Optische Reize im Wirtsfindungsverhalten von Blattläusen

该项目的总体目标是阐明蚜虫寻找寄主行为的视觉机制。对于选定的物种，将调查以下问题的颜色感知：（1）神经生理水平：有多少类光受体不同的光谱敏感功能蚜虫？它们对哪些波长敏感？不同的物种和变种在受体敏感性上也不同吗？这将通过视网膜电图和细胞内记录进行研究。(2)行为学水平：真色觉参与宿主的寻找和着陆行为吗？光感受器的输入是如何产生行为反应的？这个问题将通过在实验室（飞行舱和竞技场）和实地进行行为测试来解决。(3)为什么蚜虫对颜色刺激的行为反应不同？(a)原因：种间行为差异是由于不同的受体敏感性吗？(b)功能：行为或受体敏感性的种间差异是否与食物专化或动物系统学有关？寄主植物的光谱特性对寄主选择起着什么样的作用？这些方面将通过结合所获得的生理和行为学数据与寄主和非寄主植物的光谱筛选进行研究。我们认为，拟议的项目作为第一个系统的方法，在草食性昆虫的颜色视觉的进化和适应价值。

The general aim of the project is to elucidate the visual mechanisms in the host finding behaviour of aphids. For selected species, the following questions of colour perception will be investigated: (1) Neurophysiological level: How many classes of photo receptors with different spectral sensitivity functions do aphids have? In which wavelengths are they sensitive? Are different species and morphs also different in their receptor sensitivities? This will be investigated by electroretinogram and intracellular recordings. (2) Ethological level: Is true colour vision involved in the host finding and landing behaviour? How are the inputs from the photoreceptors used to produce a behavioural response? This question will be addressed by behavioural tests in the laboratory (flight chamber and arena) and in the field. (3) Why do aphid species differ in their behavioural response to colour stimuli? (a) cause: Are interspecific behavioural differences due to different receptor sensitivities? (b) function: Can interspecific differences regarding behaviour or receptor sensitivity be related to food specialization or zoological systematics? Which role plays the spectral characteristic of the host plant for the host selection? These aspects will be investigated by combining the obtained physiological and ethological data with a spectral screening of host and non-host plants. We regard the proposed project as the first systematic approach to the evolution and adaptive value of colour vision in herbivorous insects.