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: 2019
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2019-01-01 至 2020-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=684916
• 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.

本研究的目的是了解各种类型的昆虫化学通讯（交配位置，宿主位置）中驱动可塑性的因素。 我们的研究系统是蛾（鳞翅目），其中男性争夺女性的争夺竞争，有激烈的选择，男性接收器是第一个找到一个呼叫女性。 在鳞翅目种内的性信息素通信可能是从一个预先适应的感觉和定位植物宿主的定向机制，我们的研究包括调查可塑性，除了同种信息素信号植物为基础的化学线索。** 昆虫化学通讯的可塑性可能是由于生理状态的逐渐或突然变化。 我们将评估由于昆虫年龄/激素水平，饱足水平和病原体负荷的生理状态的变化如何影响生产和响应种内和种间化学线索的可塑性。 交配后发生的生理状态，并在以前暴露于化学线索的反应更直接的变化的影响将在蛾与不同的生殖策略进行评估。 由于化学通讯中的状态依赖可塑性将与环境条件相互作用，影响气味介导的飞行行为，我们的评估将包括实验室和自然野外条件下的行为分析。蛾研究系统将有一系列的生殖策略（收入与资本育种者）和成年生活史特征（短与长寿;饲养者与非饲养者），以最大限度地提高生态特征，促进化学通讯的可塑性。表型可塑性在昆虫化学通讯中的重要性仍然知之甚少。 我们将揭示在各种生态条件下的化学通信和气味介导的行为变化的信号和响应者的生理状态的影响。整合的生理和生态成分，促进可塑性的神经生态背景下，将推进我们的理解昆虫使用的环境信息，决定行为和模具的相互作用，在不同层次的生物组织。 此外，在这项工作中使用的蛾研究系统的生态（本土落叶的北方森林）和经济（入侵物种）的重要性，使了解可塑性的化学通信将有助于开发替代控制策略，利用这些天然塑料化学介导的行为。