Lipid accumulation and migratory flight in the Australian plague locust, <i>Chortoicetes terminifera</i> (Walker) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Hunter, David M.; McCulloch, L.; Wright, D. E.

doi:10.1017/s0007485300010051

Cited by 39 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 9 publications

(10 reference statements)

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“…After fledging, adult C. terminifera are highly vagile by day (‘milling flight' sensu Lambert, 1972) and night (‘dispersal movements' or ‘migrations’ sensu Farrow, 1979). Hunter et al (1981) reported that migration required that locusts accumulate >0.5 mg of fat‐body lipid and Lambert (1972) found that female flight periodicity was related to the oviposition cycle, both of which are consistent with the existence in this species of an oogenesis–flight syndrome ( sensu Mole & Zera, 1994; Zhao & Zera, 2002; Lorenz, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Relating rainfall and vegetation greenness to the biology of spur-throated and Australian plague locusts

Steinbauer

2010

Agricultural and Forest Entomology

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1 Rainfall and vegetation greenness are widely claimed to influence fat content and egg development in locusts. Body size, abdominal fat and egg length of spur-throated Austracris guttulosa and Australian plague Chortoicetes terminifera locusts were related to the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI; a greenness indicator) to test these assumptions and quantify biological responses. 2 Cumulative rainfall was highly correlated with NDVI values of an area (25 × 25 km) surrounding the trap to which locusts were attracted. Catches of locusts were greater in hotter periods preceding rain, associated with an increase in NDVI indicative of brown (0.298) versus green (0.465) vegetation. 3 Pre-overwintering descendent A. guttulosa were larger and fattier than postoverwintering antecedents. Egg maturation of antecedents occurred coincident with increasing NDVI. Higher abdominal fat in pre-overwintering locusts was positively associated with higher NDVI. 4 Male C. terminifera of two descendent generations were larger than their antecedents but only pre-overwintering locusts were significantly fattier than their predecessors. Only pre-overwintering females were significantly larger than their predecessors and no generation was significantly fattier than any other. Fat content was negatively correlated with egg maturation and differed significantly with NDVI, although strong and consistent relationships were not obtained. 5 The findings suggest that locust-environment interactions are species-and habitatspecific. If A. guttulosa hoppers develop during periods when regional NDVI exceeds 0.4, fatter adults will arise. The elucidation of relationships between greenness, fat and egg development in C. terminifera is unlikely using NDVI values from areas comprising mixtures of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous vegetation.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 62%

Relating rainfall and vegetation greenness to the biology of spur-throated and Australian plague locusts

Steinbauer

2010

Agricultural and Forest Entomology

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“…Both grasses produce green shoots rapidly after rain, the annual from seed and the perennial from stored root reserves. If D. radulans dies before nymphs complete their development, forcing them to feed solely on A. lappacea , locust outbreaks are prevented (Hunter, McCulloch & Wright 1981; Hunter 1989). The traditional view has been that D. radulans , as an annual, is a higher‐quality resource than the perennial notably providing more of what is commonly considered to be the major limiting nutrient for herbivores − nitrogen (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The paradoxical effects of nutrient ratios and supply rates on an outbreaking insect herbivore, the Australian plague locust

Clissold

Sanson

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2006

Journal of Animal Ecology

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Abstract1. The Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera , develops following rainfall in an environment dominated by two host plants, the annual Dactyloctenium radulans and the perennial Astrebla lappacea. This simple system provides an ideal opportunity to explore the relationship between plant quality, individual herbivore performance and population responses. 2. We compared the two grasses chemically and structurally, and the behavioural, physiological and developmental responses of locust nymphs to these diets. 3. The grasses appeared to be of similar nutritional quality in terms of their chemical composition, although they differed in their physical properties. Early instar nymphs performed equally well on both grasses. However, older nymphs consuming D. radulans developed faster, survived better and attained a higher body weight compared with those consuming A. lappacea . 4. The differences in performance by the older nymphs related to the rate and ratio of supply of carbohydrate and protein from the two grasses, with less carbohydrate being assimilated from A. lappacea than D. radulans per unit of protein assimilated. Experiments showed that these differences arose as a direct result of the physical barrier to nutrient extraction provided by cell walls and indirectly through the amount of water contained within each cell. Paradoxically, nitrogen did not limit performance in the traditional sense through shortage, but rather its relative excess in A. lappacea appeared to impede intake and assimilation of adequate carbohydrate. 5. As a consequence, we predict that the length of time D. radulans remains available following rainfall will influence plaguing dynamics, although not for the reasons previously thought. 6. The results highlight the need to consider nutrient balance and actual rates of supply (rather than simply measuring the chemical composition of the plant) when attempting to understand herbivore nutritional ecology.

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“…In Mitchell grasslands of eastern Australia (these grasslands extend from western New South Wales through central and western Queensland to north eastern Northern Territory), nymphs develop on the growth of grass following a single rainfall event during the warmer months (Hunter 1989, Hunter et al 2001. Population dynamics are influenced by the ability of the locusts to develop rapidly, accumulate lipid and migrate to locate areas where rain has recently fallen (Hunter et al 1981, Hunter 1989. Typically, young adults rely on Mitchell grass to complete their somatic development and to accumulate lipid which enables them to migrate.…”

Section: Fig 4 Feeding Behavior Responses Of Nymphs When Feeding Onmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gross vs. net income: How plant toughness affects performance of an insect herbivore

Clissold

Sanson

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et al. 2009

Ecology

135

136

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Leaf biomechanical properties are thought to impose a significant obstacle to herbivores and as such influence patterns of herbivory more than leaf chemistry. However, evidence for the role of structural traits in influencing herbivore food choice and performance has come from correlative studies, whereas the underlying mechanisms have been given little attention. By manipulating the biomechanical properties of a host grass species through a combination of lyophilization and milling, and providing water separately, we were able to compare behavioral, physiological, and developmental responses of the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera, to the biomechanical properties of plant food (exemplified by toughness) independently of the food's macronutrient content and the insect's demand for water. Increasing leaf toughness was associated with reduced rates of locust growth and prolonged development, with potential ecological consequences. Poorer performance on the tougher foods was primarily a consequence of a reduced rate of nutrient supply, which occurred as a result of (1) smaller meals being eaten more slowly, (2) slowed gut passage rates, which limited how quickly the next meal could be taken, and (3) reduced efficiency of assimilation of nutrients from food in the gut. In addition, there were deleterious changes in the ratio of protein to carbohydrate assimilated from the gut. Prolonged development time was associated with increased total nutrient demands throughout the extended developmental period. Because these demands could not be met by increased consumption, there was a decreased efficiency of conversion of assimilated nutrients to growth. By disentangling the effects of biomechanical properties from macronutrient and water content we have shown that leaf biomechanical traits can influence chewing herbivores independently of leaf chemical traits.

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Lipid accumulation and migratory flight in the Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera (Walker) (Orthoptera: Acrididae)

Cited by 39 publications

References 9 publications

Relating rainfall and vegetation greenness to the biology of spur-throated and Australian plague locusts

Relating rainfall and vegetation greenness to the biology of spur-throated and Australian plague locusts

The paradoxical effects of nutrient ratios and supply rates on an outbreaking insect herbivore, the Australian plague locust

Gross vs. net income: How plant toughness affects performance of an insect herbivore

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