first fully expounded by Charles Darwin and is now believed to be the main process that brings about evolution.
Natural Selection Genetic variation different size galls Overproduction of offspring Lots of babies, not all need to survive Struggle for existence competition for food and space, evading death Differential survival and reproduction Galls in a field may get bigger or smaller
Natural Selection If you look at the people around you, are they all the same? What would happen if we lived in a world where all the food was kept 6 feet off the ground and there was absolutely no way you could get it if you weren t tall enough? Living things that are best-suited, or adapted, to their environment survive and multiply. Those that are not don t survive.
Natural Selection in a Field of Goldenrod What would happen in an area with wasps? What would happen in an area with birds?
A Field of Galls
A Field of Galls and Wasps (1)
A Field of Galls and Wasps (2)
A Field of Galls and Birds (1)
A Field of Galls and Birds (2)
Natural Selection Genetic variation Overproduction of offspring Struggle for existence Differential survival and reproduction
Our Gall Study
12 Total Galls per Gall Diameter 2017 Average: 22.52 mm 10 8 Number of Galls 6 4 2 0 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Gall Diameter in mm
Total Galls per Gall Diameter 2013-2016 Average: 22.50 60 50 40 Number of Galls 30 20 10 0 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Gall Diameter in mm
Live Flies 23.32 mm 2017 Beetles 23.1 mm 7 7 6 6 Number of Galls 5 4 3 2 Fly Larvae Number of Galls 5 4 3 2 Beetles 1 1 0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Gall Diameter 0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Gall Diameter Wasp #2 20.83 mm Birds 20.83 mm 5 5 4 4 Number of Galls 3 2 Wasp #2 Number of Galls 3 2 Birds 1 1 0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Gall Diameter 0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Gall Diameter
25 20 Live Flies 22.81 mm 2013-2017 6 Beetles Average 22.63 mm Number of Galls 15 10 5 Fly Larvae Number of Galls 4 2 Beetles 0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Gall Diameter 0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Gall Diameter Wasp #2 22.09 mm Birds 23.49 mm 12 12 10 10 Number of Galls 8 6 4 Wasp #2 Number of Galls 8 6 4 Birds 2 2 0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Gall Diameter 0 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 Gall Diameter
Mean Diameter per Creature 2017 25.00 24.00 23.00 22.00 Diameter in mm 21.00 20.00 19.00 18.00 Total Galls Live Flies Wasp #1 Wasp#2 Beetle Bird 17.00 Total Galls Live Flies Wasp #1 Wasp#2 Beetle Bird
25.00 Mean Diameter per Creature 2013-2017 24.00 23.00 22.00 Diameter in mm 21.00 20.00 19.00 18.00 Total Galls Live Flies Wasp #1 Wasp#2 Beetle Bird 17.00 Total Galls Live FliesWasp #1 Wasp#2 Beetle Bird
What could go wrong? What could affect the quality of our data? What could we change and do better for next time?