Altered Semiochemistry as a Source of Partial Escape from Predators Responding to Insect Pheromones

9408264 Raffa我们对猎物物种的信息素化学在多大程度上是为了响应捕食者使用信息素来定位猎物而产生的选择而进化的知之甚少。PI正在研究树皮甲虫与捕食者之间的符号化学相互作用的生态学意义。他将测试以下假设：1)信息素手性和次要成分的细微变化可能有助于逃离捕食者，同时保留种内功能；2)树皮甲虫的符号化学变化可能影响定居树木的繁殖成功。这项研究将为昆虫捕食者和它们的猎物之间的生态关系提供新的见解，特别是猎物如何适应减少捕食者的攻击，这些捕食者以它们的化学通讯系统（信息素）为家。由于树皮甲虫是可持续林业的主要挑战之一，本研究结果将对森林和树皮甲虫爆发的管理具有重要的应用价值。

9408264 Raffa We know very little about the extent to which pheromone chemistry of prey species has evolved in response to selection generated by predators that use pheromones to locate prey. The PI is studing the ecological implications of bark beetle-predator semiochemical interactions. He will test the hypotheses that 1) subtle shifts in pheromone chirality and secondary components may facilitate escape from predators, while retaining intraspecific functions, and 2) variation in bark beetle semiochemistry can affect reproductive success within colonized trees. This research will yield new insights into the ecological relationships between insect predators and their prey, and , in particular, how prey adapt to reduce attack by predators that home in on their chemical communication systems (pheromones). Because bark beetles are one of the major challenges to sustainable forestry, the results of this research will have important application to management of forests and bark-beetle outbreaks.