Entomology: Personnel
Entomology Faculty
Tracie M. JenkinsAssistant Professor of Applied Insect Genetics Contact InformationAddress: Department of Entomology Phone: (770) 412-4093 |
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Courses Taught
GENE 3000, Evolution, 4 credits, Spring Semester, (syllabus)
GENE 3200, Genetics, 4 credits, Fall Semester, (syllabus)
HORT 4800, Biotechnology, 3 credits, Fall Semester, (syllabus)
PGEN 3580, Plant Genetics, 3 credits
AESC 4950, Undergraduate Research in Agricultural and Environmental Science,
2–3 credits, Fall and/or Spring, TBA with each student
AESC 4960, Special Problems in Agricultural and Environmental Science,
2–3 credits, Fall and/or Spring, TBA with each student
Lab Personnel
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| Tyler Eaton, Technician |
Research
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Overview: The genetics of urban and horticultural insect pests.
The overall purpose of my research is to apply DNA marker technology
to the study of geographic population structure, gene flow, phylogeography,
speciation, molecular systematics, and phylogenetics and insect-plant
host interactions of urban and horticultural insect pests. My lab collaborates
on studies from urban structural pests such as subterranean termites
(Rhinotermitidae) and ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) to urban horticultural
pests which includes flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), lace
bugs, Stephanitis pyrioides (Heteroptera: Tingidae), and azalea caterpillars
(Lepidoptera: Notodontidae).
Black Carpenter Ant, Camponotus pennsylvanicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)
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Camponotus species are serious pests that cause billions of dollars
in wood damage annually in the United States. They, unlike termites,
do not eat wood but excavate and nest in it. The black carpenter ant, Camponotus
pennsylvanicus (DeGeer), is a prevalent structural pest of the eastern
and central United States; and, may even be the most common carpenter
ant pest east of the Mississippi River. These ants will establish
primary or satellite colonies in dry, sound wood throughout a structure
such as in support timbers, roofs, shingles, garages, window frames and
sills. Thus, in the southeastern United States the growing urbanization,
which includes building near forested areas, and ecological changes due
to warming trends are likely exacerbating the problem of C. pennsylvanicus infestations.
In collaboration with Dr.
Dan Suiter, UGA Entomology, and using
an integrative protocol, which includes field work, behavioral studies
and DNA marker technology, my lab has begun a longitudinal study the purpose
of which is to understand the intra- and intercolony structure of 20 C.
pennsylvanicus colonies.
We expect to illuminate intra- and intercolony spatial and temporal
gene flow that will help interpret efficacy test results.
Flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)
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Flea beetles are serious pests of horticultural and agricultural plants. Our overall purpose is to understand the insect host-plant interactions of flea beetles that attack plants in the Onagraceae and Lythraceae families in order to develop effective control strategies. My lab in collaboration with Dr. Kris Braman, UGA Entomology, is conducting a longitudinal study, the objectives of which are to determine the molecular taxonomy, gene flow, and phylogeny and insect-host plant co-evolution of beetles in the genus Altica. Our initial results show host plant specificity, a relationship between morphology and DNA character states, unrestricted gene flow across states and ecoregions, and possible positive assortative mating.
Termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)
Molecular Taxonomy
Accurate species identification underlies all termite field
studies and population genetic research. With more than 170
species of termites in Peninsular Malaysia, it has been challenging
to elucidate proper taxonomic records among the species, particularly
within the family Termitidae. This lack of taxonomic clarity
hampers many studies on termites in this area of the world. My lab in
collaboration with Dr.
Chow-Yang Lee, School of biological Sciences,
Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, is presently studying the
taxonomy of species within the family Termitidae. Individual termites
are first identified to species and or genus by morphometric characters.
Taxonomic fidelity from morphometric characters is then determined by
distance matrix and character-state phylogenetic analyses of sequence
data.
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Termite mounds in Northern Australia |
Gene flow, natural history
Coptotermes gestroi, the Asian subterranean termite (AST), C. formosanus, the Formosan
subterranean termite (FST), and R. flavipes, the eastern subterranean
termite (EST), are economically important exotic and indigenous structural
and agricultural pests that have become established in many areas of
the world including the United States. Current collaborative research
with Brian
Forschler, UGA Entomology, Dan
Suiter, UGA Entomology, and
Susan
Jones, OSU Entomology, concerns using DNA data to determine the
phylogenetic relationships of AST and FST collected in indigenous locations
within Asia and Southeast Asia as well as from areas of introduction
in South America and the United States and its territories. The overall
purpose of this research is to use optimality criteria encompassing
phenetic and cladistic assumptions coupled with phylogeographic theory
and historical data to identify where exotic termites originate and
their mechanism of dispersal. This is a crucial step for developing
possible interdiction policies to curtail future introductions of thee
destructive insect species.
Mitogenomics
The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genome or mitogenome has an effective
population size (Ne) one-fourth that of the nuclear genome,
which means it is likely to be congruent with termite natural
history. There are to date many complete or nearly complete insect mitogenomes
sequenced, none of which are termite mitogenomes (Stewart JB,
Beckenbach AT. 2003. MPE 26:513-526). Analysis of these mitogenomic
sequences provides the ultimate phylogenetic information. Termite mtDNA
genome sequence would provide information on gene arrangements, which
could be compared with other insect mitogenomes. This comparison coupled
with robust phylogenetic analysis would provide strong inference concerning
insights into selective pressures on introduced populations. We are
using conserved polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers (Stewart JB,
Beckenbach AT. 2003. MPE 26:513-526; Simon C et al. 1994. Ann. Entomol.
Soc. Am. 87:651-701) to amplify, sequence and compare subterranean termite
mtDNA genomes.
Outreach
I serve as a mentor for the Young Scholars Program in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The Young Scholars Program is committed to providing the brightest of our High School Students the opportunity to develop scientific skills by doing research in one of the working research labs on campus. I also serve as a resource for science fair participants and/or as a judge for science fair projects at the school, regional and state level.
Selected Publications
Jenkins, T. M., S. C. Jones, C.-Y. Lee, B. T. Forschler, Z. Chen, G. Lopez-Martinez, N. T. Gallagher, G. Brown, M. Neal, B. Thistleton, and S. Kleinschmidt. 2007. Phylogeography illuminates maternal origins of exotic Coptotermes gestroi (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 42: 612-621. PDF
Lee, C.-Y., B. T. Forschler, and T. M. Jenkins. 2005. Taxonomic questions on Malaysian termites (Isoptera: Termitidae) answered with morphology and DNA biotechnology. Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Urban Pests, Singapore.
Jenkins, T. M., R. E. Dean, and B. T. Forschler. 2002. DNA technology, interstate commerce, and the likely origin of Formosan subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) infestation in Atlanta, Georgia. J. Econ. Entomol 95: 381-389. PDF
Jenkins, T. M., R. Dean, R. Verkerk, and B. T. Forschler. 2001. Phylogenetic analyses of two mitochondrial genes and one nuclear intron region illuminate European subterranean termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae) gene flow, taxonomy, and introduction dynamics. Mol. Phylogenet. Evol. 20: 286-293. PDF
Brickman, M .A., T.M. Jenkins, S. A. Clay, and N. H. Granholm. 2001. Genetic variation in Aphthona nigriscutis Foudras (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) populations introduced into the United States to biologically control leafy spurge. J. Entom. Sci. 36: 391-401.