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Interactions of root and leaf herbivores on purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

  • Plant Animal Interactions
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Abstract

Interspecific interactions of herbivores sharing a host plant may be important in structuring herbivore communities. We investigated host plant-mediated interactions of root (Hylobius transversovittatus) and leaf herbivores (Galerucella calmariensis), released to control purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) in North America, in field and potted plant experiments. In the potted plant experiments, leaf herbivory by G. calmariensis reduced H. transversovittatus larval survival (but not larval development) but did not affect oviposition preference. Root herbivory by H. transversovittatus did not affect either G. calmariensis fitness or oviposition preference. In field cage experiments, we found no evidence of interspecific competition between root and leaf herbivores over a 4-year period. Our data suggest that large populations of leaf beetles can negatively affect root-feeding larvae when high intensity of leaf damage results in partial or complete death of belowground tissue. Such events may be rare occurrences (or affected by experimental venue) since field data differed from data obtained from potted plant experiments, particularly at high leaf beetle densities. Interspecific interactions between G. calmariensis and H. transversovittatus are possible and may negatively affect either species, but this is unlikely to occur unless heavy feeding damage results in partial or complete plant death.

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Acknowledgements

We especially thank G. Bartus for his help and support throughout this project as well as E. Morrison, J. Meyburg, and T. Sukontarak. D. Connoly, D. Odell (New York Department of Environmental Conservation) and S. Sleggs (Ducks Unlimited) who allowed use of Marten’s Tract. Inmates of the New York Correctional Services provided invaluable help in maintaining field plots. Earlier versions of the manuscript was greatly improved by suggestions from R. B. Root and V. A. Nuzzo. We also appreciate the thoughtful comments of two anonymous reviewers. Funding was partially provided by a National Science Foundation Dissertation Improvement Grant (no. 0072974), hatch project 410 to R. B. Root and through the Biological Control of Non-Indigenous Plants Species Program at Cornell University.

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  1. Tamaru R. Hunt-Joshi

    Present address: School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Box 871501, Tempe, AZ, 85287-4501, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Corson Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Tamaru R. Hunt-Joshi

  2. Department of Natural Resources, Fernow Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA

    Bernd Blossey

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  1. Tamaru R. Hunt-Joshi
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  2. Bernd Blossey
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Correspondence to Tamaru R. Hunt-Joshi.

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Hunt-Joshi, T.R., Blossey, B. Interactions of root and leaf herbivores on purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Oecologia 142, 554–563 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-004-1747-4

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