ORCID
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8601-9196
Year
2020
Season
Spring
Paper Type
Master's Thesis
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Degree Name
Master of Science in Biology (MS)
Department
Biology
NACO controlled Corporate Body
University of North Florida. Department of Biology
Committee Chairperson
Dr. Anthony M. Rossi
Second Advisor
Dr. Mike Aspinwall
Rights Statement
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Third Advisor
Dr. Adam Rosenblatt
Department Chair
Dr. Cliff Ross
College Dean
Dr. George Rainbolt
Abstract
Asphondylia borrichiae is a gall-inducing insect that attacks its ancestral host plant Borrichia frutescens: through ovipositional mistakes it has acquired two additional hosts, Iva frutescens and Iva imbricata. Oviposition results in the formation of a gall, a tumor-like growth of plant tissue within which immature A. borrichiae develop. During development, immature A. borrichiae, are attacked by a suite of four generalist hymenopteran parasitoids. Of these, Galeopsomyia haemon and Torymus umbilicatus are facultative hyperparasitoids, more common and exhibit non-random attack patterns. In the present study, soil quality was manipulated through bi-weekly application of either ammonium nitrate fertilizer or sodium chloride rock salt: resulting in variation in host plant quality. Bottom-up manipulation cascaded upwards through trophic levels and indirectly shifted the composition of the parasitoid guild community. Decreases in host plant quality significantly decreased available leaves (64%), reduced stem growth (17%) and limited growth of the plant and galls when compared to vigorous, higher quality plants. Galls produced from salt-treated plots had significantly lower gall diameter (20%), fewer gall chambers (30%) and significantly increased attacks by G. haemon when compared to control galls (56%). Increasing plant quality significantly increased total leaf size (21%), retained more leaves, and increased growth of the host plant when contrasted with poorer quality plants. Fertilized plants produced galls with significantly greater gall diameter with increased number of T. umbilicatus when compared to controls (12%). Results support the gall-diameter hypothesis as present parasitoids were distributed across gall diameter. This study was successful in changing the natural enemies present within a system through indirect effects of soil quality, these bottom-up effects could potentially shape future top-down control by the parasitoids. Specifically, in instances of potential host-range expansion in which parasitoid composition as mediated by lower trophic levels can either increase or decrease the availability of enemy free space.
Suggested Citation
Orta, Kevin, "Effects of abiotic factors on host plant quality and community structure of the parasitoid guild that attacks Asphondylia borrichiae midges on Borrichia frutescens" (2020). UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 958.
https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/958
Included in
Entomology Commons, Integrative Biology Commons, Other Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Population Biology Commons
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