Host-Plant Selection by Phytophagous Insects

Bernays, Elizabeth A.; Chapman, R. E.

doi:10.1007/b102508

Cited by 1,482 publications

(1,276 citation statements)

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“…Just as the behavioural and physiological responses to a given nutrient are contingent on the other nutrients present, so too might they depend on levels of nonnutrients, especially when such compounds are harmful. Common components of plant tissues are hydrolysable tannins, which are able to bind and precipitate proteins (Bernays & Chapman, 1994;Schoonhoven et al 1998). Accordingly, it has been argued that such compounds act to reduce the available protein content of the diet, through complexing with proteinase enzymes, their substrates, or both (Van Hoven, 1984;Mole & Waterman, 1987).…”

Section: Two Ecological Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assuaging nutritional complexity: a geometrical approach

Simpson

Raubenheimer

1999

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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We have introduced a framework that enables the identification of the important elements in complex nutritional systems, and the quantification of the interactions among them. These interactions include those among the multiple constituents of the ingesta, as well as between behavioural (ingestive) and physiological (post-ingestive) components of nutritional homeostasis. The resulting descriptions provide a powerful means to generate and test hypotheses concerning the mechanisms, ecology and evolution of nutritional systems. We provide an overview of the key concepts involved in our scheme, and then introduce four examples in which the framework is used to develop and test hypotheses. In the first example we use comparative methods based on a data set of 117 insect species to test a prediction about the relationship between evolving an association with bacterial endosymbionts and the composition of the optimal diet. Second, using two species of locusts (a grass specialist and a generalist), we consider the relationship between an animal's diet breadth and the decision rules employed when feeding on foods containing suboptimal protein : carbohydrate values. Third, we introduce a mathematical model that predicts the dose-response properties of gustatory systems in the context of nutritional homeostasis. Finally, we consider the interaction between tannic acid and macronutrient balance in the diet of locusts. Nutrient balancing: Geometric models of nutrition: Insects: Feeding behaviourNutritional regulation by an animal represents the integrated outcome of a highly complex set of interacting processes, operating over a range of scales of organization. Central to these processes is the acquisition and allocation of the more than thirty different nutrient molecules required for survival and reproduction. These nutrient molecules come packaged in various ratios and concentrations within foods, which may also contain an array of non-nutritive molecules, some of which are harmful. Foods are distributed across space and time, and finding, eating, digesting, assimilating and utilizing them involves ecological and physiological costs and compromises. Further, the nutritional environment is frequently highly variable, at a series of different scales; spatial variation occurs from mouthful-to-mouthful, patchto-patch and locality-to-locality, while temporal variation spans physiological, developmental and evolutionary time. Equally variable are the requirements of the animal, which are multidimensional and change quantitatively and qualitatively as an individual grows, develops, becomes reproductively active, then senesces.

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Section: Two Ecological Hypothesesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assuaging nutritional complexity: a geometrical approach

Simpson

Raubenheimer

1999

Proc. Nutr. Soc.

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“…Herbivorous insect abundance and richness are influenced by several factors such as climate, presence of parasitoids and/or predators, and a multitude of host plant characteristics such as size, density, spatial distribution, phenology, nutritional content, and chemical composition (Lawton, 1983;Basset, 1991;Stamp and Casey, 1993;Bernays and Chapman, 1994;Kursar and Coley, 2003;Stiling and Moon, 2005). Pilose leaves, for example, are less likely to be attacked by herbivorous insects (Ribeiro et al, 1994;Paleari and Santos, 1998).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Climate and host plant characteristics effects on lepidopteran caterpillar abundance on Miconia ferruginata DC. and Miconia pohliana Cogn (Melastomataceae)

