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Nutrient addition extends flowering display, which gets tracked by seed predators, but not by their parasitoids

Albrectsen, Benedicte Riber ; Ericson, Lars and Lundberg, Per LU (2008) In Oikos 117(3). p.473-480
Abstract
Although phenological matching between two and three trophic interactions has received some attention, it has largely been disregarded in explaining the lack of strong cascade dynamics in terrestrial systems. We studied the response of the specialist seed predator, Paroxyna plantaginis (Tephritidae) and associated generalist parasitoids (Chalcidoidea) to controlled fertilisation of individuals of naturally growing Tripolium vulgare (Asteraceae) on four island populations (Skeppsvik Archipelago, Sweden). We consistently found evidence of nutrient limitation: fertilised plants increased their biomass, produced more capitula (the oviposition units for tephritid flies), were more at risk of attack by the tephritids, and puparia were heavier in... (More)
Although phenological matching between two and three trophic interactions has received some attention, it has largely been disregarded in explaining the lack of strong cascade dynamics in terrestrial systems. We studied the response of the specialist seed predator, Paroxyna plantaginis (Tephritidae) and associated generalist parasitoids (Chalcidoidea) to controlled fertilisation of individuals of naturally growing Tripolium vulgare (Asteraceae) on four island populations (Skeppsvik Archipelago, Sweden). We consistently found evidence of nutrient limitation: fertilised plants increased their biomass, produced more capitula (the oviposition units for tephritid flies), were more at risk of attack by the tephritids, and puparia were heavier in fertilised plants. During some parts of the season tephritids became more heavily parasitized, supporting the presence of cascade dynamics, however net parasitism over season decreased in response to nutrient addition. We found no evidence that capitulum size complicated parasitoid access to the tephritids, however the extended bud production prolonged the flowering season. Thus, tephritids utilized the surplus production of capitula throughout the entire season, while parasitoids did not expand their oviposition time window accordingly. Implications for top down regulation and cascade dynamics in the system are discussed. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Oikos
volume
117
issue
3
pages
473 - 480
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000253634100019
  • scopus:39849108619
ISSN
1600-0706
DOI
10.1111/j.2008.0030-1299.16381.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
04c08651-1c2d-4b22-846e-bd9d31f405c2 (old id 1193742)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:28:54
date last changed
2022-01-27 05:43:06
@article{04c08651-1c2d-4b22-846e-bd9d31f405c2,
  abstract     = {{Although phenological matching between two and three trophic interactions has received some attention, it has largely been disregarded in explaining the lack of strong cascade dynamics in terrestrial systems. We studied the response of the specialist seed predator, Paroxyna plantaginis (Tephritidae) and associated generalist parasitoids (Chalcidoidea) to controlled fertilisation of individuals of naturally growing Tripolium vulgare (Asteraceae) on four island populations (Skeppsvik Archipelago, Sweden). We consistently found evidence of nutrient limitation: fertilised plants increased their biomass, produced more capitula (the oviposition units for tephritid flies), were more at risk of attack by the tephritids, and puparia were heavier in fertilised plants. During some parts of the season tephritids became more heavily parasitized, supporting the presence of cascade dynamics, however net parasitism over season decreased in response to nutrient addition. We found no evidence that capitulum size complicated parasitoid access to the tephritids, however the extended bud production prolonged the flowering season. Thus, tephritids utilized the surplus production of capitula throughout the entire season, while parasitoids did not expand their oviposition time window accordingly. Implications for top down regulation and cascade dynamics in the system are discussed.}},
  author       = {{Albrectsen, Benedicte Riber and Ericson, Lars and Lundberg, Per}},
  issn         = {{1600-0706}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{473--480}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Oikos}},
  title        = {{Nutrient addition extends flowering display, which gets tracked by seed predators, but not by their parasitoids}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2008.0030-1299.16381.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.2008.0030-1299.16381.x}},
  volume       = {{117}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}