Evolution of the pheromone signaling system of Spodoptera frugiperda and Heliothis virescens

对昆虫信息素的研究使其能够在农业和公共卫生系统中用于无害生态的虫害防治。信息素通讯也是我们理解动物信号多样化和物种形成机制的重要模型。然而，大多数研究都集中在雌性发出的信息素上，很大程度上忽略了雄性产生的近距离信息素，这对物种识别和雌性择偶很重要。这个项目解决了两个主要问题：(1)近距离雄性性信号的自然变化如何影响雌性的选择？(2)如果男性性信号的产生在生物化学和基因上与女性信号的产生有关，那么进化的后果是什么？具体来说，该项目将使用行为和分析相结合的方法，化学鉴定两种蛾种的近距离雄性信息素，量化雄性信息素的种内变化幅度，并评估雄性信息素的哪些特征有助于雌性选择配偶。比较项目将集中于两个生态和农业上重要的物种，即秋粘虫（Spodoptera frugiperda）和烟草芽虫（Heliothis virescens）。一个独特的优势是，每个物种都由两种不同的雌性信息素混合物组成。这项研究的结果不仅对理解相互信号和配偶选择在动物性交流系统进化中的作用至关重要，而且还将有助于更好地理解交配偏好的进化如何导致种群间的早熟隔离，并最终导致新物种的起源。在美国国家科学基金会国际科学与工程办公室的额外支持下，该项目将与德国耶拿的马克斯普朗克化学生态学研究所开展一个独特的国际合作项目，培养一名博士后研究员、一名研究生和一名本科生。这些学员将参加社区科学教育推广项目。

Research on insect pheromones has enabled their use in ecologically-sound pest control in agricultural and public health systems. Pheromonal communication has also served as an important model for our understanding of the mechanisms of signal diversification and speciation in animals. However, most research has focused on female-emitted pheromones, largely ignoring close-range male-produced pheromones which are important for species-recognition and female mate choice. This project addresses two major questions: (1) How does natural variation in close-range male sexual signals affect female choice? (2) What are the evolutionary consequences if the production of male sexual signals is biochemically and genetically linked to production of female signals? Specifically, this project will chemically identify the close-range male pheromones in two moth species using a combination of behavioral and analytical approaches, quantify the magnitude of intraspecific variation in the male pheromones, and evaluate what features of the male pheromone contribute to female mate choice. The comparative project will concentrate on two ecologically and agriculturally important species, Spodoptera frugiperda (Fall Armyworm) and Heliothis virescens (Tobacco Budworm). A unique asset is that each species consists of two strains with distinct female pheromone blends. Results of this investigation will be critical not only for understanding the roles of reciprocal signaling and mate choice in the evolution of sexual communication systems in animals, but will also lead to a better understanding of how the evolution of mating preferences can lead to premating isolation among populations, and ultimately to the origin of new species. With additional support from NSF's Office of International Science and Engineering, this project will train a postdoctoral researcher, a graduate student, and undergraduate students in a unique international collaborative project with the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany. These trainees will participate in community science education outreach programs.