PRF/M: Amino Acids of Passiflora extrafloral Nectars and Their Role in Attracting Ant Protectors

州立大学生物系的珍妮特·兰扎博士 纽约大学弗雷多尼亚校区将在为期13个月的 她在环境生物学职业中期奖学金的任期， 得克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校的劳伦斯·E.吉尔伯特的 实验室，实地研究将在哥斯达黎加的 科尔科瓦多国家公园。 她的注意力会集中在 测量氨基酸的变异（包括种内和种间） 9个同域西番莲属植物花外花蜜中 （西番莲）物种，并记录在何种程度上， 这种资源增强了蚂蚁保护植物的防御能力 对付食草昆虫，如蝴蝶 毛毛虫 这一研究将增加我们对蚂蚁植物的了解 互惠互动，并可能作为未来的基础， 花蜜成分的遗传控制和 环境变化对花蜜成分的影响。 最终，结果可能导致农业和 通过提供一个自然的植物例子， 生物保护手段。 这项工作还将提供 关于基本生态过程的信息， 热带地区

Dr. Janet Lanza, of the Biology Department at the State University of New York's Fredonia campus, will spend the 13-month tenure of her Mid-Career Fellowship in Environmental Biology at the University of Texas at Austin, in Dr. Lawrence E. Gilbert's laboratory, with field studies to be conducted at Costa Rica's Corcovado National Park. Her attention will be focused on measuring variation (both within and among species) in amino acid levels in the extrafloral nectars of nine sympatric Passiflora (passion flower) species, and documenting the extent to which this resource enhances defense by ants in protecting the plant against insect herbivores such as Heliconius (butterfly) caterpillars. This research will increase our understanding of ant-plant mutualistic interactions and may serve as the basis for future studies of the genetic control of nectar composition and the effects of environmental variability on nectar composition. Ultimately, results could lead to improved agricultural and horticultural practices by providing a natural example of plant protection by biological means. The work will also provide information about fundamental ecological processes in the tropics.