Diversity, function, and evolution of caterpillar attachment devices
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Zoology
Abstract
In my research, I aim to combine basic physiological, ecological and molecular approaches to investigate the evolution of organisms. In particular, I would like to find out how developmental constraints for insect attachment devices, their biomechanical function on plant surfaces, and their ecological context have shaped the evolution of these structures. I have been particularly interested in the larvae of Lepidoptera: despite their worldwide importance as herbivores, the detailed mechanisms of how caterpillars attach to their host plants using their unusually diverse prolegs as well as silk threads are still unclear. I aim to explore the constraints and driving factors of insect biomechanical trait evolution by investigating how proleg function and silk use correlate with ecology, how prolegs have evolved across the Lepidoptera, and by gathering evidence from developmental genetics on whether proleg and thoracic leg development are coupled. A detailed understanding of caterpillar attachment mechanisms is also important in the context of herbivory and plant defences as well as biomimetics: knowledge of plant-proleg interactions will help to develop physical (pesticide-free) methods for crop defense while caterpillar silk represents an attachment-specialised counterpart to more well-understood spider silks.
People |
ORCID iD |
Walter Federle (Primary Supervisor) | |
Simon Chen (Student) |
Publications
Woodman TE
(2021)
Developmental Nutrition Affects the Structural Integrity of a Sexually Selected Weapon.
in Integrative and comparative biology
Description | COB travel grants |
Amount | £500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Company of Biologists |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2018 |
End | 06/2018 |
Description | Cambridge Gravity travel awards |
Amount | £500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Cambridge Gravity |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2019 |
End | 07/2019 |
Description | DAAD RISE Worldwide funds to host a German undergraduate student for a research internship |
Amount | € 1,600 (EUR) |
Organisation | German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United States |
Start | 07/2020 |
End | 10/2020 |
Description | Graduate Tutor's Research Fund |
Amount | £150 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Cambridge |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2019 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | Collaboration with Pugno lab for measuring material properties of several types of caterpillar silk (University of Trento, Italy) |
Organisation | University of Trento |
Country | Italy |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Knowledge of certain model and non-model organisms, sample collection from these organisms, understanding of relevant ecological and physiological influences on silk production. |
Collaborator Contribution | Hosting in lab/university facilities and acces to certain advanced experimental equipment, better understanding of how silk material characteristics are most accurately and comprehensively measured. |
Impact | Currently still in data collection stage. Have recruited undergraduate students for research (so far 2 for thesis work, 1 as intern). Multi-disciplinary: engineering, physiology, ecology. |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Public display during Cambridge Science festival (Department of Zoology "Just Bugs" event) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | At this event, members of the Department of Zoology working with insects showed study animals, labs, and posters/discussion material with opportunities for hands-on experiences and discussion/Q&A. My contribution was to show insect attachment devices in action, visualising contacts of the specialised attachment pads used for attachment and showing attachment behaviours. 3 groups of ca. 20 people visited this event. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |