Justin B. Runyon

Chemistry plays a critical role in most species interactions and underpins community structure and function. I seek to understand chemistry's function in the World and exploit it to better manage and restore ecosystems. One example is the chemical interactions between bark beetles and trees. Our work revealed that host-searching mountain pine beetles are repelled by volatiles emitted by Great Basin Bristlecone pine (but strongly attracted to odors from other pine species). Understanding what it is about this blend of odors that repels beetles could allow development of new strategies for managing this important forest insect. Another example is biological control, the only tool capable of managing widespread exotic plant invasions. However, some biological control agents obtain approval and are released, but fail to impact weed populations. A better understanding of the interactions between biocontrol agents and their invasive host plants is needed to identify the factors which promote or limit successful biocontrol. My approach is to apply the chemical ecology of plant-herbivore interactions to classical biological control of weeds - two fields which have largely progressed independently to date. Chemistry plays a central role in determining ecological outcomes between plants and insects and should provide information that can be used to better predict which potential agents are most likely to be effective.