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- Title
Chronic defoliation impacts pine sawfly (Hymenoptera: Diprionidae) performance and host plant quality
- Authors
McMillin, J. D.; Wagner, M. R.
- Abstract
We assessed the effects of chronic defoliation on host plant qualityand larval performance of a pine sawfly. Neodiprion autumnalis larvae were reared on ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) that had experienced moderate to severe defoliation (> 50%) of mature foliage for at least 15 yr and on trees sustaining no observable defoliation during thesame time interval. N. autumnalis performance was 23% (total instar survival) to 12% (potential fecundity) higher on chronically defoliated trees compared with non-defoliated trees. Perennially attacked trees had reduced dry matter (an estimate of total carbon) content of mature needles, higher foliar nitrogen, and a 10% lower carbon/nitrogenbalance compared with non-defoliated trees. No differences were detected in foliar toughness. Based on these findings, we maintain that chronic defoliation of evergreen conifers reduces the production of carbon-based secondary compounds in foliage and increases plant nutrition resulting in a positive feedback loop.
- Subjects
DEFOLIATION; INSECTS
- Publication
Oikos, 1997, Vol 79, Issue 2, p357
- ISSN
0030-1299
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2307/3546019