Stress-Mediated Interactions Among Oaks, Gypsy Moth, and a Baculovirus

生理应激经常被认为是森林树木对食草动物易感性的一个原因，并且被假设为舞毒蛾爆发的一个偶然因素。尽管有很多猜测，但很少有综合性的研究试图确定一种随意的关系。这个研究项目就是为此而设计的，它使用舞毒蛾、两种重要的寄主植物和一种杆状病毒。橡树叶的性状影响舞毒蛾的生长、繁殖和对病毒的抵抗力。本项目将在对照试验中确定干旱和营养胁迫对这些叶片性状的影响，以及可能影响舞毒蛾种群动态的舞毒蛾性能方面的后果。该项目将橡树生理学专家的研究与已经在研究该系统的化学生态学家的研究结合起来。这项3个营养水平的研究为了解害虫入侵的原因、深入了解植物-食草动物相互作用的基础、通过开发更有效的微生物杀虫剂、种群趋势预测和林分操纵来改善害虫控制提供了希望。

Physiological stress is frequently implicated as a cause of forest tree susceptibility to herbivores, and has been hypothesized as a casual factor in outbreaks of the gypsy moth. Despite much speculation, there have been few comprehensive studies seeking to identify a casual relationship. This research program is designed to do so, using the gypsy moth, two important hostplants, and a baculovirus. Oak leaf traits influence gypsy moth growth, reproduction, and resistance to a virus. This project will determine the influence of drought and nutrient stresses on these leaf traits in controlled experiments, and the consequences for aspects of gypsy moth performance likely to influence its population dynamics. This project integrates research by a specialist in oak physiology with that of chemical ecologist already working on this system. This 3-trophic-level study offers promise of understanding causes of pest irruptions, insight into the basis of plant-herbivore interactions, and improved pest control via developing more effective microbial insecticides, population trend predictions, and stand manipulation.