Structure of Plant-Arthropod Associations: Differences Related to Habitat Adversity and Stage of Establishment

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The relationship between herbivores and goldenrod (Solidago altissima) will be studied at several sites in the environs of Ithaca, New York, with the purpose of explaining how plant- herbivore interactions vary during different stages of succession and on sites of varying fertility. The research will be organized around three activities. One activity involves the completion of a long-term study (6 years) in old fields to determine how prolonged suppression of herbivores has altered: 1) the relative importance of different plant species; and 2) the standing crop biomass of the vegetation in the system. A second activity will involve the determination of the major population levels of goldenrod-herbivores in 6 meadows. The meadows are in different successional stages and so the food resources available to the herbivores differ. And the third activity will involve a comparison of adaptive syndromes of caterpillars in forests and meadows. This will permit Dr. Root and his colleagues to determine if there are basic differences in the population biology of species that utilize similar resources in different habitats. This research will expand our understanding of plant- herbivore interactions and should help us to develop biologically sound practices for herbivore control. Dr. Root has an excellent record of scientific achievement. Previous NSF grants to him have produced a large number of peer- reviewed scientific papers and have supported the training of numerous young ecologists. Cornell University will provide excellent institutional support for this research. The Ecosystem Studies Program recommends award of this grant.