Dynamics of Plant Modules, Herbivores, and Natural Enemies

本研究将扩展三个营养级相互作用的概念和理论。核心主题是模块化植物部分的动态，即芽，定义了植物的结构，并且以可预测的方式，草食动物及其敌人在空间和时间上的动态。杨柳（Salix lasiolepis）的植物结构为食草动物刺枝锯蝇（Euura lasiolepis）定义了资源，因为被利用的资源是叶柄，或节间，而那些在最长的枝条上的枝条有最高的被锯蝇攻击的可能性。反过来，元粒质量定义了影响食草动物进入第三营养水平的胆性状。因此，研究植物模块的种群动态是了解这种食草动物动态及其与敌人相互作用的基础。本研究解决了四个主要问题：1。柳树无性系如何在时空中生长和展示资源；2. 锯蝇对这些展示的反应；3. 锯蝇如何影响资源的展示；和4。资源如何影响食草动物与敌人的相互作用。这些问题是通过描述野生无性系的条件和盆栽无性系的现场实验来更好地了解系统的机械动力学来解决的。植物/动物相互作用是生态学研究的一个重要领域，它为农业生物防治策略提供了信息基础。

This research will extend concepts and theory on three trophic level interactions. The central theme is that the dynamics of modular plant parts, the shoots, defines plant architecture, and in a predictable way, the dynamics of herbivores and their enemies in space and time. Plant architecture of the arroyo willow, Salix lasiolepis, defines resources for the herbivore, shoot-galling sawfly Euura lasiolepis, because the metamere, or internode, is the resource utilized, and those on the longest shoots have the highest probability of attack by sawflies. In turn, metamere quality defines gall characters that influence access to the herbivore by the third trophic level. Thus, studying the population dynamics of plant modules is basic to understanding the dynamics of this herbivore, and its interaction with enemies. This research addresses four major questions: 1. how willow clones grow and display resources through space and time; 2. how sawflies respond to these displays; 3. how sawflies influence displays of resources; and 4. How resources influence the herbivore-enemy interaction. These questions are approached by describing conditions in wild clones and using field experiments with potted clones to understand better the mechanistic dynamics of the system. Plant/animal interactions is a major area of ecological research which provides the information base for biological control strategies in agriculture.