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Role of foraging behaviour in parasitoid ecology and population structure

Reference	BBS/E/C/00004180
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Juliet Osborne
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	Rothamsted Research
Department	Rothamsted Research Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	1,761,740
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/04/1999
End date	31/03/2008
Duration	108 months

Abstract

In this project, the foraging behaviour of aphid parasitoids is being studied with emphasis on their responses to semiochemical cues at different stages in the foraging process from habitat location to host recognition and attack. Work is focussing on the role of aphid-induced plant signalling and host ¿derived kairomones, especially aphid sex pheromones, in the host location process, using olfactometers, wind tunnels and field bioassays. The role of these parasitoid behavioural responses in determining host-parasitoid population structure at different spatial scales is being studied using molecular techniques. The main objectives of the project are: To identify the environmental cues mediating aphid parasitoid host location and host recognition. To elucidate the role of plant signalling in aphid parasitoid host location. To determine the role of foraging behaviour in parasitoid spatial and temporal dynamics. To determine the effects of spatial scale on host-parasitoid population structure. To assess the effects of habitat heterogeneity and host preference on the genetic diversity of aphid parasitoid populations.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Agri-food (AF)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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