The Evolvability of Chemical Sequestration in an Insect Herbivore: Tradeoffs in a Triptrophic Interaction

昆虫草食动物化学封存的进化性：三营养相互作用的权衡

• 批准号: 0614223
• 负责人: James Fordyce
• 金额: $ 40.5万
• 依托单位: University of Tennessee Knoxville
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-09-15 至 2011-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0614223&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Evolvability; Chemical; Sequestration; Insect; Herbivore

Many plant-eating insects (herbivores) chemically defend themselves using toxins obtained (sequestered) from plants. However, such defenses can be too much of a good thing if they impose a cost, such as reduced growth rate or fewer offspring. This study examines the evolution of sequestration, using the pipevine swallowtail butterfly as a model system. Pipevine swallowtails are unpalatable because their caterpillars sequester toxic alkaloids (aristolochic acids) from their pipevine host plants. Breeding experiments will assess genetic variation for sequestration. Natural selection should temper the amount sequestered to maximize defensive benefits and minimize costs. Field and laboratory experiments will address these costs / benefits through diet chemistry manipulation and selective breeding for sequestration ability. The ability to sequester from the chemical cocktail present in particular pipevine species could facilitate differentiation of butterfly populations. Laboratory crossbreeding of butterfly populations using different pipevine species will assess the extent of local adaptation.This study will enhance our understanding of how plant chemistry directs herbivore evolution. This research will provide training in experimentation and analytical chemistry for undergraduate and graduate students, and will involve hands-on scientific experience for middle and high school science educators. Finally, this project will serve as a vehicle for public education about ecological interactions and evolution

许多食草昆虫（食草动物）使用从植物中获得（隔离）的毒素进行化学防御。然而，如果这种防御措施带来了成本，比如生长速度降低或后代减少，那么这种防御措施就可能是一件好事。本研究以凤蝶为模式系统，探讨封存的演化。飞燕草不好吃，因为它们的毛虫从飞燕草宿主植物中隔离有毒生物碱（马兜铃酸）。育种实验将评估用于螯合的遗传变异。自然选择应该调节隔离的数量，以最大限度地提高防御效益，并最大限度地减少成本。田间和实验室实验将通过饮食化学操作和选择性育种来解决这些成本/效益问题。隔离的能力，从化学鸡尾酒目前在特定的pipevine物种可以促进蝴蝶种群的分化。实验室用不同的胡椒属物种杂交蝴蝶种群将评估当地适应的程度。这项研究将提高我们对植物化学如何指导食草动物进化的理解。这项研究将为本科生和研究生提供实验和分析化学方面的培训，并将为初中和高中科学教育工作者提供实践科学经验。最后，这个项目将作为一个工具，对公众进行生态相互作用和进化的教育