DISSERTATION RESEARCH: The ecology of divergence in vibrational signals of Enchenopa binotata treehoppers

这项拟议的研究重点是一组密切相关的食草性昆虫，Enchenopa binotata树蝉，以更好地了解通讯信号如何有助于新物种的形成。环境选择用于有效的通信，这导致当环境不同时通信信号发生变化。鉴于只有通信系统兼容的个体才倾向于彼此交配，这些差异也可能导致不同环境中的种群之间的生殖隔离。Enchenopa是特定于宿主的，在这种情况下，每个物种都只与一种植物相关。这是一种理想的情况，因为每个寄主植物物种都很好地界定了生态差异。Enchenopa binotata复合体中的物种在雄性交配信号的音调上有很大的不同，每个物种向其各自寄主植物的茎赋予不同的音调。对两种寄主植物传播特性的初步结果表明，常驻Enchenopa物种使用的相同螺距是在植物中传播最好的螺距，这表明每种昆虫都与其寄主植物相适应。然而，种群之间的生态差异涉及多个因素，这突显了了解沟通个体在野生种群中所经历的重要性。为此，拟议的研究整合了环境的多个组成部分，以更好地理解Enchenopa binotata树蝉交流的自然环境。将针对其他寄主植物物种描述信号传输特性，并针对每种寄主植物物种描述由风引起的振动产生的背景噪声。背景噪声很重要，因为它会屏蔽信号。然后，进一步的研究将评估这些因素对接收到这些信号的个人的影响。正如所提议的那样，这项研究将提供对一组振动通信昆虫物种的环境背景中差异的作用的最彻底的评估，以及这些差异如何导致信号的变化。更广泛的影响：更广泛地说，拟议的研究提供了一种准确测量振动信号的新方法，并为本科生提供了培训。此外，为本科生提供的培训具有独特的广度，因为这项研究的大部分来自生物学家和工程师之间的合作。教育/研究经验将为研究生和本科生助理未来在行为生物学领域的职业生涯做好准备。此外，所使用的技术和解决的假设将有助于生态分歧和同域种群进化的理论方面。

The proposed research focuses on a group of closely related plant-feeding insects, Enchenopa binotata treehoppers, to understand better how communication signals contribute to the formation of new species. Environments select for efficient communication, which leads to variation in the communication signals when environments differ. Given that only individuals with compatible communication systems tend to mate with one another, these differences also may lead to reproductive isolation among populations in different environments. Enchenopa are host-specific, a situation where each species associates exclusively with a single species of plant. This is ideal situation since ecological differences are well defined by each host-plant species. Species in the Enchenopa binotata complex differ dramatically in the pitch of male mating signals, with each species imparting a different pitch into the stems of its respective host plant. Preliminary results on the transmission properties of two host plant species shows that the same pitch used by the resident Enchenopa species is the pitch that transmits best in the plant, suggesting each insect species is tuned to its host plant. However, ecological differences between populations involve multiple factors, which underscores the importance of understanding what communicating individuals experience in wild populations. To this end the proposed research integrates multiple components of the environment to better understand the natural context in which Enchenopa binotata treehoppers communicate. Signal transmission properties will be characterized for additional host plant species, and background noise resulting from wind-induced vibrations will also be characterized for each host-plant species. Background noise is important since it can mask signals. Further research then will evaluate the impact of these factors on individuals that receive these signals. As proposed, this research will provide the most thorough evaluation of the role of differences in the environmental context of a group of vibrationally-communicating insect species, and how these differences may lead to variation in signals. Broader Impacts: More broadly, the proposed research provides a novel method for accurately measuring vibrational signals as well as training for undergraduates. Further, the training provided to undergraduates has unique breadth, as much of this research stems from collaborations between biologists and engineers. The educational/research experience will prepare the graduate student and undergraduate assistants for future careers in behavioral biology. Also, the techniques used and hypotheses addressed will contribute to theoretical aspects of ecological divergence and evolution in sympatric populations.