Variable Folivory: Effects on Interactions Between Seasonal Insect Species

这项研究将通过共同寄主植物的变化，特别是物候学的变化，测试以前的叶对后续食叶昆虫物种的影响。将研究影响这种相互作用的具体因素，包括树叶的范围(部分与完全消耗树叶)、部分损害的数量及其对第三营养水平的影响(天敌)、树叶的时间安排和树叶的长期影响。这些因素将在一系列观察和操纵实验中得到检验，这些实验涉及埃默里橡树上的食叶动物(早期取食者)和采叶者(后期取食者)。初步证据表明，这些因素可以改变季节性食叶动物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树叶相关的物候和化学变化，以及它们对埃默里橡树上树叶物种的殖民、局部灭绝、存活、死亡原因和繁殖力的影响。虽然越来越多的证据表明植物会随着叶子的变化而变化，但对后续昆虫物种的确切影响是模棱两可的。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食叶昆虫物种的种群动态和组织是至关重要的。

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.