9408264 Raffa We know very little about the extent to which pheromone chemistry of prey species has evolved in response to selection generated by predators that use pheromones to locate prey. The PI is studing the ecological implications of bark beetle-predator semiochemical interactions. He will test the hypotheses that 1) subtle shifts in pheromone chirality and secondary components may facilitate escape from predators, while retaining intraspecific functions, and 2) variation in bark beetle semiochemistry can affect reproductive success within colonized trees. This research will yield new insights into the ecological relationships between insect predators and their prey, and , in particular, how prey adapt to reduce attack by predators that home in on their chemical communication systems (pheromones). Because bark beetles are one of the major challenges to sustainable forestry, the results of this research will have important application to management of forests and bark-beetle outbreaks.
