Collaborative Research: Deconstructing the temperature-size rule: an integration of mechanistic and selection analyses

合作研究：解构温度-尺寸规则：机械分析和选择分析的结合

• 批准号: 1121065
• 负责人: Herman Nijhout
• 金额: $ 34.6万
• 依托单位: Duke University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Continuing Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-08-01 至 2017-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1121065&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Deconstructing; temperature; size

One of the most common patterns of phenotypic plasticity in biology is the Temperature-Size Rule: many insects, reptiles, amphibians and other organisms raised at higher environmental temperatures are smaller as adults. Is this pattern an adaptation?is smaller better at higher temperatures?or an inevitable consequence of the effects of temperature on physiology and development? Recent studies with two agricultural pests, Tobacco Hornworms and Imported Cabbageworms, show that both larval (caterpillar) nutrition and rapid evolution can reverse the Temperature-Size Rule, leading to larger adults at higher rearing temperatures. These exceptions to the rule provide a unique opportunity to understand the developmental mechanisms and selective causes of this widespread pattern of phenotypic plasticity. The proposed studies integrate laboratory and field experiments with mathematical models to explore how larval nutrition, oxygen limitation, hormonal regulation, and natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) interact to generate the Temperature-Size Rule and its exceptions. These studies will provide a new mechanistic and evolutionary understanding of how plant quality, climate and seasonal weather interact to determine body size and ecological success in Tobacco Hornworms and Imported Cabbageworms, two important agricultural pests in the US. Research and training opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students at UNC and Duke, and outreach via Public Television, the North Carolina Museum of Life and Science, and the San Francisco Exploratorium, are integral components of the project. In addition, a citizen science program for Imported Cabbageworms (i.e., Cabbage White Butterflies) will be developed that involves community gardeners and organic farmers in North Carolina and other states.

生物学中最常见的表型可塑性模式之一是温度-大小规则：许多昆虫、爬行动物、两栖动物和其他在较高环境温度下长大的生物成年后都会变得更小。这种模式是一种适应吗？是温度越高越小越好？还是温度对生理和发育的影响的必然结果？最近对烟草角虫和进口甘蓝这两种农业害虫的研究表明，幼虫(毛虫)的营养和快速进化都可以逆转温度-大小规则，导致在更高的饲养温度下成虫更大。这些规则的例外为理解这种普遍的表型可塑性模式的发育机制和选择性原因提供了一个独特的机会。拟议的研究将实验室和田间实验与数学模型相结合，以探索幼虫营养、氧气限制、激素调节和天敌(捕食者和寄生蜂)如何相互作用来产生温度-大小规则及其例外情况。这些研究将为植物质量、气候和季节天气如何相互作用决定烟草角虫和进口卷心虫这两种美国重要农业害虫的身体大小和生态成功提供新的机制和进化理解。北卡罗来纳大学和杜克大学为本科生和研究生提供的研究和培训机会，以及通过公共电视、北卡罗来纳州生命与科学博物馆和旧金山探索馆进行的外联活动，都是该项目不可或缺的组成部分。此外，还将制定一项针对进口卷心菜(即卷心菜白蝴蝶)的公民科学计划，涉及北卡罗来纳州和其他州的社区园丁和有机农民。