Variable Folivory: Effects on Interactions Between Seasonal Insect Species

这项研究将通过共享寄主植物的改变，特别是物候的改变，测试先前的叶食对随后的叶食昆虫物种的影响。 将检查假设影响这种相互作用的具体因素，包括叶的范围（叶子的部分与完全消耗）、部分损害的量和对第三营养级（天敌）的影响、叶的时间和叶的长期影响。 这些因素将通过一系列观察和操作实验进行测试，这些实验涉及埃默里橡树（Ouercus emoryi）上的咀嚼者（早季饲养者）和潜叶者（晚季饲养者）。 初步证据表明，这些因素可以改变季节性食叶昆虫之间相互作用的结果，从而影响食叶昆虫群落的种群动态和组织。 该项目将量化与不同叶类相关的物候和化学变化及其对埃默里橡树上采叶物种的定植、局部灭绝、生存、死亡原因和繁殖力的影响。 尽管越来越多的证据表明植物随着叶的生长而发生变化，但对随后的昆虫物种的确切影响却是模棱两可的。 然而，这些信息对于理解植物介导的相互作用如何影响共享寄主植物的叶食昆虫物种的种群动态和组织至关重要。

This research will test the effects of previous folivory on subsequent folivorous insect species via alterations in the shared host plant, particularly alterations in phenology. Specific factors hypothesized to influence such interactions, including extent of folivory (partial vs. complete consumption of leaves), amount of partial damage an dits effect on the third trophic level (natural enemies), timing of folivory and long-term effects of folivory, will be examined. These factors will be tested in a series of observations and manipulative experiments involving leafchewers (early-season feeders) and leafminers (late-season feeders) on the Emory oak, Ouercus emoryi. Preliminary evidence suggests such factors can change the outcome of interactions between seasonal folivores, and thus influence population dynamics and organization of folivorous insect communities. The project will quanfify phenological and chemical changes associated with varying folivory and their effects on colonization, local extinction, survival, causes of mortality, and fecundity of the leafmiing species on Emory oak. Although accumulating evidence indicates that plants change following folivory, the precise effects on subsequent insect species are equivocal. Yet such information is crucial in unerstanding how plant-mediated interactions influence population dynamics and organization of folivorous insect species sharing host plants.