Collaborative Research: Neuroethology of olfactory Evolution in Moths

同一物种（同种）的雄性和雌性之间的有效沟通对于一个物种的持续成功至关重要。 在许多蛾类中，通信利用称为信息素的空气传播化学信号的产生和检测。 在一个蛾类中，Heliothines，三个物种在进化上密切相关，使用含有相同主要成分但不同次要成分的信息素混合物。 雄性只被正确的同种混合物吸引，而被其他物种的雌性释放的混合物排斥。 合成混合物的途径中的简单突变可能会在雌性中产生不同的混合物，但目前尚不清楚雄性嗅觉系统如何进化以应对这些变化。 本研究将男性的行为偏好和辨别能力与其潜在的嗅觉神经生物学联系起来，探讨这个问题。 解剖学和生理学的工作将显示嗅觉系统中的结构的特性，包括触角和大脑中称为肾小球的复杂结构。 风洞中的行为测试将显示两个物种之间的杂交和回交如何反应，以及它们的行为偏好如何与它们的神经生理学和解剖学相关。 结果将是重要的脊椎动物以及无脊椎动物的嗅觉生物学，因为已知的解剖学上相似的结构，比较进化生物学在学习更多关于如何“接收器”可以进化到匹配的信号“的”，并为农业，因为他们可能会建议害虫防治策略。 该项目还将在广泛的生物技术领域提供优秀的博士后培训。

Effective communication between males and females of the same species (conspecifics) is essential for continued success of a species. In many moth species, communication utilizes production and detection of airborne chemical signals called pheromones. In one moth group, the Heliothines, three species that are evolutionarily closely related use a pheromone blend that contains the same primary component but different secondary components. The males are only attracted by the correct conspecific blend, and repelled by the blends released by females of the other species. Simple mutations in the pathway for synthesis of the blend are likely to have produced the different blends in the females, but it remains unclear how the male olfactory systems have evolved in response to these changes. This project examines this question by correlating behavioral preferences and discrimination abilities of males with their underlying olfactory neurobiology. Anatomical and physiological work will show the properties of structures in the olfactory system both in the antenna and in the complex structures called glomeruli within the brain. Behavioral tests in a wind tunnel will show how hybrids and back-crosses bred from between two species respond, and how their behavioral preferences also correlate with their neuronal physiology and anatomy. Results will be important for vertebrate as well as invertebrate olfactory biology because of known anatomically similar structures, for comparative evolutionary biology in learning more about how 'receivers' can evolve to match 'senders' of signals, and for agriculture because they may suggest strategies for pest control. This project also will provide fine postdoctoral training in a broad range of biological techniques.