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Impact of epidermal leaf mining by the aspen leaf miner (Phyllocnistis populiella) on the growth, physiology, and leaf longevity of quaking aspen

  • Plant-Animal Interactions - Original Paper
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Abstract

The aspen leaf miner, Phyllocnistis populiella, feeds on the contents of epidermal cells on both top (adaxial) and bottom (abaxial) surfaces of quaking aspen leaves, leaving the photosynthetic tissue of the mesophyll intact. This type of feeding is taxonomically restricted to a small subset of leaf mining insects but can cause widespread plant damage during outbreaks. We studied the effect of epidermal mining on aspen growth and physiology during an outbreak of P. populiella in the boreal forest of interior Alaska. Experimental reduction of leaf miner density across two sites and 3 years significantly increased annual aspen growth rates relative to naturally mined controls. Leaf mining damage was negatively related to leaf longevity. Leaves with heavy mining damage abscised 4 weeks earlier, on average, than leaves with minimal mining damage. Mining damage to the top and bottom surfaces of leaves had different effects on physiology. Mining on the top surface of the leaf had no significant effect on photosynthesis or conductance and was unrelated to leaf stable C isotope ratio (δ13C). Mining damage to the bottom leaf surface, where stomata are located, had significant negative effects on net photosynthesis and water vapor conductance. Percent bottom mining was positively related to leaf δ13C. Taken together, the data suggest that the primary mechanism for the reduction of photosynthesis by epidermal leaf mining by P. populiella is the failure of stomata to open normally on bottom-mined leaves.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Bryan Carlson, Alina Cushing, Stephanie Joan Fischer, Trevor Fristoe, Zachary Meyers, E. Fleur Nicklen, Dianna Steiner, and Brian Young for assistance with data collection. Lilly Goodman and Peter Ray provided thoughtful comments on the manuscript. Roger Ruess and Dennis Fielding provided logistical support. Isotope chemistry was performed by Lola Oliver at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Forest Soils Laboratory. The research was funded by National Science Foundation award DEB 0543632 to D. W. and P. D.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99775-7000, USA

    Diane Wagner, Patricia Doak & Jenny Schneiderheinze

  2. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, University of Alaska, Fairbanks, AK, 99775, USA

    Linda DeFoliart

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  1. Diane Wagner
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  2. Linda DeFoliart
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  3. Patricia Doak
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  4. Jenny Schneiderheinze
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Correspondence to Diane Wagner.

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Communicated by Evan DeLucia.

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Wagner, D., DeFoliart, L., Doak, P. et al. Impact of epidermal leaf mining by the aspen leaf miner (Phyllocnistis populiella) on the growth, physiology, and leaf longevity of quaking aspen. Oecologia 157, 259–267 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-008-1067-1

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