Seed detection and discrimination by invertebrates and their impact on weed seed predation

无脊椎动物的种子检测和辨别及其对杂草种子捕食的影响

• 批准号: RGPIN-2019-04010
• 负责人: Willenborg, Christian
• 金额: $ 2.04万
• 依托单位: University of Saskatchewan
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=737340
• 关键词: Seed; detection; discrimination; invertebrates; their

Competition from weeds remains a constant threat to agro-ecosystem productivity. Understanding why weeds occur where they do, or do not, is critical to improving weed management practices. To do this, we must develop a greater understanding of the ecological and evolutionary processes that govern weed population dynamics and thus, weed species distributions. Seeds are a vulnerable stage in plant recruitment and seed predation at the scale of weed patches may have the potential to limit the persistence and spread of weed patches. In some cases, seed predation has been observed to drive plant populations to extinction while in others, even massive mortality at the seed stage may have no impact on a given population. Seed foraging patterns and processes could be at least partially responsible for these discrepancies. Over the long-term, my research program will attempt to develop a comprehensive understanding of the role seed predation plays in shaping weed populations and communities. However, the mechanisms governing seed detection and consumption by invertebrates are currently not well-known; addressing this gap in our knowledge is a crucial step in further comprehending the importance of seed predation to weed communities. The specific objectives of this program are to: 1) assess seed traits and their influence on seed choice by carabid beetles, 2) determine the contribution of sensory modalities to seed detection and selection, and 3) determine the role that seed burial plays on seed consumption patterns. I will use weed species known to differ in physical traits such as seed coat hardness and seed size to determine which of these traits drive seed choice. Chemical seed defense will be studied by identifying headspace volatiles, with the results used to design olfactometer-based studies that eludicate the impact of volatile compounds on seed choice. Ultimately, by helping to define the underlying mechanisms that determine seed selection, this research will aid our understanding of how seed predation impacts weed population dynamics and species distributions. This is important not just for maintaining crop yields and profits in agriculture, but also for reducing the impact of invasive weeds on the conservation and restoration of natural and semi-natural habitats.

来自杂草的竞争仍然对农业生态系统的生产力构成持续威胁。了解为什么杂草在做或不做的地方发生，对于改善杂草管理实践至关重要。为此，我们必须对控制杂草种群动态的生态和进化过程有了更深入的了解，从而使杂草分布分布。种子是植物招募的脆弱阶段，在杂草斑块的规模上捕食种子可能有可能限制杂草斑块的持久性和扩散。在某些情况下，已经观察到种子捕食会使植物种群灭绝，而在其他情况下，即使是种子阶段的大量死亡率也可能对给定的人群没有影响。种子觅食模式和过程至少可以部分造成这些差异。从长远来看，我的研究计划将试图对种子捕食在塑造杂草种群和社区中所扮演的作用有全面的了解。但是，目前尚不清楚地控制种子检测和消耗种子检测和消耗的机制。在我们的知识上解决这一差距是进一步理解种子捕食对杂草社区的重要性的关键一步。该程序的具体目标是：1）评估种子特征及其对甲壳甲虫对种子选择的影响，2）确定感觉方式对种子检测和选择的贡献，以及3）确定种子埋葬在种子上发挥的作用消费模式。我将使用已知的杂草种类在物理特征上有所不同，例如种子涂层硬度和种子大小，以确定这些特征驱动种子选择。化学种子防御将通过识别顶空挥发物进行研究，其结果用于设计基于嗅觉仪的研究，从而消除挥发性化合物对种子选择的影响。最终，通过帮助定义确定种子选择的基本机制，这项研究将有助于我们理解种子捕食如何影响杂草种群动态和物种分布。这不仅对于维持农业中的农作物产量和利润很重要，而且对于减少侵入性杂草对自然和半自然栖息地的保护和恢复的影响。