Collaborative Research: Brain Plasticity and Division of Labor- From Simple to Complex Societies

群居昆虫是最具生态优势的陆地动物之一。它们的成功在很大程度上归功于组成它们殖民地的工人之间的分工。员工行为的个体差异是由神经系统的生理和解剖变化决定的，尤其是大脑。然而，人们对影响员工行为的脑神经元的动态特性知之甚少。该项目的目标是研究脑神经元的变化如何与社会性昆虫工作者之间的分工有关，重点是蘑菇体(MB)中的神经可塑性。MB是昆虫前脑中参与学习和感觉整合的结构，MB可能在调节分工方面发挥重要作用。作为了解MB对行为影响进化的第一步，MB神经解剖学和工作者行为的关系将在具有小型、简单社群的黄蜂物种(Mischcyttarus Mastigophorus)和具有更大、更复杂群体的物种(Polybia Aequatoriaris)之间进行比较。将使用三种主要方法。在第一项研究中，将确定与任务表现个体差异有关的MB神经元。在第二项研究中，将测量年龄对MB神经元可塑性和工人行为的影响。在第三项研究中，将操纵蜂群来诱导员工行为的变化，并测量相关的神经变化。拟议的项目包括研究生和本科生培训机会，并将提供机构间培训经验。他们还将促进美国人和哥斯达黎加当地居民的教育，包括生物学指南(蒙特弗尔德云林保护区)，以及研究生和本科实地课程的学生。蒙特韦尔德正在进行的调查将提高在这个重要的热带研究和保护地点进行基础调查的能见度。研究结果还可能对社会害虫和益虫的控制/管理具有一定的指导意义。

Social insects are among the most ecologically dominant terrestrial animals. Their success is largely attributed to division of labor among the workers that make up their colonies. Individual differences in worker behavior are governed by physiological and anatomical changes in the nervous system, particularly in the brain. However, the dynamic properties of brain neurons that influence worker behavior are poorly understood. The goal of this project is to study how changes in brain neurons are associated with division of labor among social insect workers, focusing on neural plasticity in the mushroom bodies (MB). MB are structures in insect forebrains that are involved in learning and sensory integration, and the MB may play an important role in regulating division of labor. As a first step toward understanding the evolution of MB effects on behavior, the relationships of MB neuroanatomy and worker behavior will be compared between a wasp species with small, simple societies (Mischocyttarus mastigophorus) and a species with larger, more complex colonies (Polybia aequatorialis). Three main approaches will be used. In the first study, MB neurons that are associated with individual differences in task performance will be identified. In the second study the effects of age on MB neuron plasticity and worker behavior will be measured. In the third study, colonies will be manipulated to induce changes in worker behavior, and associated neural changes will be measured. The proposed projects include graduate and undergraduate training opportunities, and will provide inter-institutional training experiences. They will also promote education for Americans and local residents in Costa Rica, including biology guides (Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve), and students on graduate and undergraduate field courses. Ongoing investigations in Monteverde will enhance the visibility of basic investigation at this important tropical research and conservation site. The research findings may also have relevance to the control/management of social insect pests and beneficial insects.