Chemical ecology is the study of the chemicals involved in the interactions of living organisms. It focuses on the production of and response to signaling molecules, toxins, and other organic compounds. Chemical ecology is of particular importance among ants and other social insects--including bees, wasps, and termites--as a means of communication essential to social organization. In addition, this area of ecology deals with studies involving defensive chemicals which are utilized to deter potential predators, which may attack a wide variety of species. This may include a wide variety of terrestrial species and marine animals. A chemical substance is any material substance used in or obtained by a process in chemistry: A chemical compound is a substance consisting of two or more chemical elements that are chemically combined in fixed proportions. ... In biology and ecology, an organism (in Greek organon = instrument) is a complex adaptive system of organs that influence each other in such a way that they function as a more or less stable whole and have properties of life. ... An organic compound is any member of a large class of chemical compounds whose molecules contain carbon, with the exception of carbides, carbonates, carbon oxides and gases containing carbon. ...
Analytical chemistry is the analysis of material samples to gain an understanding of their chemical composition and structure. ... Biochemistry the chemistry of life, a bridge between biology and chemistry that studies how complex chemical reactions give rise to life. ... (Ecology is sometimes used incorrectly as a synonym for the natural environment. ... Genetics (from the Greek genno γεννώ= give birth) is the science of genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms. ... Organic chemistry is the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and synthesis of organic compounds that by definition contain carbon. ... Ethology is the scientific study of animal behavior considered as a branch of zoology. ...
Similarly, to test the roles of saponins in trophic relationships between alfalfa and associated arthropods, we are conducting trophic cascades research in alfalfa fields in Colorado, Arizona, and Louisiana.
We examine morphological, behavioral, and chemical defenses that caterpillars deploy against parasitoids and use various experimental approaches to test their effectiveness.
For the chemical defenses, we have developed assays to detect active compounds in plants and caterpillars; once we have detected these defenses, we examine the effects of sequestered compounds on parasitoids.
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