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Reduced parasitism of a leaf-mining moth on trees with high infection frequencies of an endophytic fungus

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Abstract

We investigated relationships between endophytic fungi and a leaf-mining moth, Phyllonorycter sp., along an elevational gradient from 2255 to 2895 m. The fungi and moth larvae inhabit leaves of Quercus gambelii. Fungal frequencies and larval densities varied with elevation. However, larval densities were not associated with the frequencies of infection by endophytic fungi. Survival of larvae was positively associated with the most dominant fungus, Gnomonia cerastis, owing to reduced parasitism of moth larvae on trees with high frequencies of Gnomonia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Box 30001/Dept. 3AF, 88003-0001, Las Cruces, NM, USA

    Ralph W. Preszler, Eric S. Gaylord & William J. Boecklen

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  1. Ralph W. Preszler
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  2. Eric S. Gaylord
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  3. William J. Boecklen
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Preszler, R.W., Gaylord, E.S. & Boecklen, W.J. Reduced parasitism of a leaf-mining moth on trees with high infection frequencies of an endophytic fungus. Oecologia 108, 159–166 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333227

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00333227

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