DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The ecology of divergence in vibrational signals of Enchenopa binotata treehoppers

拟议的研究重点是一组密切相关的植物饲养昆虫，Enchenopa binotata treehoppers，以更好地了解通信信号如何有助于新物种的形成。 环境选择用于有效通信，这导致当环境不同时通信信号的变化。 鉴于只有具有兼容通信系统的个体才倾向于彼此交配，这些差异也可能导致不同环境中的种群之间的生殖隔离。 Enchenopa是宿主特异性的，即每个物种只与一种植物相关联。 这是理想的情况，因为生态差异是由每个寄主植物物种很好地定义。 在Enchenopa binotata复合体中的物种在雄性交配信号的音调上存在显着差异，每个物种将不同的音调传递到其各自宿主植物的茎中。 两种寄主植物物种的传输特性的初步结果表明，居民Enchenopa物种所使用的相同的沥青是在植物中传输最好的沥青，这表明每个昆虫物种是调谐到其宿主植物。 然而，种群之间的生态差异涉及多种因素，这强调了了解野生种群中交流个体经历的重要性。为此，拟议的研究整合了环境的多个组成部分，以更好地了解Enchenopa binotata树跳通信的自然环境。 信号传输特性将被表征为额外的宿主植物物种，并且由风引起的振动产生的背景噪声也将被表征为每个宿主植物物种。 背景噪声很重要，因为它可以掩盖信号。 然后，进一步的研究将评估这些因素对接收这些信号的个体的影响。 正如所提议的，这项研究将提供最彻底的评估差异的作用，在一组振动通信昆虫物种的环境背景下，以及这些差异如何可能导致信号的变化。更广泛的影响：更广泛地说，这项研究为准确测量振动信号以及对大学生进行培训提供了一种新方法。 此外，为本科生提供的培训具有独特的广度，因为这项研究的大部分源于生物学家和工程师之间的合作。 教育/研究经验将为研究生和本科生助理在行为生物学未来的职业生涯做准备。 此外，所使用的技术和假设解决将有助于生态分歧和进化的同域种群的理论方面。

The proposed research focuses on a group of closely related plant-feeding insects, Enchenopa binotata treehoppers, to understand better how communication signals contribute to the formation of new species. Environments select for efficient communication, which leads to variation in the communication signals when environments differ. Given that only individuals with compatible communication systems tend to mate with one another, these differences also may lead to reproductive isolation among populations in different environments. Enchenopa are host-specific, a situation where each species associates exclusively with a single species of plant. This is ideal situation since ecological differences are well defined by each host-plant species. Species in the Enchenopa binotata complex differ dramatically in the pitch of male mating signals, with each species imparting a different pitch into the stems of its respective host plant. Preliminary results on the transmission properties of two host plant species shows that the same pitch used by the resident Enchenopa species is the pitch that transmits best in the plant, suggesting each insect species is tuned to its host plant. However, ecological differences between populations involve multiple factors, which underscores the importance of understanding what communicating individuals experience in wild populations. To this end the proposed research integrates multiple components of the environment to better understand the natural context in which Enchenopa binotata treehoppers communicate. Signal transmission properties will be characterized for additional host plant species, and background noise resulting from wind-induced vibrations will also be characterized for each host-plant species. Background noise is important since it can mask signals. Further research then will evaluate the impact of these factors on individuals that receive these signals. As proposed, this research will provide the most thorough evaluation of the role of differences in the environmental context of a group of vibrationally-communicating insect species, and how these differences may lead to variation in signals. Broader Impacts: More broadly, the proposed research provides a novel method for accurately measuring vibrational signals as well as training for undergraduates. Further, the training provided to undergraduates has unique breadth, as much of this research stems from collaborations between biologists and engineers. The educational/research experience will prepare the graduate student and undergraduate assistants for future careers in behavioral biology. Also, the techniques used and hypotheses addressed will contribute to theoretical aspects of ecological divergence and evolution in sympatric populations.