Variation in the Suitability of Host Tree Species for Geographically Discrete Populations of Forest Tent Caterpillar

Parry, Dylan; Goyer, Richard A.

doi:10.1603/0046-225x-33.5.1477

Cited by 39 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Superscript letters indicate significant differences using the Sidak approach to comparing estimated marginal means (only shown for tests with overall significant differences). foliage that are used by forest tent caterpillars in the field, such as sugar maple (Acer saccharum), support performance that is similar to or poorer than what we observed on the artificial diets (Lorenzetti, 1993;Nicol et al, 1997;Parry and Goyer, 2004). The formulation of optimal artificial diets is a complex, multidimensional problem; it is a field that is still poorly understood for any animal and especially so for insects (Cohen, 2003).…”

Section: N Colasurdo Y Gélinas and E Desplandmentioning

confidence: 50%

Larval nutrition affects life history traits in a capital breeding moth

Colasurdo

Gélinas

Despland

2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYFitness depends not only on resource uptake but also on the allocation of these resources to various life history functions. This study explores the life-history consequences of larval diet in terms not only of larval performance but also of adult body composition and reproductive traits in the forest tent caterpillar (Malacosoma disstria Hübner). Caterpillars were reared on their preferred tree host, trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides), or on one of three artificial foods: high protein:low carbohydrate, equal protein-to-carbohydrate ratio or low protein:high carbohydrate. Survivorship, larval development rate and adult body size were lowest on the carbohydrate-biased diet and similar on the protein-biased and equal-ratio diets. Fecundity increased with body size but did not otherwise differ between diets. Moths reared on the carbohydrate-biased diet allocated a lower proportion of their mass to the ovaries and more to somatic growth whereas those on equal-ratio and protein-biased diets allocated more to reproductive tissue and less to somatic tissue. These differences in allocation to reproduction arose from differences in the size of eggs, an index of offspring quality. No differences were found in lipid and protein content of female ovaries, accessory glands or somatic tissue, or of the whole body of male moths. The findings show that physiological processes regulate the composition of the different components of the adult body. Diet effects occur as differences in overall body size and in relative allocation to these components. Although lepidopterans can, to a large extent, compensate post-ingestively for nutritionally deficient diets, investment in reproduction vs somatic growth depends on the nutrients available.

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Section: N Colasurdo Y Gélinas and E Desplandmentioning

confidence: 50%

Larval nutrition affects life history traits in a capital breeding moth

Colasurdo

Gélinas

Despland

2009

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…Plant defenses have required varying degrees of specialization by herbivores on particular host plant species, reflecting adaptations to tolerate or avoid defenses. Some herbivores are specialized to colonize only a particular plant species (e.g., the catalpa sphinx, Ceratomia catalpa, found only on catalpa, Catalpa spp., trees) or a few related plant species (e.g., red-humped oakworm, Symmerista canicosta, on related beech, Fagus grandifolia, chestnut, Castanea dentata, and oak, Quercus spp., trees), whereas others (such as the forest tent caterpillar, Malacosoma disstria), are adapted to feed on a wide variety of hardwood species, although local populations may be more restricted in diet breadth [23]. Hemlocks and cedars host particularly unique insect assemblages that complement the community in both eastern and western old-growth forests [7,17,24,25].…”

Section: Canopy Zonementioning

confidence: 99%

Arthropod Diversity and Functional Importance in Old-Growth Forests of North America

Schowalter

2017

Forests

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Old-growth forests have become rare in North America but provide habitat for unique assemblages of species that often are rare in younger forests. Insects and related arthropods reach their highest diversity in old-growth forests because of their stable moderate temperature and relative humidity and the rich variety of resources represented by high plant species richness and structural complexity. Old-growth arthropod assemblages typically are distinct from those in younger, managed forests. Major subcommunities include the arboreal community that is composed of a rich assemblage of herbivores, fungivores, and their associated predators and parasitoids that function to regulate primary production and nutrient fluxes, the stem zone community that includes bark-and wood-boring species and their associated predators and parasitoids that initiate the decomposition of coarse woody debris, and the forest floor community composed of a variety of detritivores, fungivores, burrowers, and their associated predators and parasitoids that are instrumental in litter decomposition. Insect outbreaks are relatively rare in old-growth forests, where the diversity of resources and predators limit population growth. In turn, insects contribute to plant diversity and limit primary production of host plant species, thereby promoting development of old-growth forest characteristics. Arthropods also provide important functions in decomposition and nutrient cycling that may be lost in younger, managed forests with limited provision of coarse woody debris and accumulated litter. Protection of remnant old-growth forests within the forest matrix may be particularly valuable for maintaining the diversity of plant and arthropod predators that can minimize outbreaks, thereby contributing to resilience to changing environmental conditions.

