Dissertation Research: The Effects of Plant Quality, Competition, and Parasitism on Herbivore Population Dynamics

Kareiva/Morris的提议试图通过实验确定植物食性昆虫的数量是如何通过植物质量的变化、天敌的攻击和竞争来限制的。总的来说，这个建议是经过深思熟虑，精心设计的，并且解决了人口和社区生态中的重要问题。他们的方法是好的，因为许多概念上的问题，在生态的植食性昆虫需要实验，但很少有研究这样做。这项研究很重要，因为它试图在检查草食动物种群动态的三个营养水平方面架起桥梁，这通常只被认为是零碎的。它之所以重要，还因为它可能提供对农业和林业病虫害防治有用的新数据。Kareiva博士在这一领域和整个生态学领域的科学家中享有很高的声誉。华盛顿大学非常适合支持这项工作。该项目建议提供资金。

The proposal by Kareiva/Morris seeks to experimentally determine how phytophagous insect populations are limited through changes in plant quality, attack by natural enemies, and competition. Generally, this proposal is well-thought out, well- designed, and addresses important issues in population and community ecology. Their approach is good since many conceptual questions in the ecology of phytophagous insects demand experimentation, yet few studies have done so. The research is important because it attempts to bridge aspects of three trophic levels in examining dynamics of herbivore populations, which are usually only considered piecemeal. It is important also because there may be new data provided that will be useful in pest controll in agriculture and forestry. Dr. Kareiva enjoys a high regard amongst scientists in this field and in ecology in general. The University of Washington is eminently suited to support this work. The program recommends funding.