Role of infochemicals from plants in community assembly of arthropods: focusing on historical contingency and priority effects

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K06818
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 45040:Ecology and environment-related
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: Yoneya Kinuyo 近畿大学, 農学部, 講師 (50618593)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 群集集合 / 植物揮発性物質 / 香りシグナル / 植物ー動物間相互作用

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We researched the mechanisms determining the strength of the "priority effect" in community assembly, focusing on insect communities on plants. We proposed two hypotheses: (1) suggests the type of initial herbivore species on plants is determined by plant volatile signals (PVOCs), while (2) proposes a stronger priority effect due to species-specific induced plant defense responses. In our verification using willow systems, we found a correlation between PVOC and late-stage community, indicating PVOCs act as an environmental filter. However, no relationship was observed between induced response strength and community assembly for Hypothesis 2. For Brassicaceae plants, we examined changes in PVOCs before and after herbivory, finding subsequent arthropod community depends on the type of herbivory. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the priority effect, highlighting the role of PVOCs and induced plant responses in shaping insect communities on plants.

Free Research Field

群集生態学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的問いは「生物群集の形成過程とその結果としての群集構造はどのような機構で決定されるのか？」であり、これは群集生態学における根幹的問いの一つである。この問いに答えるために偶然性と先住効果の理解を深化させることは、単に群集生態学分野において世界的に新たな知見をもたらすだけでなく、さらに波及効果として各分野の研究アプローチに革新をもたらす。さらには、本研究で明らかになる植物上の節足動物群集形成機構は、農生態系での有害昆虫の移入を抑制・有益昆虫の移入を促進するような害虫防除技術の開発における基盤的知見を提供することができる。