DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Effects of Soil Nitrogen Enrichment on the Chemical Mediation of Multi-Trophic Interactions

论文研究：土壤氮富集对多营养相互作用的化学介导的影响

• 批准号: 0808473
• 负责人: M. Deane Bowers
• 金额: $ 0.66万
• 依托单位: University of Colorado at Boulder
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2008-06-01 至 2010-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0808473&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Effects; Soil; Nitrogen

While most temperate terrestrial ecosystems remain nitrogen limited, nitrogen inputs from human activity are increasing at a rapid rate. This project will examine the influence of nitrogen enrichment on plant-herbivore and herbivore-predator interactions. Soil nitrogen enrichment may influence such interactions through changes in plant productivity, nutritional quality, and defensive chemistry. These direct effects on plants, in turn, may affect both herbivores and predators. This project examines interactions between an invasive plant that is chemically defended (Dalmatian Toadflax, Linaria dalmatica, Scrophulariaceae), a specialist insect herbivore that stores these plant defense compounds (Toadflax Defoliator, Calophasia lunula, Noctuidae), and several invertebrate predators. These interactions will be investigated in greenhouse and field experiments in which plants are grown under varying levels of nitrogen addition. The results will contribute to understanding the explicit mechanisms by which soil nitrogen enrichment may influence such interactions. This project represents the first study of the chemical ecology of this invasive plant and a biological control insect that has been introduced to manage this species. Invasive plants pose an important threat to native biodiversity and the aggressiveness of these species to invade a habitat may be facilitated by nitrogen deposition. Information from this research will provide insight for improving biocontrol efforts for an invasive plant that has ecological and economic significance as a rangeland weed. Further, the broader impacts of this research include fostering collaborations between researchers and land managers as well as educating the public about environmental change and plant invasions.

虽然大多数温带陆地生态系统的氮含量仍然有限，但人类活动产生的氮输入正在快速增加。该项目将研究氮富集对植物-草食动物和草食动物-捕食者相互作用的影响。土壤氮富集可能通过改变植物生产力、营养质量和防御化学来影响这种相互作用。这些对植物的直接影响反过来可能会影响食草动物和捕食者。该项目研究了化学防御的入侵植物（达尔马提亚蟾蜍、线虫、玄参科）、储存这些植物防御化合物的专业昆虫草食动物（蟾蜍落叶剂、夜蛾、夜蛾科）和几种无脊椎动物捕食者之间的相互作用。这些相互作用将在温室和田间实验中进行研究，其中植物在不同的氮添加水平下生长。这些结果将有助于理解土壤氮富集可能影响这种相互作用的明确机制。该项目代表了对这种入侵植物和引入来管理该物种的生物防治昆虫的化学生态学的首次研究。入侵植物对本地生物多样性构成了重要威胁，氮沉积可能会促进这些物种入侵栖息地的侵略性。这项研究的信息将为改善作为牧场杂草具有生态和经济意义的入侵植物的生物防治工作提供见解。此外，这项研究的更广泛影响包括促进研究人员和土地管理者之间的合作，以及教育公众有关环境变化和植物入侵的知识。