NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship in Biology FY 2020: Exploring the genetic and behavioral basis of variation in sequestration ability in the polymorphic tortoise beetle

2020 财年 NSF 生物学博士后奖学金：探索多态龟甲虫隔离能力变异的遗传和行为基础

• 批准号: 2010702
• 负责人: Lynette Strickland
• 金额: $ 13.8万
• 依托单位: Strickland, Lynette Renae
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Fellowship Award
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2021-03-01 至 2023-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2010702&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: NSF; Postdoctoral; Fellowship; Biology; FY

This action funds an NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology for FY 2020, Broadening Participation of Groups Under-represented in Biology. The fellowship supports a research and training plan for the Fellow that will increase the participation of groups underrepresented in biology. The focus of this study is a colorful tortoise beetle found in tropical rainforests, called Chelymorpha alternans. This beetle varies in color across its range and incorporates toxins produced by host plants into the outer exoskeleton as a defense mechanism against predators. By incorporating toxic compounds, these organisms become distasteful to predators, and by using bright and contrasting coloration they advertise that they are toxic, making it easier for predators to learn and remember to avoid them. Often variation in color or pattern signals individuals who differ in their level of toxicity. This research seeks to understand how individual differences in the ability to incorporate toxins from the plants contributes to survival in beetle larvae and predation as adults. Understanding how some individuals are better equipped to process toxins will provide insights into the ways that insects adapt to their environment and to agricultural pesticides. To broaden participation, motivated high school and undergraduate students in the Memphis area will be mentored in research and outreach partnerships between the University and the community will be facilitated.In order to understand how intraspecific variation mediates the sequestration ability of plant secondary metabolites by larvae of the polymorphic tortoise beetle, C. alternans, an integrative study assessing differences in gene expression, larval and adult fitness and functional genomics will be performed. In aposematic organisms, variation in color pattern often indicates individuals with differing levels of toxic protection. To investigate the genotypic and phenotypic impacts on larval survival, individuals of different genotypes will be assessed for larval survival. Predator bioassays with the ant predator, Azteca chartifex, will be conducted to assess genotypic and phenotypic impacts on adult palatability. Individuals that are better at processing secondary metabolites from the plant are expected to have higher survival through larval development, and those that are better at incorporating these metabolites are expected to have increased toxicity and experience less predation as adults. A cuticular hydrocarbon study will be used to analyze chemical variation between genotypes and phenotypes. Additionally, to assess variation in larval sequestration ability, the expression patterns of genes related to sequestration metabolic pathways will be determined. Combining chemical ecology, genomics and behavior will facilitate deeper insights in cascading effects on larval survival, adult chemical profiles and overall levels of palatability. To broaden the impact of the work, students will be mentored in research and community outreach will be conducted.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该行动为2020财年美国国家科学基金会生物学博士后研究奖学金提供资金，扩大生物学中代表性不足群体的参与。该奖学金支持研究员的一项研究和培训计划，该计划将增加生物学中代表性不足的群体的参与。这项研究的重点是在热带雨林中发现的一种名为Chelymorpha alternans的彩色龟甲虫。这种甲虫在其范围内颜色各异，并将寄主植物产生的毒素吸收到外骨骼中，作为对抗捕食者的防御机制。通过加入有毒化合物，这些生物对捕食者来说变得令人厌恶，并且通过使用明亮和对比鲜明的颜色来宣传它们是有毒的，使捕食者更容易学习并记住避开它们。通常，颜色或图案的变化表明个体的毒性水平不同。这项研究旨在了解甲虫吸收植物毒素的能力的个体差异如何影响甲虫幼虫的生存和成虫的捕食。了解某些个体是如何更好地处理毒素的，将有助于了解昆虫适应环境和农业农药的方式。为了扩大参与，孟菲斯地区的高中生和本科生将接受研究指导，并促进大学和社区之间的合作伙伴关系。为了了解种内变异如何介导多态陆龟（C. alternans）幼虫对植物次生代谢物的吸收能力，将进行一项综合研究，评估基因表达、幼虫和成虫适应度以及功能基因组学的差异。在警示生物中，颜色模式的变化通常表明个体具有不同程度的毒性保护。为了研究基因型和表型对幼虫存活率的影响，将对不同基因型的个体进行幼虫存活率评估。捕食者的生物测定与蚂蚁捕食者，阿兹特克沙蒂克斯将进行评估基因型和表型对成虫适口性的影响。能够更好地处理植物次生代谢物的个体在幼虫发育过程中有望获得更高的存活率，而那些能够更好地吸收这些代谢物的个体在成年后有望具有更高的毒性，并且经历更少的捕食。角质层碳氢化合物研究将用于分析基因型和表型之间的化学差异。此外，为了评估幼虫隔离能力的变化，将确定与隔离代谢途径相关的基因表达模式。将化学生态学、基因组学和行为学结合起来，将有助于更深入地了解幼虫存活率、成虫化学特征和整体适口性的级联效应。为了扩大工作的影响，学生将在研究和社区外展活动中得到指导。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。