Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Proc Biol Sci. 2011 Mar 22;278(1707):889-97. doi: 10.1098/rspb.2010.2199. Epub 2010 Nov 24.
Although the neural and genetic pathways underlying learning and memory formation seem strikingly similar among species of distant animal phyla, several more subtle inter- and intraspecific differences become evident from studies on model organisms. The true significance of such variation can only be understood when integrating this with information on the ecological relevance. Here, we argue that parasitoid wasps provide an excellent opportunity for multi-disciplinary studies that integrate ultimate and proximate approaches. These insects display interspecific variation in learning rate and memory dynamics that reflects natural variation in a daunting foraging task that largely determines their fitness: finding the inconspicuous hosts to which they will assign their offspring to develop. We review bioassays used for oviposition learning, the ecological factors that are considered to underlie the observed differences in learning rate and memory dynamics, and the opportunities for convergence of ecology and neuroscience that are offered by using parasitoid wasps as model species. We advocate that variation in learning and memory traits has evolved to suit an insect's lifestyle within its ecological niche.
虽然学习和记忆形成的神经和遗传途径在不同动物门的物种中似乎惊人地相似，但从对模式生物的研究中可以明显看出更多细微的种间和种内差异。只有将这种差异与生态相关性的信息结合起来，才能真正理解这种变异的意义。在这里，我们认为寄生蜂为整合终极和近似方法的多学科研究提供了极好的机会。这些昆虫在学习速度和记忆动态方面表现出种间变异，反映了在一项艰巨的觅食任务中自然发生的变异，而觅食任务在很大程度上决定了它们的适应性：找到不显眼的宿主，它们将在这些宿主身上产下后代。我们回顾了用于产卵学习的生物测定法、被认为是导致学习速度和记忆动态差异的生态因素，以及利用寄生蜂作为模式物种为生态学和神经科学的融合提供的机会。我们主张，学习和记忆特征的变异是为了适应昆虫在其生态位中的生活方式而进化的。
