Dissertation Research - Coevolution in a insect-plant interaction: geographical variation, local adaptation and the costs of counteradaptation

论文研究 - 昆虫与植物相互作用中的共同进化：地理变异、局部适应和逆适应的成本

• 批准号: 0807418
• 负责人: Douglas Futuyma
• 金额: $ 1.2万
• 依托单位: SUNY at Stony Brook
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-05-15 至 2010-04-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0807418&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Dissertation; Research; Coevolution; insect; plant

Coevolution, the evolution of adaptations to ecological interactions with other species, has enhanced the diversity of life and has had profound effect on ecological communities and ecosystems. However, rates and processes of coevolution are not well understood. The investigators will use a highly integrative approach to study coevolution between a plant, the rattlebox (Crotalaria pallida), and a moth (Utetheisa ornatrix) that consumes seeds and is the plant's major enemy. The plant has chemicals that are thought to provide protection against the moth, and the investigators have discovered that the plant-moth interaction varies geographically, with the moth locally adapted to the plant. The investigators will integrate diverse approaches to unravel the coevolutionary dynamics. They will use molecular markers and biochemical assays to study the genetic structure of the plant and the moth populations, the relationship of genetic structure to the interaction, and adaptation of the moth to the plant's toxins.The project will train students, including those from underrepresented groups, and will facilitate exchange of ideas between United States and Brazilian academic communities through collaboration with a Brazilian research group. The results are likely to have important implications for biological control of weeds and insect pests, and may also advance understanding of coevolution between pathogens and humans.

协同进化是适应与其他物种的生态相互作用的进化，它增强了生命的多样性，对生态群落和生态系统产生了深远的影响。然而，共同进化的速率和过程还没有得到很好的理解。研究人员将使用一种高度综合的方法来研究一种植物，即响尾蛇（Crotalaria pallida）和一种蛾（Utetheisa ornatrix）之间的共同进化，这种蛾消耗种子，是植物的主要敌人。这种植物含有被认为可以保护植物免受蛾类侵害的化学物质，研究人员发现植物与蛾类的相互作用在地理上各不相同，蛾类在当地适应了植物。研究人员将整合不同的方法来解开共同进化的动力学。他们将利用分子标记和生物化学分析来研究植物和蛾类种群的遗传结构、遗传结构与相互作用的关系以及蛾类对植物毒素的适应性。该项目将培训学生，包括来自代表性不足群体的学生，并将通过与巴西研究小组的合作促进美国和巴西学术界之间的思想交流。这些结果可能对杂草和害虫的生物防治具有重要意义，也可能促进对病原体和人类之间共同进化的理解。