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Paulo S. Oliveira - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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trade offs underlying polyphagy in a facultative ant tended florivorous butterfly the role of host plant quality and Enemy Free Space
Oecologia, 2010Co-Authors: Daniela Rodrigues, André V. L. Freitas, Lucas A. Kaminski, Paulo S. OliveiraAbstract:The underlying mechanisms mediating the use of multiple host plants were investigated in Parrhasius polibetes (Lycaenidae), a florivorous and facultative myrmecophilous butterfly. Plant traits such as presence of ant–treehopper associations as a source of Enemy-Free Space, flower bud dimensions, toughness, thickness, trichomes, and the corresponding performance and wear of P. polibetes mandibles were examined for three natural hosts: Schefflera vinosa (Araliaceae), Pyrostegia venusta (Bignoniaceae) and Luehea grandiflora (Malvaceae). Parasitism levels of larvae found on the three hosts were also determined. Almost all Luehea had ant–treehopper associations, and all larvae found on this host were non-parasitized. Parasitism was low in larvae found on Schefflera, half of which hosted ant–treehopper associations. No ant–treehopper association was found on Pyrostegia, where parasitism was significantly higher compared to other hosts. In the laboratory, P. polibetes performed well on Schefflera, followed by Pyrostegia. No larvae survived when fed with Luehea. Flower buds of Luehea were thicker and tougher than those of Schefflera and Pyrostegia. Indeed, mandibles of larvae reared on Luehea showed substantial wear, whereas those reared either on Schefflera or Pyrostegia presented no significant damage. Additionally, we suggest that co-occurrence with ant–treehopper associations on a plant provides parasitoid-Free Space for P. polibetes larvae. Our results support the hypothesis that ecological trade-offs among host plants (i.e., food quality and Enemy-Free Space) promote polyphagy in natural populations of P. polibetes. Host morphological traits seem to play a relevant role in P. polibetes performance. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the costs of polyphagy in a myrmecophilous butterfly.
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Interaction between Mutualisms: Ant-tended butterflies exploit Enemy-Free Space provided by ant-treehopper associations.
The American naturalist, 2010Co-Authors: Lucas A. Kaminski, André V. L. Freitas, Paulo S. OliveiraAbstract:Abstract: Although mutualisms have been intensively investigated, demonstration of indirect effects between co‐occurring mutualistic systems is rare. For instance, the ecological consequences of co‐occurrence of ant‐tended insects on a plant have never been examined for survival effects on either trophobiont species. Here, we assess the selective pressures mediating co‐occurrence of a facultative ant‐tended butterfly (Parrhasius polibetes) with ant‐tended treehoppers (Guayaquila xiphias) on Schefflera vinosa shrubs. We evaluated host plant selection and caterpillar survival in P. polibetes in the presence and absence of ant‐treehopper associations. Paired trials revealed that butterflies preferably oviposit on branches hosting ant‐tended treehoppers when they had a choice between those and branches without this interaction. Presence of ant‐tended treehoppers on a branch reduced the abundance of P. polibetes’ natural enemies and improved caterpillar survival in both premyrmecophylic and ant‐tended phases. ...
Lucas A. Kaminski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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trade offs underlying polyphagy in a facultative ant tended florivorous butterfly the role of host plant quality and Enemy Free Space
Oecologia, 2010Co-Authors: Daniela Rodrigues, André V. L. Freitas, Lucas A. Kaminski, Paulo S. OliveiraAbstract:The underlying mechanisms mediating the use of multiple host plants were investigated in Parrhasius polibetes (Lycaenidae), a florivorous and facultative myrmecophilous butterfly. Plant traits such as presence of ant–treehopper associations as a source of Enemy-Free Space, flower bud dimensions, toughness, thickness, trichomes, and the corresponding performance and wear of P. polibetes mandibles were examined for three natural hosts: Schefflera vinosa (Araliaceae), Pyrostegia venusta (Bignoniaceae) and Luehea grandiflora (Malvaceae). Parasitism levels of larvae found on the three hosts were also determined. Almost all Luehea had ant–treehopper associations, and all larvae found on this host were non-parasitized. Parasitism was low in larvae found on Schefflera, half of which hosted ant–treehopper associations. No ant–treehopper association was found on Pyrostegia, where parasitism was significantly higher compared to other hosts. In the laboratory, P. polibetes performed well on Schefflera, followed by Pyrostegia. No larvae survived when fed with Luehea. Flower buds of Luehea were thicker and tougher than those of Schefflera and Pyrostegia. Indeed, mandibles of larvae reared on Luehea showed substantial wear, whereas those reared either on Schefflera or Pyrostegia presented no significant damage. Additionally, we suggest that co-occurrence with ant–treehopper associations on a plant provides parasitoid-Free Space for P. polibetes larvae. Our results support the hypothesis that ecological trade-offs among host plants (i.e., food quality and Enemy-Free Space) promote polyphagy in natural populations of P. polibetes. Host morphological traits seem to play a relevant role in P. polibetes performance. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the costs of polyphagy in a myrmecophilous butterfly.
