Publication Date
2015
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Don Cipollini (Committee Member), Thomas Rooney (Committee Member), John Stireman Iii (Advisor)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
Despite the clear advantages of generalist feeding, many insect herbivores feed on a relatively small number of available host plants with in phylogenetically restricted groups. To better understand patterns of host plant use I used the sister species Altinote stratonice and Altinote dicaeus and their overlapping but distinct host plant range. I measured physiological effects of plants by using development time, pupal mass, and survival. To determine the importance of enemies I quantified rates of parasitism and rates of predation. Finally I measured host plant frequency, and host plant abundance. I found that survival of A. dicaeus and A. stratonice was reduced on low quality host plants. Additionally host plant use by A. stratonice was correlated with host plant abundance and host plant use by A. dicaeus was correlated host plant size. Overall patterns of host plant use appeared to be driven by bottom up forces even when enemies present a clear threat.
Page Count
72
Department or Program
Department of Biological Sciences
Year Degree Awarded
2015
Copyright
Copyright 2015, all rights reserved. This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.
