除水災外,蝗禍亦會對糧食供應做成極大的傷害。207Please respect copyright.PENANAkEaDrTUn4V
207Please respect copyright.PENANAwjM3wePsVC
(圖1)蝗蟲可以分成為兩個形態,獨居形態(Solitary)和群居形態(Gregarious)。當獨居蝗蟲聚集在一起後,牠們身體便會由綠色轉變成黑色,成為群居蝗蟲,同時間亦會在體內產生Phenylacetonitrile (PAN)化學物。207Please respect copyright.PENANA4YvIwfOiMj207Please respect copyright.PENANAQ3G7LYc6lC
207Please respect copyright.PENANAp2Mf4ElAEx
207Please respect copyright.PENANAeM2Xm5r0JT
群居蝗蟲受到捕食者攻擊的話,身體裡的PAN化學物便會迅速代謝成為山埃。目的就是如果自己受傷甚至是不幸戰敗的話,對手亦會因為進食自己含有山埃的部份而中毒身亡,玉石俱焚。207Please respect copyright.PENANAeZFsZ5rE5P
207Please respect copyright.PENANA8NEtRYf7o5
207Please respect copyright.PENANAWVVWUt7cNS
2020年8月12日,有科學家在《Science》期刊發表學術文章,講述一道關於蝗蟲的研究。207Please respect copyright.PENANA3HM4MoCHqb
207Please respect copyright.PENANAGTWHlWxPBd
Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2610-4207Please respect copyright.PENANAnpN7dAixRf
207Please respect copyright.PENANAkXQTqX34F5
(圖2)他們發現,若果群居蝗蟲聚集數量多於4隻的話,牠們的身體及糞便會散發出一隻名為4VA(4-Vinylanisole)的化學物。207Please respect copyright.PENANAyDY2DEOaEH207Please respect copyright.PENANAUFNgvG4Xdq
207Please respect copyright.PENANAiZokxYSsb7
不論是獨居蝗蟲還是群居蝗蟲,亦不論性別,牠們均會被4VA化學物深深吸引,從而聚集成群,並繼續不斷散發4VA化學物,無止境地召集同伴,建組蝗蟲大軍。207Please respect copyright.PENANAObwM2pE5ZO
207Please respect copyright.PENANANGcToS9EfT
科學家亦發現,蝗蟲觸鬚裡頭名為OR35的嗅覺細胞主力負責感測4VA的存在。當利用基因CRISPR技術移除蝗蟲OR35嗅覺細胞的話,牠們便會失去聚集的能力,進一步確立4VA的重要性;207Please respect copyright.PENANA3Pu7O58IdE
目前為止,他們並沒有發現或研發化學物可以抑制蝗蟲的OR35嗅覺細胞。207Please respect copyright.PENANAQmvJ3JihVG
207Please respect copyright.PENANAk4rF3iQxC2
他們亦嘗試進行實地研究,在野外設立8個含有4VA化學物的捕蝗網。統計過後,捕獲的蝗蟲數量的確有所上升,但並非超級顯著。(圖3)207Please respect copyright.PENANASUeiwOjh5h207Please respect copyright.PENANANhLUYyEEMO
207Please respect copyright.PENANAiQoqdXwsDP
207Please respect copyright.PENANAOyh8PN48Lo
雖然如此,如果設立的數量足夠的話,不排除可以能夠誘導蝗蟲群組遠離農地,保護農作物。207Please respect copyright.PENANAkOb8x2qOEb
copyright protection203PENANA9UUVR0SEwT
科普專欄–薯不揀單
Tags
- G: General Audiences
- PG: Parental Guidance Suggested
- PG-13: Parents Strongly Cautioned
- R: Restricted
RATED

Popularity
Follow Author
#18
<<深入淺出–抵擋蝗蟲的最新研究>>
Comments ( 0 )
No comments yet. Be the first!
Loading...