Mediation of Insect-Host Plant Interactions by Fungi

这项拟议研究的目标是测试微生物在植食性昆虫、寄主植物和天敌之间的相互作用中所起的作用。具体地说，这项拟议的研究将确定内生真菌(在植物组织内产生无症状感染的真菌)如何影响以常见寄主植物埃默里橡树为食的采叶和咀叶昆虫的定植、扩散和种群动态。尽管内生真菌被认为是通过阻止其他草食动物来实现植物互惠互利的，但越来越多的证据表明，它们对植食性昆虫的影响是高度不同的。拟议的研究将通过一系列现场和实验室实验和观察来测试这些影响的方向和程度。生态学家最近认识到，内生真菌等微生物的普遍影响可能会改变植食性昆虫-寄主-植物-天敌相互作用的传统理论。通过严格检查内生真菌的影响，拟议的研究将测试和修改这些传统理论。

The goal of the proposed research is to test the role of microorganisms in mediating interactions among phytophagous insects, their host plants and their natural enemies. Specifically, the proposed research will determine how endophytic fungi (fungi that produce asymptomatic infections within plant tissues) affect colonization, dispersion, and population dynamics of leafmining and leafchewing insects that feed on a common host plant, Emory oak. Although endophytic fungi are thought to be plant mutualists by deterring other herbivores, accumulating evidence suggests that their effects on phytophagous insects are highly variable. The proposed research will test the direction and magnitude of these effects through a series of field and laboratory experiments and observations. Ecologists have recently recognized that the pervasive effects of microorganisms such as endophytic fungi may alter conventional theories of phytophagous insect - host plant - natural enemy interactions. By rigorously examining the effects of endophytic fungi, the proposed research will test and modify these conventional theories.