Dynamics of Plant Modules, Herbivores, and Natural Enemies

这项研究将扩展三个营养水平相互作用的概念和理论。中心主题是，模块化植物部分的动态，即嫩芽，定义了植物的结构，并以一种可预测的方式，定义了食草动物及其敌人在空间和时间上的动态。Arroyo柳树的植物结构，Salix lasiolepis，为食草动物、令人生厌的锯蝇Euura lasiolepis定义了资源，因为Metamere或节间是所利用的资源，而那些位于最长枝条上的资源具有最高的被锯蝇攻击的可能性。反过来，Metamere质量定义了虫害特征，这些特征通过第三级营养水平影响对食草动物的获取。因此，研究植物构件的种群动态是了解这种食草动物的动态及其与天敌相互作用的基础。本研究解决了四个主要问题：1.柳树无性系如何在空间和时间中生长和展示资源；2.锯蝇如何对这些展示做出反应；3.锯蝇如何影响资源的展示；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利用盆栽无性系的田间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，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.