Pheromone blend complexity in heliothine moths

昆虫，特别是飞蛾，严重依赖性信息素作为一种基于气味的交流手段，将异性吸引到一起。迄今为止，已经鉴定出数千种性信息素，每个物种都有自己独特的化学物质混合物，这些化学物质会吸引配偶（通常由雌性产生以吸引同一物种的雄性）。因此，有令人难以置信的多样性信息素组成，但对这些化学品的生产，检测和偏好的进化和转变的理解不佳，因为新物种的进化和彼此的分歧。这回避了一个问题，“为什么有这么多独特的信息素混合？” 尽管昆虫中有丰富的信息素记录，但科学仍然在努力理解信息素成分和偏好在物种形成事件（新物种的形成）期间发生变化的机制，或者这些特征实际上是否可以驱动物种形成。了解这种变化是至关重要的，我们的嗅觉系统功能的理解，而且，适应昆虫控制策略，使用信息素来监测和控制害虫。 这个项目将研究信息素的偏好在生殖物种隔离的背景下，沿着与信息素检测和处理相关物种的太阳蛾的神经生理学相关。太阳神蛾代表了一个很好的模式系统，检查分歧的信息素生产，检测和处理的机制，通过比较密切相关的物种。具体而言，在嗅觉通信的分歧是显而易见的，在使用每个物种的性信息素混合物内的关键成分的基础上的变化，在太阳神物种。这些混合物的功能是吸引同一物种的成员，并抑制密切相关的物种之间的交配错误。例如，吸引雄性同种的雌性性信息素成分可能与其他密切相关物种的雄性强烈拮抗。八种蛾的信息素成分的研究将进行检查，并测试行为的混合偏好，沿着受体表达和神经生理机制调节这种偏好。 通过使用一个多方面的，综合的方法，它结合了化学，生理学和分子生物学，我们将建立显着基于信息素的物种隔离和基本的嗅觉加工的进化的现有知识。通过探索与信息素变化相对应的假定的神经机制，我们可以理解如何选择信息素混合物的复杂性。 通过更好地了解信息素的演变，我们将能够为许多物种开发对环境负责的昆虫管理技术，从而确保加拿大人的健康以及农业和自然资源的可持续性。

Insects, and particularly moths, rely heavily on sex pheromones as a means of odor-based communication to draw together opposite sexes. To date, thousands of sex pheromones have been identified, with each species having its own unique blend of chemicals which will attract a mate (typically produced by females to attract males of the same species). As such, there is incredible diversity in pheromone composition, but a poor understanding of the evolution and shifts in production, detection and preference of these chemicals as new species evolve and diverge from one another. This begs the question, “why are there so many unique pheromone blends?” Despite the wealth of documented pheromones in insects, science is still struggling to understand the mechanisms by which pheromone composition and preferences shift during speciation events (formation of new species), or if these features may, in fact, drive speciation. Understanding such shifts are paramount to our understanding of olfactory system function, and moreover, to adapting insect control strategies which use pheromones to monitor and control pests. This project will examine pheromone preference in the context of reproductive species isolation, along with neurophysiological correlates of pheromone detection and processing across related species of heliothine moths. Heliothine moths represent an excellent model system for examining divergence of pheromone production, and the mechanisms of detection and processing, by comparing closely related species. Specifically, divergence in olfactory communication is evident among heliothine species, based on shifts in the use of key components within each species' sex pheromone blend. These blends function to both attract members of the same species, and inhibit mating errors between closely related species. For example, a female sex pheromone component attractive to male conspecifics may be strongly antagonistic to males of other, closely related species. Eight species of moths will be examined in studies of pheromone composition, and tested for behavioral blend preference, along with receptor expression and neurophysiological mechanisms modulating such preference. By using a multi-faceted, integrated approach, which incorporates chemistry, physiology and molecular biology, we will build significantly upon the current knowledge of the evolution of pheromone-based species isolation, and basic olfactory processing. By exploring putative neural mechanisms which correspond with changes in pheromones, we can understand how complexity if selected for in pheromone blends. Through a better understanding of pheromone evolution, we will enable development of environmentally responsible insect management technologies for many species, thereby ensuring the health of Canadians and sustainability of agriculture and natural resources.