Tests of Classic Theory in Plant-insect Interactions

在我们的星球上产生生物多样性的一个基本过程是物种之间的相互作用。这个项目的重点是植物和攻击它们的昆虫之间的拮抗相互作用，以了解在新世界的单一马利筋属中出现的多样性。超过130种乳草在丰度、分布和表达的植物防御策略多样性方面存在差异，这种物种多样性被假设为对黑脉金斑蝶捕食的反应。利用综合的方法，结合现代植物激素和毒素的化学分析方法，温室研究和尖端的基因组操作，研究人员将确定多种植物防御性状的功能及其对乳草多样化的贡献。研究成果将极大地促进对生态学和进化中未解决的主要问题之一的理解：物种多样性的起源和维持。它们还将为管理策略提供信息；例如，研究野生物种的植物抗性可以为新的农业害虫防治策略提供基础。教育和培训计划涵盖了K-12学生、本科生、研究生和普通公众，而且特别有说服力，因为这项研究涉及到流行的帝王蝶。通过康奈尔大学的一个既定项目，一名研究生外展助理将支持K-12生物多样性和物种相互作用的教育。因此，该项目将通过让各级教育工作者和学生以各种方式参与进来，支持当地的教育工作。最后，PI强烈支持对已发布数据的开放访问，并将继续提供原始数据。

One of the fundamental processes that generates biodiversity on our planet is the interaction between species. This project focuses on antagonistic interactions between plants and the insects that attack them to understand the diversity that has arisen within a single genus of milkweeds in the new world. Over 130 milkweed species differ in the abundance, distribution, and diversity of plant defense strategies expressed, and this species diversity is hypothesized to have arisen in response to predation by Monarch butterflies. Using an integrated approach that combines modern methods in chemical analysis of plant hormones and toxins, greenhouse studies, and cutting edge genome manipulation, the investigators will determine the function of multiple plant defense traits and their contribution to the diversification of the milkweeds. Research results will significantly advance understanding of one of the major unresolved questions in ecology and evolution: the origin and maintenance of species diversity. They also will inform management strategies; for example, the study of plant resistance in wild species can provide a basis for novel pest control strategies in agriculture. Plans for education and training encompass K-12 students, undergraduates, graduate students, and the general public, and are particularly convincing because the study involves the popular Monarch butterflies. K-12 education on biodiversity and species interactions will be facilitated by support of a graduate outreach assistant through an established program at Cornell. Thus, this project will support local educational efforts by engaging educators and students at all levels and in diverse ways. Finally, the PI strongly supports open access to published data, and will continue to make raw data available.