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Interaction between Mutualisms: Ant-tended butterflies exploit Enemy-Free Space provided by ant-treehopper associations.
The American naturalist, 2010Co-Authors: Lucas A. Kaminski, André V. L. Freitas, Paulo S. OliveiraAbstract:Abstract: Although mutualisms have been intensively investigated, demonstration of indirect effects between co‐occurring mutualistic systems is rare. For instance, the ecological consequences of co‐occurrence of ant‐tended insects on a plant have never been examined for survival effects on either trophobiont species. Here, we assess the selective pressures mediating co‐occurrence of a facultative ant‐tended butterfly (Parrhasius polibetes) with ant‐tended treehoppers (Guayaquila xiphias) on Schefflera vinosa shrubs. We evaluated host plant selection and caterpillar survival in P. polibetes in the presence and absence of ant‐treehopper associations. Paired trials revealed that butterflies preferably oviposit on branches hosting ant‐tended treehoppers when they had a choice between those and branches without this interaction. Presence of ant‐tended treehoppers on a branch reduced the abundance of P. polibetes’ natural enemies and improved caterpillar survival in both premyrmecophylic and ant‐tended phases. ...
André V. L. Freitas - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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trade offs underlying polyphagy in a facultative ant tended florivorous butterfly the role of host plant quality and Enemy Free Space
Oecologia, 2010Co-Authors: Daniela Rodrigues, André V. L. Freitas, Lucas A. Kaminski, Paulo S. OliveiraAbstract:The underlying mechanisms mediating the use of multiple host plants were investigated in Parrhasius polibetes (Lycaenidae), a florivorous and facultative myrmecophilous butterfly. Plant traits such as presence of ant–treehopper associations as a source of Enemy-Free Space, flower bud dimensions, toughness, thickness, trichomes, and the corresponding performance and wear of P. polibetes mandibles were examined for three natural hosts: Schefflera vinosa (Araliaceae), Pyrostegia venusta (Bignoniaceae) and Luehea grandiflora (Malvaceae). Parasitism levels of larvae found on the three hosts were also determined. Almost all Luehea had ant–treehopper associations, and all larvae found on this host were non-parasitized. Parasitism was low in larvae found on Schefflera, half of which hosted ant–treehopper associations. No ant–treehopper association was found on Pyrostegia, where parasitism was significantly higher compared to other hosts. In the laboratory, P. polibetes performed well on Schefflera, followed by Pyrostegia. No larvae survived when fed with Luehea. Flower buds of Luehea were thicker and tougher than those of Schefflera and Pyrostegia. Indeed, mandibles of larvae reared on Luehea showed substantial wear, whereas those reared either on Schefflera or Pyrostegia presented no significant damage. Additionally, we suggest that co-occurrence with ant–treehopper associations on a plant provides parasitoid-Free Space for P. polibetes larvae. Our results support the hypothesis that ecological trade-offs among host plants (i.e., food quality and Enemy-Free Space) promote polyphagy in natural populations of P. polibetes. Host morphological traits seem to play a relevant role in P. polibetes performance. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the costs of polyphagy in a myrmecophilous butterfly.
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Interaction between Mutualisms: Ant-tended butterflies exploit Enemy-Free Space provided by ant-treehopper associations.
