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- Title
Interactions of root and leaf herbivores on purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria).
- Authors
Hunt-Joshi, Tamaru R.; Blossey, Bernd
- Abstract
Interspecific interactions of herbivores sharing a host plant may be important in structuring herbivore communities. We investigated host plant-mediated interactions of root (Hylobius transversovittatus) and leaf herbivores (Galerucella calmariensis), released to control purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in North America, in field and potted plant experiments. In the potted plant experiments, leaf herbivory byG. calmariensisreducedH. transversovittatuslarval survival (but not larval development) but did not affect oviposition preference. Root herbivory byH. transversovittatusdid not affect eitherG. calmariensisfitness or oviposition preference. In field cage experiments, we found no evidence of interspecific competition between root and leaf herbivores over a 4-year period. Our data suggest that large populations of leaf beetles can negatively affect root-feeding larvae when high intensity of leaf damage results in partial or complete death of belowground tissue. Such events may be rare occurrences (or affected by experimental venue) since field data differed from data obtained from potted plant experiments, particularly at high leaf beetle densities. Interspecific interactions betweenG. calmariensisandH. transversovittatusare possible and may negatively affect either species, but this is unlikely to occur unless heavy feeding damage results in partial or complete plant death.
- Subjects
BIOLOGICAL control of insects; INSECT-plant relationships; PURPLE loosestrife; LYTHRUM; HYLOBIUS; BLACK-margined loosestrife beetle
- Publication
Oecologia, 2005, Vol 142, Issue 4, p554
- ISSN
0029-8549
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00442-004-1747-4