Stress-Mediated Interactions Among Oaks, Gypsy Moth, and a Baculovirus

生理压力经常被认为是 森林树木对食草动物的敏感性， 假设是舞毒蛾爆发的一个偶然因素。 尽管有很多猜测，但很少有全面的 旨在确定因果关系的研究。 这 研究计划旨在这样做，使用舞毒蛾，两个 重要的寄主植物和杆状病毒。 栎叶性状 影响舞毒蛾生长、繁殖和对 病毒 该项目将确定干旱的影响， 在对照实验中营养胁迫对这些叶性状的影响， 而舞毒蛾的表现可能会 来影响其种群动态。 该项目整合了 一位橡树生理学专家的研究， 生态学家已经在研究这个系统了 这三个营养层次 这项研究为了解害虫入侵的原因提供了希望， 深入了解植物-食草动物相互作用的基础， 通过开发更有效的微生物来改进害虫控制 杀虫剂，种群趋势预测， 操纵

Physiological stress is frequently implicated as a cause of forest tree susceptibility to herbivores, and has been hypothesized as a casual factor in outbreaks of the gypsy moth. Despite much speculation, there have been few comprehensive studies seeking to identify a casual relationship. This research program is designed to do so, using the gypsy moth, two important hostplants, and a baculovirus. Oak leaf traits influence gypsy moth growth, reproduction, and resistance to a virus. This project will determine the influence of drought and nutrient stresses on these leaf traits in controlled experiments, and the consequences for aspects of gypsy moth performance likely to influence its population dynamics. This project integrates research by a specialist in oak physiology with that of chemical ecologist already working on this system. This 3-trophic-level study offers promise of understanding causes of pest irruptions, insight into the basis of plant-herbivore interactions, and improved pest control via developing more effective microbial insecticides, population trend predictions, and stand manipulation.