U.S.-France Cooperative Research: Genetics and Chemical Ecology of Reticulitermes Termites

这个为期三年的美法种群生态学合作奖由北卡罗来纳州立大学的Edward Vargo和图尔斯大学昆虫生物学研究所的Anne-Genevive Bagneres的研究小组参与。他们将研究群居昆虫的遗传学和化学生态学，特别是白蚁。该物种在自然生态系统中分解纤维素方面起着重要作用。它们是北半球温带地区的严重结构性害虫，包括法国和美国。研究人员研究了两个重要方面：群体社会组织和分类学。他们将使用分子遗传标记和分析化学技术来调查在法国发现的地下白蚁R.santonensis的群体和种群。还将研究与黄粉菌的比较和化学性质的一般用途。这位美国研究人员将使用微卫星基因座的分子标记基因分型技术带到了这次合作中。法国研究人员对社会性昆虫的角质层碳氢化合物和士兵防御性分泌物的化学分析研究也补充了这一点。这项合作将促进对这些群居昆虫的群体和种群是如何组织的，以及群体之间生化特征的差异反映遗传变异的程度的理解。该奖项代表了美方向NSF和法国国家科学研究中心(CNRS)提出的联合建议。NSF将支付美国研究员、博士后研究员和研究生的旅费和生活费。CNRS将支持法国与会者访问美国。

0233238VargoThis three-year award for U.S.-France cooperation in population ecology involves the research groups of Edward Vargo at North Carolina State University and Anne-Genevieve Bagneres at the University of Tours' Institute for Insect Biology. They will investigate the genetics and chemical ecology of social insects, in particular, Reticulitermes termites. This species plays an important role in decomposition of cellulose in natural ecosystems. They are serious structural pests throughout the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including France and the United States. The investigators address two important aspects: colony social organization and taxonomy. They will use molecular genetic markers and analytical chemical techniques to investigate colonies and population of R. santonensis, a subterranean termite found in France. Comparisons to R. flavipes and general utility of chemical characters will also be studied. The US investigator brings to this collaboration the technique of molecular marker genotyping using microsatellite loci. This is complemented by the French investigator's research on chemical analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons and soldier defensive secretions in social insects. The collaboration will advance understanding of how colonies and populations of these social insects are organized and the extent to which differences in biochemical signatures among colonies reflect genetic variation. This award represents the US side of a joint proposal to the NSF and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS). NSF will cover travel funds and living expenses of the US investigator, postdoctoral researcher and graduate student. The CNRS will support visits to US of the French participants.