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生态无害的害虫控制。信息素通讯也是我们理解动物体内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释放的信息素上，很大程度上忽视了雄性产生的近距离信息素，这些信息素对物种识别和雌性配偶选择非常重要。这个项目解决了两个主要问题：(1)近距离男性性信号的自然变异如何影响女性的选择？(2)如果男性性信号的产生在生化和遗传上与女性信号的产生有关，那么进化的结果是什么？具体地说，该项目将使用行为和分析方法相结合的方法，在化学上识别两种蛾物种中的近距离雄性信息素，量化雄性信息素在种内变异的程度，并评估雄性信息素的哪些特征对雌性配偶的选择有贡献。比较项目将集中在两个具有重要生态和农业价值的物种上，即果蝇(秋季粘虫)和绿日夜蛾(烟草粘虫)。一项独特的资产是，每个物种都由两个菌株组成，其中含有不同的雌性信息素混合物。这项研究的结果不仅对于理解相互信号和配偶选择在动物有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之间的预先隔离，并最终导致新物种的起源。在NSF国际科学与工程办公室的额外支持下，该项目将培训一名博士后研究员、一名研究生和本科生，与德国耶拿的马克斯·普朗克化学生态研究所开展一个独特的国际合作项目。这些学员将参加社区科学教育外展计划。

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.