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Causes of variation in damage by folivores: the roles of ecosystem productivity and habitat complexity
Shrestha, Shubha Russell, F. Leland
Shrestha, Shubha
Russell, F. Leland
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2008-04-25
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Conference paper
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Shrestha, S., Russell, L. (2008). Causes of variation in damage by folivores: the roles of ecosystem productivity and habitat complexity. In Proceedings: 4th Annual Symposium: Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects. Wichita, KS: Wichita State University, p.107-108
Abstract
Understanding the causes of variation in herbivore damage to plants is very important in that crop loss can be
reduced, and damage may be manipulated to limit population growth of invasive weed species. My research focuses on
variation of damage by insects to leaf tissues of tall thistle (Cirsium altissimum) rosettes under differing levels of
ecosystem productivity and habitat complexity. I address four specific questions in my research. First, does ecosystem
productivity affect the amount of tissue loss to insect herbivory? Second, does habitat complexity, in terms of litter and
local species richness, affect tissue loss to insect herbivory? Third, is there any interaction effect between ecosystem
productivity and habitat complexity on plant tissue loss to insect herbivores? Fourth, do ecosystem productivity and
habitat complexity affect the fresh biomass of insect carnivores and herbivores? At each of two sites four 40 m X 40 m
plots were established for ecosystem productivity manipulations and subplots within the 40 m X 40 m plots are used for
manipulations of habitat complexity. Nitrogen was added to experimentally increase ecosystem productivity and litter
(dead plant parts that are lying down) and plant species richness were manipulated for habitat complexity. Preliminary
results from the first year of field work showed that the mean (± standard error) proportions of leaves damaged severely
(>50% leaf area damaged) in control plots were 0.06 ± 0.01 in May, 0.25±0.01 in August and 0.10±0.07 in October. In
nitrogen addition plots mean proportions of leaves damaged severely were 0.04±0.01 in May, 0.22±0.04 in August and
0.06±0.01 in October. Although nitrogen addition increased plant standing crop by 16.7%, differences in proportion of
leaves damaged severely between control and N-addition plots were not statistically significant at any of the three
months. Statistical analysis of these data is on-going.
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Second Place winner of non-oral presentations at the 4th Annual Symposium on Graduate Research and Scholarly Projects (GRASP) held at the Hughes Metropolitan Complex, Wichita State University, April 25, 2008.
Research completed at the Department of Biological Sciences, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Research completed at the Department of Biological Sciences, Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
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Wichita State University. Graduate School.
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GRASP
v.4
v.4