Collaborative Research: Population Biology and Systematics of Yeasts

这项提议有两个研究目标。一个是研究在物种形成中可能重要的遗传变化，另一个是研究可能影响群落成员资格的因素。一组生活在腐烂植物部位的相关酵母菌将被用于调查。酵母菌的遗传学研究将包括对染色体、酶和DNA变化的评估，而生态学研究将包括对寄主化学物质、昆虫关系和酵母-酵母竞争相互作用的调查。这项研究对基础科学应该很重要，因为它将帮助我们了解物种是如何形成的，以及为什么物种生活在特定的栖息地。间接地，这项研究将有助于澄清昆虫与微生物的关系，这可能有助于控制害虫，并有助于理解如何管理植物病原体。

This proposal has two research goals. One is to study the genetic changes that may be important in the formation of species and the other is to study the factors that may influence the membership in communities. A related group of yeast species which live in decaying plant parts will be used in the investigation. Genetic studies of the yeasts will include evaluation of chromosome, enzyme and DNA changes, while ecological studies will include investigations on host chemicals, insect relationships and yeast-yeast competitive interactions. This research should be important to basic science because it will help us understand how species are formed and why species live in specific habitats. Indirectly, the research will help clarify insect-microorganism relationships that might aid in controlling pests as well as to help understand how to manage plant pathogens.