Phenotypic plasticity in insect chemical communication: an ecophysiological approach

昆虫化学通讯中的表型可塑性：一种生态生理学方法

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-04287
• 负责人: Evenden, Maya
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: University of Alberta
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2018
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2018-01-01 至 2019-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=650353
• 关键词: Phenotypic; plasticity; insect; chemical; communication

The goal of this research is to understand factors that drive plasticity in various types of insect chemical communication (mate location, host location). Our study systems are moths (Lepidoptera) in which males compete for females by scramble competition and there is intense selection on the male receiver to be the first to locate a calling female. Intraspecific sex pheromone communication in the Lepidoptera likely evolved from a preadaptation of sensory and orientation mechanisms for locating plant hosts and our research includes investigation into plasticity in response to plant-based chemical cues in addition to conspecific pheromone signals. ******Plasticity in chemical communication in insects can result from gradual or sudden changes in physiological state. We will assess how variation in physiological state due to insect age/hormone levels, satiation level, and pathogen load influence plasticity in production and response to intra- and interspecific chemical cues. The effect of more immediate changes in physiological state that occur after mating and in response to previous exposure to chemical cues will be assessed in moths with different reproductive strategies. As state-dependent plasticity in chemical communication will interact with environmental conditions to affect odour-mediated flight behaviour, our assessments will include behavioural analyses in the lab and under natural field conditions. Moth study systems will have a range of reproductive strategies (income vs. capital breeders) and adult life history traits (short vs. long-lived; feeders vs. non-feeders) to maximise the ecological traits that should promote plasticity in chemical communication. The importance of phenotypic plasticity in chemical communication of insects remains poorly understood. We will unravel the impact of physiological state of signalers and responders on variation of chemical communication and odour-mediated behaviour under various ecological conditions. Integration of physiological and ecological components that promote plasticity in a neuroecological context will advance our understanding of insect use of environmental information that dictates behaviour and moulds interactions at various levels of biological organization. Further, the moth study systems used in this work are of ecological (native defoliators of the boreal forest) and economic (invasive species) importance so that understanding plasticity of chemical communication will contribute to the development of alternative control strategies that exploit these naturally plastic chemically-mediated behaviours.

这项研究的目的是了解驱动各种类型昆虫化学通讯（交配位置、寄主位置）可塑性的因素。 我们的研究系统是飞蛾（鳞翅目），其中雄性通过争夺竞争来争夺雌性，并且对雄性接收者进行严格的选择，以成为第一个找到呼叫雌性的人。 鳞翅目中的种内性信息素通讯可能是从用于定位植物宿主的感觉和定向机制的预适应进化而来的，我们的研究包括除了同种信息素信号外还调查了对基于植物的化学线索的可塑性的调查。 ******昆虫化学通讯的可塑性可能是由生理状态的逐渐或突然变化引起的。 我们将评估昆虫年龄/激素水平、饱食水平和病原体负荷引起的生理状态变化如何影响生产的可塑性以及对种内和种间化学线索的反应。 将在具有不同繁殖策略的飞蛾中评估交配后以及对先前暴露于化学信号的反应所发生的更直接的生理状态变化的影响。 由于化学通讯中的状态依赖性可塑性将与环境条件相互作用，从而影响气味介导的飞行行为，因此我们的评估将包括实验室和自然现场条件下的行为分析。飞蛾研究系统将具有一系列繁殖策略（收入与资本饲养者）和成虫生活史特征（短与长寿命；饲养者与非饲养者），以最大限度地提高应促进化学通讯可塑性的生态特征。表型可塑性在昆虫化学通讯中的重要性仍然知之甚少。 我们将揭示信号传递者和响应者的生理状态对各种生态条件下化学通讯和气味介导行为变化的影响。在神经生态学背景下促进可塑性的生理和生态成分的整合将促进我们对昆虫利用环境信息的理解，这些信息决定了行为并塑造了生物组织各个层面的相互作用。 此外，这项工作中使用的飞蛾研究系统具有生态（北方森林的原生落叶昆虫）和经济（入侵物种）重要性，因此了解化学通讯的可塑性将有助于开发利用这些自然可塑化学介导行为的替代控制策略。