Pheromone attenuation: signal perception in changing atmospheric landscapes

昆虫使用化学信号，或信息素，与同种交流。为了传递信息，信息素分子必须穿过大气层，与通常位于接收器天线上的受体发生物理相互作用。信息素，像其他有机化合物一样，被臭氧，紫外线和自由基降解。虽然我们知道信息素羽通过分子的分散而衰减，但信息素降解的额外影响被忽略了。我们的项目旨在通过研究包括空气污染在内的大气条件如何影响信号完整性，触角形态和信号感知来突出气味生存对昆虫化学通讯的重要性。

Insects use chemical signals, or pheromones, to communicate with conspecifics. To convey information, the pheromone molecules must pass through the atmosphere and physically interact with receptors, typically located on the antennae of the receiver. Pheromones, like other organic compounds, are degraded by ozone, UV light, and radicals. While we know that pheromone plumes attenuate through the dispersal of molecules, the additional impact of pheromone degradation has been ignored. Our project aims to highlight the significance of odour survival for insect chemical communication by examining how atmospheric conditions, including air pollution, affects signal integrity, antennal morphology and signal perception.