The American naturalist, 2010Co-Authors: Lucas A. Kaminski, André V. L. Freitas, Paulo S. OliveiraAbstract:Abstract: Although mutualisms have been intensively investigated, demonstration of indirect effects between co‐occurring mutualistic systems is rare. For instance, the ecological consequences of co‐occurrence of ant‐tended insects on a plant have never been examined for survival effects on either trophobiont species. Here, we assess the selective pressures mediating co‐occurrence of a facultative ant‐tended butterfly (Parrhasius polibetes) with ant‐tended treehoppers (Guayaquila xiphias) on Schefflera vinosa shrubs. We evaluated host plant selection and caterpillar survival in P. polibetes in the presence and absence of ant‐treehopper associations. Paired trials revealed that butterflies preferably oviposit on branches hosting ant‐tended treehoppers when they had a choice between those and branches without this interaction. Presence of ant‐tended treehoppers on a branch reduced the abundance of P. polibetes’ natural enemies and improved caterpillar survival in both premyrmecophylic and ant‐tended phases. ...
Fred Gould - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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behavioral adaptations increase the value of Enemy Free Space for heliothis subflexa a specialist herbivore
Evolution, 2002Co-Authors: Sara J. Oppenheim, Fred GouldAbstract:We investigated the importance of specialized behaviors in the use of Enemy-Free Space by comparing the host-use behavior of two closely related moths, Heliothis subflexa Guenee and H. virescens Fabricius. Heliothis subflexa is a specialist on plants in the genus Physalis, whereas H. virescens is an extreme generalist, feeding on plants in at least 14 families. Heliothis subflexa uses the inflated calyx surrounding Physalis fruits as Enemy-Free Space, and field rates of parasitism for H. subflexa on Physalis are much lower than for H. virescens on tobacco and cotton, common hosts found in the same habitat as Physalis. If Physalis, architecture were solely responsible for H. subflexa's low rates of parasitism on Physalis, we predicted that H. virescens larvae experimentally induced to feed on Physalis would experience parasitism rates similar to those of H. subflexa. We found, however, that specialized host-use and host-acceptance behaviors are integral to the use of Enemy-Free Space on Physalis and strongly augment the effects of the structural refuge. In laboratory assays, we found considerable differences between the larval behavior of the specialist. H. subflexa, and the generalist, H. virescens, and these contributed to H. subflexa's superior use of Enemy-Free Space on Physalis. We tested the importance of these behavioral differences in the field by comparing parasitism of H. virescens on Physalis, H. virescens on tobacco, and H. subflexa on Physalis by Cardiochiles nigriceps Vierick, a specialist braconid parasitoid. For H. virescens, a threefold decrease in parasitism occurred when feeding on Physalis (mean parasitism +/- SEM = 13 +/- 4%) rather than tobacco (43 +/- 4%), a difference we attribute to the structural refuge provided by Physalis. However, parasitism of H. virescens on Physalis was more than ten times as great as that of H. subflexa on Pliv.salis (1 +/- 4%), supporting the hypothesis that specialized behaviors have a substantial impact on use of Physalis as Enemy-Free Space. Behavioral adaptations may be central to the use of Enemy-Free Space by phytophagous insects and may act as an important selective force in the evolution of dietary specialization.
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BEHAVIORAL ADAPTATIONS INCREASE THE VALUE OF Enemy‐Free Space FOR HELIOTHIS SUBFLEXA, A SPECIALIST HERBIVORE
Evolution; international journal of organic evolution, 2002Co-Authors: Sara J. Oppenheim, Fred GouldAbstract:We investigated the importance of specialized behaviors in the use of Enemy-Free Space by comparing the host-use behavior of two closely related moths, Heliothis subflexa Guenee and H. virescens Fabricius. Heliothis subflexa is a specialist on plants in the genus Physalis, whereas H. virescens is an extreme generalist, feeding on plants in at least 14 families. Heliothis subflexa uses the inflated calyx surrounding Physalis fruits as Enemy-Free Space, and field rates of parasitism for H. subflexa on Physalis are much lower than for H. virescens on tobacco and cotton, common hosts found in the same habitat as Physalis. If Physalis, architecture were solely responsible for H. subflexa's low rates of parasitism on Physalis, we predicted that H. virescens larvae experimentally induced to feed on Physalis would experience parasitism rates similar to those of H. subflexa. We found, however, that specialized host-use and host-acceptance behaviors are integral to the use of Enemy-Free Space on Physalis and strongly augment the effects of the structural refuge. In laboratory assays, we found considerable differences between the larval behavior of the specialist. H. subflexa, and the generalist, H. virescens, and these contributed to H. subflexa's superior use of Enemy-Free Space on Physalis. We tested the importance of these behavioral differences in the field by comparing parasitism of H. virescens on Physalis, H. virescens on tobacco, and H. subflexa on Physalis by Cardiochiles nigriceps Vierick, a specialist braconid parasitoid. For H. virescens, a threefold decrease in parasitism occurred when feeding on Physalis (mean parasitism +/- SEM = 13 +/- 4%) rather than tobacco (43 +/- 4%), a difference we attribute to the structural refuge provided by Physalis. However, parasitism of H. virescens on Physalis was more than ten times as great as that of H. subflexa on Pliv.salis (1 +/- 4%), supporting the hypothesis that specialized behaviors have a substantial impact on use of Physalis as Enemy-Free Space. Behavioral adaptations may be central to the use of Enemy-Free Space by phytophagous insects and may act as an important selective force in the evolution of dietary specialization.
