A perspective on the importance of within-tree variation in mortality risk for a leaf-mining insect
Within-tree variation in abiotic conditions can create a mosaic of fitness gradients for herbivorous insects. To explore these effects, we quantified the patterns of mortality of the solitary oak leafminer, <i>Cameraria hamadryadella</i> (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), whi...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2012-05-01
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| Series: | Web Ecology |
| Online Access: | http://www.web-ecol.net/12/27/2012/we-12-27-2012.pdf |
| Summary: | Within-tree variation in abiotic conditions can create a mosaic of fitness gradients for herbivorous insects. To explore these effects, we quantified the patterns of mortality of the solitary oak leafminer, <i>Cameraria hamadryadella</i> (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae), which lives within leaves of white oak, <i>Quercus alba</i>. We found differential patterns of survival and larval feeding rate within the tree and in association with several abiotic factors: light levels, leaf nitrogen content, and canopy height. We suggest that the leaf scale microhabitat conditions are fundamental to plant-herbivore-enemy interactions because of the differential fitness effects on herbivores. Such effects would be missed by studies that average effects by whole plants. Our study population of <i>C. hamadryadella</i> is located within the Orland E. White State Arboretum of Virginia in Boyce, Virginia, USA. |
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| ISSN: | 2193-3081 1399-1183 |