Quisp

I just wanted to footnote I wasnt trying to bust GP's nuts but was interrested in what he was saying and when that happens I get all researchy and look stuff up to better understand it. Im pretty sure all the ideas are right but the terms were throwing me for a loop. Peace.

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Chaos is only being able to influence the future while remembering the past --- Q

guineapig

no problem....here is the cryptochrome reference...
www.bio.upenn.edu/faculty/cashmore/

can you just google "tri-trophic interactions?" I got lots of info....Basically, you know all those terpenes that we just think smell citrusy or skunky? Well, those compounds are actually weapons in the never-ending arms race between plant and insect. The terpenes can act as insect pheremones and attract predator insects. Or, the terpenes can inhibit the molting stages of beetles that land on their leaves....all sorts of mechanisms are being discovered which show that the plant is an active participant in the insect-wars and not just a passive food that gets munched on randomly now and again.....-gp

guineapig

oh my...I just became a "Puffer" instead of a "lightweight"....anyway, quisp...don't you love that the plant scientist's last name is "Cashmore?" I'd like to cashmore bowls! -gp out

lucifer

yeah it is interesting how the most volatile terpenes are released quite easily by wind even and float in the air like a gas, while heavier terpenes are stickier


btw you can create your own user title in your control panel

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Team Reeferman

Quisp

I did some more research and found the part for the chrome explanations here,

http://www.mcdb.ucla.edu/Research/L...yptochrome.html

But Im still fuzzy after searching all the tri-trophic links to find one that gives a decent definition of its meaning. When the hell is Jeeves going to get his masters degree?

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Chaos is only being able to influence the future while remembering the past --- Q

guineapig

here is a quote from a paper called "tritrophic interactions in the insect world:"

"My primary goal is to understand the potential evolution of tritrophic interactions, therefore, I expect that most of my future work on tritrophic interactions will emphasize natural rather than applied systems. The trichome dimorphism of D. wrightii provides an exciting opportunity to investigate a natural tritrophic interaction because the glandular trichomes that provide a direct benefit by providing resistance to several insect herbivores may also have an indirect cost associated with their production through their deleterious effects on some natural enemies of those herbivores. Understanding the balance between the direct and indirect costs and benefits of glandular trichome production will be a primary research objective of my laboratory for the next few years."

hahaheehee....I bet RM and Luci are also "understanding the balance between the direct and indirect costs and benefits of glandular trichome production..." I bet we all know the costs and benefits of....trichome production! Funny on one level but somber and melancholy on another...

I will try to find a good, conscise defintion of tri-trophism for everyone, but do you see the basic idea here and see why it is so interesting? It makes you look at plants in a whole new light....you see them as a bio-chemical weapon factory against insect nibbling! nibble nibble GP out...