Daniela Rodrigues - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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trade offs underlying polyphagy in a facultative ant tended florivorous butterfly the role of host plant quality and Enemy Free Space
Oecologia, 2010Co-Authors: Daniela Rodrigues, André V. L. Freitas, Lucas A. Kaminski, Paulo S. OliveiraAbstract:The underlying mechanisms mediating the use of multiple host plants were investigated in Parrhasius polibetes (Lycaenidae), a florivorous and facultative myrmecophilous butterfly. Plant traits such as presence of ant–treehopper associations as a source of Enemy-Free Space, flower bud dimensions, toughness, thickness, trichomes, and the corresponding performance and wear of P. polibetes mandibles were examined for three natural hosts: Schefflera vinosa (Araliaceae), Pyrostegia venusta (Bignoniaceae) and Luehea grandiflora (Malvaceae). Parasitism levels of larvae found on the three hosts were also determined. Almost all Luehea had ant–treehopper associations, and all larvae found on this host were non-parasitized. Parasitism was low in larvae found on Schefflera, half of which hosted ant–treehopper associations. No ant–treehopper association was found on Pyrostegia, where parasitism was significantly higher compared to other hosts. In the laboratory, P. polibetes performed well on Schefflera, followed by Pyrostegia. No larvae survived when fed with Luehea. Flower buds of Luehea were thicker and tougher than those of Schefflera and Pyrostegia. Indeed, mandibles of larvae reared on Luehea showed substantial wear, whereas those reared either on Schefflera or Pyrostegia presented no significant damage. Additionally, we suggest that co-occurrence with ant–treehopper associations on a plant provides parasitoid-Free Space for P. polibetes larvae. Our results support the hypothesis that ecological trade-offs among host plants (i.e., food quality and Enemy-Free Space) promote polyphagy in natural populations of P. polibetes. Host morphological traits seem to play a relevant role in P. polibetes performance. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing the costs of polyphagy in a myrmecophilous butterfly.
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roles of food quality and Enemy Free Space in host use by a generalist insect herbivore
Ecology, 2004Co-Authors: Michael S Singer, Daniela Rodrigues, John O. Stireman, Yves CarriereAbstract:The relative importance of food quality vs. Enemy-Free Space remains an unresolved but central issue in the evolutionary ecology of host use by phytophagous insects. In this study, we investigate their relative importance in determining host-plant use by a generalist caterpillar, Estigmene acrea (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae). In nature, E. acrea late- instar caterpillars preferred Senecio longilobus (Asteraceae), which contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that the caterpillars sequester, over Viguiera dentata (Asteraceae), a natal host, and typically suffered a 28% mortality risk from parasitoids. We hypothesized that the natural, mixed diet of caterpillars provides high-quality food via hosts like Viguiera as well as antiparasitoid defense via sequestered toxins from Senecio. We found that a pure Viguiera diet provides superior growth performance over a pure Senecio or mixed diet in the absence of parasitism. However, when parasitism risk is at least moderate, the mixed diet provides a survival advantage over the pure diets of Viguiera or Senecio. We therefore conclude that the balance between benefits of growth (food quality) and defense (Enemy-Free Space) maintains the use of a mixed diet in nature. Furthermore, the value of Enemy-Free Space supercedes the value of food quality in determining the host-plant preference of late-instar caterpillars.