Group Anna Karin Borg Karlsson

Ecological chemistry is an interdisciplinary research area with focus on the function of natural products and chemical signals produced by organisms, especially the evolution of signal specificity and complexity gaining reproduction and speciation. In other words, we are studying the chemical bases of biodiversity which can be termed chemodiversity. 

Diversity is essential for chemical communication between organisms. In particular this has been demonstrated in current work on volatile compounds, which are active in insect-insect, insect-plant relations (semiochemicals such as pheromones, kairomones and allomones). Fundamental knowledge of the evolution of chemical signalling between organisms and the parallel evolution within receptor systems is important as the basis for the development of methods for control of pest organisms

Interactions between insects and plants form suitable model systems for studying the chemistry behind the olfactory coding mechanisms involved in insect reception, perception, and behaviour. To achieve necessary information about the chemically guided interactions, isolation, identification, and structure elucidation of the chemical signals followed by behavioural tests using various bioassay techniques are made on selected organisms.

Diversity is essential for chemical communication between organisms. In particular this has been demonstrated in current work on volatile compounds, which are active in insect-insect, insect-plant relations (semiochemicals such as pheromones, kairomones and allomones). Fundamental knowledge of the evolution of chemical signalling between organisms and the parallel evolution within receptor systems is important as the basis for the development of methods for control of pest organisms

Interactions between insects and plants form suitable model systems for studying the chemistry behind the olfactory coding mechanisms involved in insect reception, perception, and behaviour. To achieve necessary information about the chemically guided interactions, isolation, identification, and structure elucidation of the chemical signals followed by behavioural tests using various bioassay techniques are made on selected organisms.

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