Influence of host plant phenology and oviposition date on the oviposition pattern and offspring performance of the butterfly Phengaris alcon

Arnaldo, Paula Seixas; Gonzalez, Darinka; Oliveira, Irene; Langevelde, Frank van; Wynhoff, Irma

doi:10.1007/s10841-014-9721-x

Cited by 8 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…For example, Phengaris alcon primarily oviposit on Gentiana pneumonanthe plants that have many young buds (Arnaldo et al. , Wynhoff et al. ), and larval survival is strongly related to host plant phenology and size (Arnaldo et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Plant‐herbivore synchrony and selection on plant flowering phenology

Fogelström

Olofsson

Posledovich

et al. 2017

Ecology

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Temporal variation in natural selection has profound effects on the evolutionary trajectories of populations. One potential source of variation in selection is that differences in thermal reaction norms and temperature influence the relative phenology of interacting species. We manipulated the phenology of the butterfly herbivore Anthocharis cardamines relative to genetically identical populations of its host plant, Cardamine pratensis, and examined the effects on butterfly preferences and selection acting on the host plant. We found that butterflies preferred plants at an intermediate flowering stage, regardless of the timing of butterfly flight relative to flowering onset of the population. Consequently, the probability that plant genotypes differing in timing of flowering should experience a butterfly attack depended strongly on relative phenology. These results suggest that differences in spring temperature influence the direction of herbivore-mediated selection on flowering phenology, and that climatic conditions can influence natural selection also when phenotypic preferences remain constant.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), and larval survival is strongly related to host plant phenology and size (Arnaldo et al. ). Moreover, hatching before leaf budburst in Quercus robur may cause larval starvation in Opeopthera brumata (Visser and Holleman ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Plant‐herbivore synchrony and selection on plant flowering phenology

Fogelström

Olofsson

Posledovich

et al. 2017

Ecology

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“…A visually conspicuous host plant (i.e. tall ones with many leaves) may be more attractive or more perceptible for females than smaller ones (Nowicki et al 2005a, Van Dyck and Regniers 2010, Czekes et al 2014, Arnaldo et al 2014, Wynhoff et al 2015. The large number of eggs on tall plants with a high number of leaves can be beneficial for the butterflies due to an increased egg laying surface, decreased larval competition, or even better climatic conditions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adult population ecology and egg laying strategy in the ‘cruciata’ ecotype of the endangered butterfly Maculinea alcon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

et al. 2016

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Abstract:Population dynamics studies in insects mostly focus on a specific life stage of a species and seldom consider different stages. In the framework of our research we studied the population demography of a protected Maculinea alcon 'cruciata' population and the factors that could influence the distribution of eggs. The results of the markrecapture survey showed a relatively short flight period between mid-June and midJuly with clearly marked early peak period. Unlike in many other butterflies, proterandry was not strong. The total population of M. alcon 'cruciata' was estimated at 699 individuals. The survival rate, and consequently the average life span, was relatively low. Generally, males proved to be more mobile than females. Eggs showed a highly aggregated pattern, and egg numbers was positively related to general shoot size, while the number of flower buds and the features of the surrounding vegetation did not display any effect on egg laying. Based on our findings the studied population appears viable, but specific management techniques could ensure optimal conditions for egg laying in this protected butterfly.

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“…to preferentially oviposit on host plants that are both in a suitable phenological stage and located near a nest of the suitable host ant species. Phengaris females prefer ovipositing on buds that are not fully developed (Thomas andElmes 2001, Patricelli et al 2011), because they contain better-quality seeds (as the bud develops into a flower, the seeds become drier and more difficult to digest, Arnaldo et al 2014) and increase the time available for brood feeding and development. If the presence of these preferred bud developmental stages overlaps more with the oviposition period of the butterfly in early-than in late flowering plants, butterflies would lay more eggs on plants flowering early in the season (Valdés and Ehrlén 2017a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Direct and plant trait‐mediated effects of the local environmental context on butterfly oviposition patterns

Valdés

Ehrlén

2018

Oikos

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Variation in the intensity of plant–animal interactions over different spatial scales is widespread and might strongly influence fitness and trait selection in plants. Differences in traits among plant individuals have been shown to influence variation in interaction intensities within populations, while differences in environmental factors and community composition are shown to be important for variation over larger scales. However, little is still known about the relative importance of the local environmental context vs. plant traits for the outcome of interactions within plant populations. We investigated how oviposition by the seed‐predator butterfly Phengaris alcon on its host plant Gentiana pneumonanthe was related to host plant traits and to local environmental variation, as well as how oviposition patterns translated into effects on host plant fruit set. We considered the local environmental context in terms of height of the surrounding vegetation and abundance of the butterfly's second host, Myrmica ants. The probability of oviposition was higher in plants that were surrounded by lower vegetation, and both the probability of oviposition and the number of eggs increased in early‐flowering and tall plants with many flowers in the three study populations. Flowering phenology, shoot height and flower production were, in turn, related to higher surrounding vegetation. Myrmica abundance was correlated with vegetation height, but had no effect on oviposition patterns. Oviposition and subsequent seed predation by the caterpillars strongly reduced host plant fruit set. Our results show that plant–animal interactions are context‐dependent not only because the context influences the abundance or the behavior of the animal interactor, but also because it influences the expression of plant traits that affect the outcome of the interaction. The results also demonstrate that heterogeneity in environmental conditions at a very local scale can be important for the outcomes of interactions.

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Influence of host plant phenology and oviposition date on the oviposition pattern and offspring performance of the butterfly Phengaris alcon

Cited by 8 publications

References 16 publications

Plant‐herbivore synchrony and selection on plant flowering phenology

Plant‐herbivore synchrony and selection on plant flowering phenology

Adult population ecology and egg laying strategy in the ‘cruciata’ ecotype of the endangered butterfly Maculinea alcon (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)

Direct and plant trait‐mediated effects of the local environmental context on butterfly oviposition patterns

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