植物入侵以多种不同方式影响土著生态系统中昆虫的多样性、结构及功能。现有研究发现，随着入侵植物在新生境中定殖时间的延长，土著植食性昆虫可发生食性转移或扩大，从而较好地适应这些外来新宿主；但是，对这一现象背后的成因，仍需进一步强化系统的科学认识。本项目拟以长江河口的“互花米草–芦苇–素毒蛾”为研究系统，通过比较外来植物互花米草和土著植物芦苇的生理性状（聚焦于形态组织和营养指标）和生境特征（聚焦于物理庇护和天敌庇护）为素毒蛾提供生存繁衍的异同效应这一角度，分析互花米草入侵促进土著昆虫素毒蛾宿主转移和种群扩增的主要成因。可望通过本项目的实施，在外来植物入侵与土著昆虫食性微进化关系这一研究方向内取得创新成果，为植物入侵对土著昆虫影响的生态学机制提供新的认识，为被入侵生态系统的生境恢复和湿地植物害虫的综合治理提供参考。本项目预期发表论文4篇，其中SCI论文不少于3篇（争取1篇在生态学顶尖刊物发表）。

Invasions by exotic plants can affect insect’s diversity, structure and function of native ecosystems. Studies have shown that native herbivorous insects can transfer or expand their hosts from indigenous plants to invasive plants after the latters have established in the new habitat for many years. There are, however, few mechanisms underlying this phenomenon have been explained. In this project, we want to use "Spartina alterniflora, Phragmites australis and Laelia coenosa” in the Yangtze River estuary as a model system to study that why the indigenous L. coenosa shifts its host from native Phragmites to invasive Spartina in the Yangtze River estuary of China. To address this question, we will compare the differences in physiological (tissue morphologies and nutrition) and habitat characteristics (physical and biological shelters) between Spartina and Phragmites. We are going to conduct the studies under the guidance of principles and methods of population ecology, community ecology and physiological ecology. The research will be, at the first time, focused on the systemic causations for the adaptation of native insects to invasive plants. Our expected outcomes may provide novel sights for understanding the ecological mechanisms underlying the effects of invasive plants on native herbivores, and may also provide references for the habitat restoration and pest management at the wetlands in the invaded regions. The project is expected to publish four papers, among which at least three ones will be published in SCI journals (including one in the top journals of ecology).