Altered Semiochemistry as a Source of Partial Escape from Predators Responding to Insect Pheromones

小行星9408264 我们知道很少的程度上信息素化学的猎物物种进化的选择产生的捕食者使用信息素来定位猎物。 PI正在研究树皮甲虫捕食者化学信息素相互作用的生态意义。 他将测试的假设，1）信息素手性和次要成分的微妙变化可能有助于逃离捕食者，同时保留种内功能，2）树皮甲虫化学信息的变化可以影响殖民树木内的繁殖成功。 这项研究将对昆虫捕食者与猎物之间的生态关系产生新的见解，特别是猎物如何适应以减少捕食者对其化学通讯系统（信息素）的攻击。 由于小蠹是可持续林业的主要挑战之一，因此本研究的结果将对森林管理和小蠹爆发具有重要应用。

9408264 Raffa We know very little about the extent to which pheromone chemistry of prey species has evolved in response to selection generated by predators that use pheromones to locate prey. The PI is studing the ecological implications of bark beetle-predator semiochemical interactions. He will test the hypotheses that 1) subtle shifts in pheromone chirality and secondary components may facilitate escape from predators, while retaining intraspecific functions, and 2) variation in bark beetle semiochemistry can affect reproductive success within colonized trees. This research will yield new insights into the ecological relationships between insect predators and their prey, and , in particular, how prey adapt to reduce attack by predators that home in on their chemical communication systems (pheromones). Because bark beetles are one of the major challenges to sustainable forestry, the results of this research will have important application to management of forests and bark-beetle outbreaks.