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“…As mentioned above, larvae in experiments on oak and maple were expected to be in a similar physiological condition as a result of the use of eggs from the same group of females (lab colony) and the same lab-rearing conditions. Secondly, these results are consistent with previous work showing: (1) elevated semiquinone radical levels in other species of tree-feeding caterpillars on sugar maple compared with those on red oak (Barbehenn et al 2005(Barbehenn et al , 2008b, (2) increased levels of oxidative stress in the midgut tissues of Malacosoma disstria Hübner caterpillars on sugar maple compared with those on red oak (Barbehenn et al 2008a), and (3) lower performance of L. dispar and M. disstria on sugar maple compared with those on red oak (e.g., Roth et al 1994;Liebhold et al 1995;Nicol et al 1997;Parry and Goyer 2004). Nevertheless, experiments designed to make comparisons across tree species are needed to conWrm the results of this study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Nevertheless, increased tannin levels are believed to be largely responsible for decreased Wtness in L. dispar on induced red oak foliage (Schultz and Baldwin 1982;Rossiter et al 1988) (but see Hunter and Schultz 1993). Previous work has shown that sugar maple is more resistant to some polyphagous caterpillars, including L. dispar, than is red oak (Roth et al 1994;Liebhold et al 1995;Nicol et al 1997;Parry and Goyer 2004). Three lines of evidence suggest that maple's resistance depends on the prooxidant activity of hydrolyzable tannins: it contains high levels of ellagitannins, produces high levels of ROS in the midgut contents of some generalist caterpillars, and can cause increased oxidative stress in their midgut tissues (Barbehenn et al 2005(Barbehenn et al , 2008a.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree resistance to Lymantria dispar caterpillars: importance and limitations of foliar tannin composition

et al. 2009

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The ability of foliar tannins to increase plant resistance to herbivores is potentially determined by the composition of the tannins; hydrolyzable tannins are much more active as prooxidants in the guts of caterpillars than are condensed tannins. By manipulating the tannin compositions of two contrasting tree species, this work examined: (1) whether increased levels of hydrolyzable tannins increase the resistance of red oak (Quercus rubra L.), a tree with low resistance that produces mainly condensed tannins, and (2) whether increased levels of condensed tannins decrease the resistance of sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.), a tree with relatively high resistance that produces high levels of hydrolyzable tannins. As expected, when Lymantria dispar L. caterpillars ingested oak leaves coated with hydrolyzable tannins, levels of hydrolyzable tannin oxidation increased in their midgut contents. However, increased tannin oxidation had no significant impact on oxidative stress in the surrounding midgut tissues. Although growth efficiencies were decreased by hydrolyzable tannins, growth rates remained unchanged, suggesting that additional hydrolyzable tannins are not sufficient to increase the resistance of oak. In larvae on condensed tannin-coated maple, no antioxidant effects were observed in the midgut, and levels of tannin oxidation remained high. Consequently, neither oxidative stress in midgut tissues nor larval performance were significantly affected by high levels of condensed tannins. Post hoc comparisons of physiological mechanisms related to tree resistance revealed that maple produced not only higher levels of oxidative stress in the midgut lumen and midgut tissues of L. dispar, but also decreased protein utilization efficiency compared with oak. Our results suggest that high levels of hydrolyzable tannins are important for producing oxidative stress, but increased tree resistance to caterpillars may require additional factors, such as those that produce nutritional stress.

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Variation in the Suitability of Host Tree Species for Geographically Discrete Populations of Forest Tent Caterpillar

Cited by 39 publications

References 26 publications

Larval nutrition affects life history traits in a capital breeding moth

Larval nutrition affects life history traits in a capital breeding moth

Arthropod Diversity and Functional Importance in Old-Growth Forests of North America

Tree resistance to Lymantria dispar caterpillars: importance and limitations of foliar tannin composition

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