Objective
Despite the fact that vibrational signalling is widespread among insects, vibrations are probably still the least understood channels of communication. In particular, there is nothing known about exploitation of intraspecific vibrational communication by predators. The proposal addresses the interactions between vibrational signallers and their natural enemies directly using novel interdisciplinary approaches.
We will investigate the hypotheses:
(1) that generalist arthropod predators (spiders) locate their prey (planthoppers) using vibrational communication signals as cues for orientation, and
(2) that prey choice is affected by species-and sex-specific vibratory signals.
The approach combines state-of-the-art work in behavioural ecology of insect vibrational communication with leading research on food webs and molecular diagnosis of predation. For the first time a molecular approach will be used to explain prey choice though laboratory analyses of predator responses to both species- and sex-specific vibratory signals.
The proposal is a ground breaking study that will reveal interactions important for the evolution of vibrational communication, extend our understanding of prey choice in the field and advance the use of DNA-based techniques to further our understanding of predator-prey interactions. It aims to broaden the applicants' expertise by developing her skills in molecular techniques for analysing trophic relationships that are essential for addressing fundamental questions in relation to the evolution and behavioural ecology of insect vibrational communication.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsDNA
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesethologybiological interactions
- natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomology
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesbiological behavioural sciencesbehavioural ecology
- natural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyinvertebrate zoology
Call for proposal
FP6-2005-MOBILITY-5
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Funding Scheme
EIF - Marie Curie actions-Intra-European FellowshipsCoordinator
CARDIFF
United Kingdom