CAREER: Evolution of Locust Swarms and Phenotypic Plasticity in Grasshoppers

蝗虫是一种蝗虫，可以形成巨大的迁徙群。它们是全世界农业的主要害虫，造成数百万美元的损失。在自然界中，蝗虫根据当地人口密度以两种形式之一存在。在低密度下，蝗虫颜色不明显，相互避开，但在高密度下，它们会转变为相互吸引的明显颜色的个体。当高密度状态持续时，它们最终会形成蜂群。这种随密度变化的能力被称为密度相关的表型可塑性。然而，人们对这种现象是如何演变的，为什么蝗虫成群，以及它们与典型蝗虫的不同之处知之甚少。因此，这个学院早期职业发展(Career)项目的主要目标是了解为什么一些蝗虫对拥挤的反应是成群结队的，而另一些则不是。该项目旨在利用行为学实验和尖端分子技术来揭开蝗虫成群的遗传基础。这个职业项目的核心是从K-12到本科生和研究生的研究和教育的无缝结合。与当地公立学校的伙伴关系通过服务学习得到加强，将为小学和大学水平的学生提供独特和相关的科学教育机会。具体地说，以职业为导向的课程开发将填补一个亟需的空白，即为中佛罗里达大学的生物课程提供真实的研究经验。更广泛的影响活动的一个主要目标将是扩大代表不足的少数族裔学生的参与，特别是那些从社区大学转学后寻求科学职业的学生。由该项目支持的研究生将接触到具有国际和跨学科机会的高影响力的研究。该项目的广泛性质将为今后的合作建立一个强大和持久的国际网络。

Locusts are grasshoppers that can form enormous migrating swarms. They are major pests of agriculture throughout the world, causing millions of dollars in losses. In nature, locusts exist as one of two forms depending on local population density. At low density, locusts are inconspicuously colored and avoid each other, but at high density, they transform into conspicuously colored individuals that are attracted to each other. When the high-density condition persists, they eventually form swarms. This ability to change in response to density is known as density-dependent phenotypic plasticity. However, it is poorly understood how this phenomenon has evolved, why locusts swarm, and what makes them different from typical grasshoppers. Therefore, the main goal of this Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) project is to understand why some grasshoppers respond to crowding by forming swarms and others do not. The project aims to unravel the genetic basis of locust swarming using behavioral experiments and cutting-edge molecular techniques. The core of this CAREER project is the seamless integration of research and education from K-12 to undergraduate and graduate students. The partnership with local public schools, enhanced by service-learning, will provide unique and relevant science education opportunities for both elementary school and college-level students. Specifically, the CAREER-enabled course development will fill a much-needed void in providing authentic research experience to the biology curriculum at the University of Central Florida. One primary goal of the broader impact activities will be to broaden participation of underrepresented minority students, particularly those who seek careers in science after transferring from community colleges. Graduate students supported by this project will be exposed to high-impact research with international and interdisciplinary opportunities. The broad nature of this project will establish a strong and long-lasting international network for future collaborations.