海拔梯度下植物-植食性昆虫相互作用的演变机制研究

环境梯度变化对物种间相互作用的影响是基础与应用生态领域关注的核心问题之一，当前对于环境梯度下物种间相互作用变化的潜在机制并不清楚。本研究拟以北京东灵山地区的优势种乔木辽东栎（Quercus liaotungensis）与植食性昆虫的相互作用为研究系统，探讨海拔梯度下植物-植食性昆虫相互作用的变化格局及其主要影响因素。首先通过野外调查，分析叶片自身属性、植食性昆虫、捕食者、植物群落特性以及外界非生物生境等各种因素对叶损失（植食性昆虫对植物的破坏程度指标）的影响。同时为了探讨海拔梯度下植物防御策略的变化格局，通过控制实验，分别验证来自于捕食者的下行效应和来自于植物本身的上行效应分别对植物-植食性昆虫相互作用的影响。通过这些研究，我们对环境梯度下植物-植食性昆虫相互作用的变化机制的了解将进一步深化，同时本研究对于我们探讨群落和生态系统对日益加剧的环境变化的响应机制也具有重要意义。

The variation pattern of species interactions under environmental gradient is one of the central questions in basic and applied ecology, but to date, the mechanism underline the variation pattern is still not clear. In this study, in Dongling Mountain Beijing, using the dominant tree species Quercus liaotungensis along an elevational gradient, we want to evaluate the variation pattern of plant-herbivore interactions and its impact factors. At first, through observational study along the elevation gradient, we will evaluate the impacts of different factors (leaf traits, herbivores, predators, plant community characteristics and abiotic environmental factors) on leaf loss (as an indicator of herbivory). Then to explore the variation of plant defense strategies, through experimental study, we will evaluate the top-down effect of predators and the bottom-up effect of leaf traits on plant-herbivore interaction. This study will improve our understanding of the variation of plant-herbivore interaction under environmental gradient；it is also essential for the understanding of how community and ecosystem responses to current accelerating environmental change.