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

共同进化是适应与其他物种生态互动的进化，增加了生命的多样性，并对生态群落和生态系统产生了深远的影响。然而，共同进化的速度和过程还没有被很好地理解。研究人员将使用一种高度综合的方法来研究一种植物、响尾藻(Crotalaria Pallida)和一种消耗种子的飞蛾(Utetheisa Ornatrix)之间的共同进化。这种植物含有被认为可以防止飞蛾的化学物质，研究人员发现，植物与飞蛾的相互作用在地理上有所不同，飞蛾在当地适应了这种植物。研究人员将整合不同的方法来解开共同进化的动力。他们将使用分子标记和生化分析来研究植物和飞蛾种群的遗传结构，遗传结构与相互作用的关系，以及飞蛾对植物毒素的适应。该项目将培训学生，包括那些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。

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.