2010

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Folivore cerrado caterpillars are found on their host species in low frequencies, which vary between plants and throughout the year. We analysed the effects of climatic variation and of the characteristics of two host species (Miconia, Melastomataceae) on caterpillar abundance. The work was carried out in a cerrado sensu stricto area in Brasília, Federal District, Brazil, from May 1998 to September 1999. One hundred plants of each species were inspected monthly. All caterpillars found were collected and raised in the laboratory with Miconia leaves as food sources. Climatic data for the study area and plant characteristics such as local density, spatial distribution, foliar phenology, leaf pilosity and nutritional content were used to test the effects on caterpillar abundance. Less than 10% of the plants had larvae. Caterpillars were more frequent and abundant in M. pohliana, which was also present at higher densities than M. ferruginata. Low caterpillar frequency in host plants and an abundance peak during the dry season are consistent patterns for different cerrado Lepidoptera larvae. This abundance peak, however, is not coincident with higher leaf production in host species. We suggest that M. pohliana's higher local density and better leaf digestibility can account for the higher abundance of caterpillars in this species.Keywords: cerrado, foliar nutritional content, host plant, leaf phenology, leaf pilosity Efeitos do clima e das características das plantas hospedeiras na abundância de lagartas de Lepidoptera em Miconia ferruginata e Miconia pohliana ResumoNo cerrado, as lagartas de Lepidoptera, folívoras externas, são encontradas em baixas frequências e variam entre plantas e ao longo do ano. Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar os efeitos das variações climáticas e das característi-cas das plantas (Miconia, Melastomataceae) na abundância das lagartas. O estudo foi feito no cerrado sensu stricto, Brasília, DF, de maio de 1998 a setembro de 1999. Mensalmente, 100 plantas de cada espécie foram vistoriadas. Todas as lagartas foram coletadas e criadas. Foram correlacionados com os resultados obtidos da abundância de lagartas, os dados climáticos e as seguintes características das plantas: densidade local, distribuição espacial, fenologia, pilosidade e conteúdo nutricional foliar. Menos de 10% das plantas tinham lagartas. As lagartas foram mais frequentes e abundantes em M. pohliana que também foi a espécie de planta com maior densidade na área. A frequência baixa de lagartas em plantas do cerrado é um padrão bastante consistente, assim como o pico de abundância desses imaturos na estação seca. Entretanto, esse pico de abundância não coincide com a produção de folhas em nenhuma das espécies de plantas. A maior densidade local e digestibilidade das folhas de M. pohliana são os fatores que mais explicam a abundância de lagartas nessa espécie.Palavras-chave: cerrado, conteúdo nutricional foliar, fenologia foliar, pilosidade foliar, planta hospedeira. BIOLOGYScherrer, S., Diniz, IR. and Morais, HC.

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“…Approximately 20-30% of all alkaloids occur in higher plants, most commonly in dicotyledonous angiosperms at concentrations of about 0.01% of the dry weight or greater (Willaman and Schubert, 1961;Seigler, 1998). While such compounds can be accumulated in any part of the plant at varying concentrations, they are most often concentrated in the most nutritious tissues (i.e., seed tissues) (Hartmann, 1991;Bernays and Chapman, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of varying alkaloid concentrations on the feeding behavior of gypsy moth larvae, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

Shields

Smith

Arnold

et al. 2008

Arthropod-Plant Interactions

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Nine alkaloids (acridine, aristolochic acid, atropine, berberine, caffeine, nicotine, scopolamine, sparteine, and strychnine) were evaluated as feeding deterrents for gypsy moth larvae (Lymantria dispar (L.); Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae). Our aim was to determine and compare the taste threshold concentrations, as well as the ED 50 values, of the nine alkaloids to determine their potency as feeding deterrents. The alkaloids were applied to disks cut from red oak leaves (Quercus rubra) (L.), a plant species highly favored by larvae of this polyphagous insect species. We used two-choice feeding bioassays to test a broad range of biologically relevant alkaloid concentrations spanning five logarithmetic steps. We observed increasing feeding deterrent responses for all the alkaloids tested and found that the alkaloids tested exhibited different deterrency threshold concentrations ranging from 0.1 mM to 10 mM. In conclusion, it appears that this generalist insect species bears a relatively high sensitivity to these alkaloids, which confirms behavioral observations that it avoids foliage containing alkaloids. Berberine and aristolochic acid were found to have the lowest ED 50 values and were the most potent antifeedants.

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Host-Plant Selection by Phytophagous Insects

Cited by 1,482 publications

References 0 publications

Assuaging nutritional complexity: a geometrical approach

Assuaging nutritional complexity: a geometrical approach

Climate and host plant characteristics effects on lepidopteran caterpillar abundance on Miconia ferruginata DC. and Miconia pohliana Cogn (Melastomataceae)

The effect of varying alkaloid concentrations on the feeding behavior of gypsy moth larvae, Lymantria dispar (L.) (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

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