Adaptive learning and reproductive success in female two-spotted spider mites; Might mother know best?

Warnders, Wessel (2024) Adaptive learning and reproductive success in female two-spotted spider mites; Might mother know best? Bachelor's Research Project (period 2a), Biology.

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Abstract

This study investigates the ability for the two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) to develop preferences or aversions for one host plant over the other. T. urticae is a well studied herbivorous arthropod known to be able to feed and survive on a wide range of plant species due to its genetic resistance against many toxic chemicals present in the leaves of certain plants. Rose, potato and lemon are being used to test their preference and performance, with bean as a control group only in the performance part. The results show a statistically significant shift in preference from potato to rose, indicating the ability to learn their preferred substrate to increase their fitness. However, there was no statistically significant result in the preference versus aversion experiment which suggests that the mites do not prefer nor averse the host plants during their choice. Furthermore, experiments based on the performance of the spider mite showed that lemon was significantly less favourable than rose, potato or bean, which all three had statistically the same positive results. Overall, this study gives an insight in the adaptive learning of the two-spotted spider mite and preference versus aversion on different host plants.

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor's Research Project (period 2a))
Supervisor name:	Egas, C.J.M.
Degree programme:	Biology
Thesis type:	Bachelor's Research Project (period 2a)
Language:	English
Date Deposited:	01 May 2024 13:00
Last Modified:	07 May 2024 11:32
URI:	https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/32282

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